The Friends of the Ridgeway welcome their new President, Matthew Barber

The Friends of the Ridgeway is a charity set up to protect and conserve the route of the ancient Ridgeway along the chalk escarpment from Wiltshire through to Hertfordshire and features in the wider landscape.  Mike Lewington, chair of the Friends of the Ridgeway welcomes Matthew Barber as President:

“Matthew shares our passion and commitment to this very special Ridgeway National Trail. I warmly welcome him to the role of President, and his support for the Friends of the Ridgeway’s objectives to promote enjoyment and use of the Ridgeway by walkers, runners, cyclists and equestrians.”

The Friends of the Ridgeway was established in 1983 to campaign for recreational off-road vehicles to be banned from the Ridgeway National Trail.

Mike Lewington says: “We will continue our campaign to restrict recreational use by unauthorised vehicles which damages the Trail’s surface and has negative impacts on the enjoyment of other Ridgeway users.”

Matthew Barber, the Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner and former leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council, lives with his family in West Hanney, near Wantage. 

Matthew Barber enjoys walking on the Ridgeway with his Labrador dog Oscar: “The Ridgeway is not just another place to walk, wonderful though that is. The 87 miles of the Ridgeway is part of our living heritage. For over 5,000 people have used this trail for commerce, for warfare and as an intrinsic part of the community. Today it remains a working part of the countryside, essential for those who farm the land around it. 

“I love discovering the history of the trail, and there is always more to learn. It is a privilege to become President of the Friends of the Ridgeway and I look forward to working with this amazing team of volunteers to help champion the Ridgeway as one of England’s most important National Trails.

“The Friends of the Ridgeway seeks to preserve this vital part of our heritage for recreation, education and to support those who are guardians of this wonderful landscape.” 

The Lord Bradshaw was President of the Friends of the Ridgeway for 20 years until he resigned in 2022. He gave invaluable advice when The Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW) was passing through Parliament and the House of Lords. Similarly, he assisted the Friends of the Ridgeway when the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERCA) was progressing through both Houses. 

In 2015 the Friends of the Ridgeway established the Ridgeway National Trail partnership, which together with the national landscapes of the North Wessex Downs and the Chilterns, and other organisations representing users of the Ridgeway, now manages the Ridgeway National Trail.

Read about the history of the Friends of the Ridgeway, including the Off-Road Campaign https://ridgewayfriends.org.uk/about-us/history/