National Park staff take on Commuter Challenge

May 2, 2013 - PRLog -- About a quarter of staff are taking part in My Journey Hampshire’s Commuter Challenge which runs throughout May.

A number of organisations and companies from across the county have signed up, competing against each other for prizes such as rail discounts.

The Commuter Challenge supports our aim to encourage greener travel within and to the New Forest National Park over the next two years, an important part of the £3.8m Local Sustainable Transport Fund initiative.

By leaving their cars at home, staff can avoid congestion on the roads, improve their health, cut down on carbon emissions and save money on their car fuel.

Alison Barnes, chief executive of the NFNPA, said: ‘The Commuter Challenge gives an extra incentive to encourage people to discover other ways into work and not depend on their car. As well as getting fitter by walking or cycling, colleagues have the opportunity to better appreciate the natural beauty of the National Park as they travel into work.’

Among those taking part from the NFNPA is Sustainable Development Officer Andy Brennan. He cycles six miles into work at Lymington Town Hall from his home at East Boldre, whilst Sustainable Transport Officer Nat Taplin walks for 15 minutes from his home in Lymington.

Sustainable Transport Officer Mark Holroyd walks 10 minutes to catch a train from Southampton Central to Lymington Town train station, whilst Communications Officer Sion Donovan travels even further with a two mile walk to catch a train from Fareham. Between them they’re saving 106 car miles on a round trip every day.

As well as arriving to work by bike and railway, staff at the NPA are also catching a bus and sharing car journeys into work, halving their fuel bills and car miles.

To register for My Journey Hampshire’s Commuter Challenge go to http:myjourney.getmeactive.org.uk (http://myjourney.getmeactive.org.uk)

To find out more about sustainable travel in the New Forest National Park go to www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/travel  

Picture caption: New Forest National Park Authority staff (from l-r) Sion Donovan, Nat Taplin, Mark Holroyd and Andy Brennan are taking part in My Journey Hampshire's Commuter Challenge

About the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF)

The Department for Transport has awarded £3.8m to Hampshire County Council, the New Forest National Park and South Downs National Park - together with the neighbouring highways authorities of Brighton & Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, Surrey County Council and Wiltshire Council – for initiatives to reduce the impact of traffic on the two National Parks.

The funding will allow the authorities to focus on:

■ Improving key public transport services into the two National Parks

■ Making it easy to reach visitor attractions within the two National Parks

■ Promoting travel by cycle, bus and rail to and around the National Parks

■ Managing traffic effectively with the Parks, so that is does not detract from the visitors’ experience.

This will be achieved through travel behaviour change campaigns supported by small scale infrastructure improvements where appropriate.

To find out more go to www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/travel

About the New Forest National Park Authority

Protect - Enjoy - Prosper

The New Forest National Park Authority’s statutory purposes are to:

■ Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Park - Protect

■ Promote opportunities for understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities – Enjoy.

We also have a duty to:

■ Seek to foster the social and economic well-being of local communities within the Park – Prosper.

The New Forest National Park was designated in March 2005. Its unique landscape has been shaped over the centuries by grazing ponies, cattle and pigs which roam free. Majestic woodlands, rare heathland and a spectacular coastline provide fabulous opportunities for quiet recreation, enjoyment and discovery.

Visit www.newforestnpa.gov.uk to find out more.

Media Contacts:

Sion Donovan, Communications Officer, New Forest National Park Authority

Tel: 01590 646639

Email: sion.donovan@newforestnpa.gov.uk

More articles in the news archive (http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/news/archive).