Providing and Promoting Access and Recreation

The aim of the grant is to increase participation in outdoor recreation through connecting the supply of opportunities to the demand for them, and so best meet local user / stakeholder needs for recreation and access. Diversification of users of the countryside will be strong considerations as we prioritise the projects.

The grants bidding window is now closed.

In line with our focus on delivering ecosystem services, projects to increase / improve recreational opportunities and their social benefits should clearly demonstrate how they will ensure improvements in supply of facilities or how opportunities will lead to an increase in participation, and so best meet local user / stakeholder needs for recreation and access. We will consider provision for all user groups, but all projects should be supported through evidence collated through the ROWIP process or other strategic plans. Such plans may include the relevant Community Plan.

We will give priority to well planned projects that can demonstrate the following:

• Support for the implementation of the Welsh Government’s strategic access work, for example, the Walking and Cycling Action Plan’s promotion of walking and cycling.
• Support collaborative, cross boundary, cross sector projects, that bring together multiple partners (LA, Voluntary Sector etc) around common shared objectives and shared resources. These projects will deliver widespread regional benefit and national policies, but will be a sum of more than their constituent parts e.g. networks of accredited country parks, thematic outdoor recreational opportunities across multiple LA boundaries, wildlife sightseeing opportunities etc
• Provide facilities for people to encounter nature close to home by identifying target green spaces with reference to priority areas determined by using CCW’s accessible natural greenspace toolkit. If the CCW methodology can be shown to have informed a greenspace strategy, or to inform priorities in the local development plan, and the grant aid proposal is clearly linked to priorities in those documents then that make the project eligible for grant aid.
• Improving standards of access to make routes suitable for a greater range of abilities. In particular, application of the least restrictive access ("Gap, Gate, Stile”) principle in all access work, thereby improving access for disabled people and those with mobility problems. For example the removal of unnecessary path furniture to increase ease of use of the route.
• Support projects that adopt stringent quality assurance processes, and implement best practice around the provision and standard of equitable and sustainable outdoor activities and greenspace products e.g. Greenflag sites, networks of promoted and accredited walks, healthy outdoor activities etc'
• Continued support for National Trails as the flagship trails in Wales.
• Opportunities that will result in an increase to the amount of inland water available for recreation (either in or on the water).
• Help the environmental sector to understand and manage marine recreation.
• Projects which form part of large scale projects such as RDP.

For all projects which are supported, the following will apply:

• We are offering grant for projects that are supported by evidence gathered during the development of, and in the implementation of ROWIPs and/or which introduce people to countryside access networks, blue and green spaces.
• Projects that develop engagement using methods that comply with CCW's 'Come Outside!' principles and methods are encouraged where appropriate.
• Improvements to paths should be in line with accepted good practice and quality standards including:
  • Use of British Standards (notably BS 5709:2006for gaps, gates and stiles) for works wherever appropriate.
  • All improved routes to pass the ‘ease of use’ performance indicator for Rights of Way on completion – as assessed using the Institute of Public Rights of Way (IPROW) /CSS standard survey methodology.
  • Use of sustainable materials and methods for improvements.
  • ‘Access for all’ and ‘least restrictive access’ provision (including the statutory guidance issued by the National Assembly under Section 69 CROW Act 2000, use of ‘BT Countryside For All Standards and Guidance’ and CCW’s ‘By All Reasonable Means’).

• In all cases where path creation, improvement or promotion is involved, the applicant must demonstrate the involvement of the local authority and landowner.
• A long term management agreement must be in place for CCW to consider grant aiding work around Permissive paths.
• In all cases where path creation, improvement or promotion is involved, the applicant must demonstrate how they will record/ measure improvements and increased participation.
• All projects involving creating new access opportunities should have a promotion/marketing plan attached.
• We will support innovative digital solutions that promote access where it is integral to the success of the project.
• All access opportunities that are digitally mapped should be forwarded to CCW for inclusion on Outdoor Wales Online.

Under this pillar, CCW grant aid cannot fund:

• Maintenance of PROW.
• Projects where a local need cannot be demonstrated.
• Projects where improvements are isolated and do not lead to an overall improved network.