Donate-a-Gate

Since the introduction of the scheme via Chiltern News (Issue 178. December 2005) the generosity of donors has enabled the installation of over 150 ‘donated’ gates to date. This has improved both access and safety for all users at a variety of locations throughout the central Chilterns area (see map below).

Most gates carry plaques with inscriptions of the donors’ choice for example, as a memorial or to celebrate an event.

The success of the scheme has only been possible as a result of close co-operation between The Chiltern Society Path Maintenance Volunteers (Central Chilterns) who carry out the installations and Bucks County Council Rights of Way who identify potential locations for the gates and contact landowners to obtain their agreement.

Match Funding
The opportunities to improve access presented by the generous donations has resulted in agreement by BCC-ROW to further complement the scheme by ‘match-funding’ each donated gate. To date, in addition to the 150 ‘donated’ gates the PMV – Central Chilterns have so far installed a further 43 ‘match-funded’ gates – with more to come.

Gift AidGift Aid
In addition, as a consequence of donor generosity, the ‘Gift Aid’ tax benefit claimed by the Chiltern Society as a registered charity and re-invested in the Donate-a-Gate scheme has provided additional funds to enable the installation of a further 50-plus gates that otherwise would not have been available. The Central Chilterns PMV have already started the installation of these gates which can be identified by the inclusion of a ‘Gift Aid’ plaque in recognition of the donors. The intention is for these gates to be located primarily on major ‘promoted’ routes and to further develop local stile-free walks.

The Future
It is to be hoped that there will be more new donors who are prepared to assist with the improvement of footpath access to enable the scheme to continue into the future for the benefit of all abilities throughout the Central Chilterns area. Donor Request Forms are available from the Society Office, Chesham, tel. 01494 771250, or from this page in this website.

 
Path Maintenance Volunteers from the Central Chilterns group at the end of a hard mornings work view their completed installation of a ‘mobility’ kissing gate on the South Bucks Way at Chalfont St Giles.

From left: James Emery, Terry Cherrill and Brian Lawson (photo by Stuart Gulliman).