The Chiltern Society’s group of South Chilterns Path Maintenance Volunteers (SCPMV) is a well-supported volunteer group which improves local rights of way in parishes in the South Oxfordshire part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
TOE has supported a number of their excellent projects which typically replace stiles with gates. The volunteers also undertake scrub clearance on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council when rights of way become overgrown.
We know a lot of time goes into preparing their projects and the grant applications submitted by the group are always very strong. The Grant Panel consider their applications to be excellent as SCPMV submit proposals for projects which demonstrate a real partnership involving contributions from the landowners as well as Oxfordshire County Council’s Public Rights of Way team.
TOE believes that community groups like the South Chilterns Path Maintenance Volunteers play a vital role in keeping rights of way open and accessible. Projects delivered by the SCPMVs are good value for money as the only costs are for materials as the work is undertaken by the skilled team.