Congratulations to Sarah Bucks, Chair of our bridleways association who has been awarded an MBE for services to the Public Rights of Way Network in the New Years Honours list.
Sarah became a member of South Somerset Bridleways Association in February 1995, soon committing to life membership in 1997 before taking the reins from the late Stephanie Wheeler MBE to become Chair. Sarah quickly emerged as the driving force for our organisation’s objectives to preserve and maintain existing bridleways and restricted byways and to restore old rights of way. Sarah is a determined and resilient champion of multiuser paths for vulnerable road users, adding the development of new routes to her considerable achievements.
Spurred on by the now removed ‘cut-off date’ introduced by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Sarah has spent countless hours of her own time poring over both local and National archives to research and evidence historic routes. She has submitted over 200 Definitive Map Modification Orders in South Somerset and around 350 in total for Somerset. A pioneer of the work required to save these lost routes, Sarah co-authored ‘Rights of Way: Restoring the Record’ with Phil Wadey in 2012. They have generously shared their knowledge, organising and leading training days to help others identify and research old Rights of Way. This in turn must have led to many thousands of miles of access routes being preserved or improved for all types of users.
Sarah has a vast knowledge of both the existing and historical routes within our local patch and further afield. She effectively rallies support for work parties, leading by example with secateurs, and nurtured constructive working relationships with landowners, Parish, District and County Councillors. She has helped to identify priority routes, assisted with the processing of DMMOs, found funding for blocked routes and consulted on major infrastructure projects with Highways England.
Sarah is a great motivator and works collaboratively with members of the British Horse Society, Ramblers, Open Spaces Society, Horse Access Campaign, Sustrans Somerset Local Access Forum, Rail to Trail and other bridleway associations. Never dwelling on constraints, Sarah is always focused on the end goal of securing safe off-road routes, proactively offering advice and practical support.
There is no doubt that Sarah’s determined efforts have already benefited many riders, carriage drivers, walkers, low mobility users, and cyclists. Her selfless commitment to improving the Rights of Way network will also leave a profound and valuable legacy for future generations.