Walkers regularly complain about the state of the infrastructure on the footpath network across East and West Sussex. Whilst there are undoubtedly areas where no amount of reporting seems to reap any reward, our local footpath wardens and footpath maintenance volunteers continue to play a vital role in ensuring that issues are identified, highlighted and addressed.

Sussex Ramblers for many years has been producing ‘Now Open’, an attractive and informative bimonthly publication which seeks to profile the hard work that is undertaken, in difficult circumstances, by the Ramblers’ and County Council footpath maintenance teams to ensure that access to many areas of our countryside remains as viable as is possible. ‘Now Open’ is accessible via the Area Website : Now Open .

Unfortunately, like many initiatives that seek to help with access to the countryside, ‘Now Open’ is badly undersubscribed, with a monthly readership last year ranging from 30 to 8. If you are one of the  people who do make use of this publication, perhaps you could help out by recommending that fellow walkers, volunteers, and members of your walking fraternity whether inside or outside the Ramblers are made aware of its existence.