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River and lake swimmingfunction getpass(){ p=prompt ("Please enter password - ",""); window.open(p + '.htm');}//alert(document.referrer);//Myimage=new Image();//Myimage.src="http://www.river-swimming.co.uk/log.php";//calling log.php and passing $ref parameter document.write('.MyLink{font-family: "Arial" ; font-size: 9pt;font-weight: bold;color: #ffffff;text-align: judtify;}.box {float:center; width:750px; color:#000000; padding:10px; border-style:solid; border-color:#ffffff; font: normal 10pts Arial; margin:5px; text-align: left;}.boxright {float:"right"; width:430px; color:"#000000"; padding:10px; border-style:solid; border-color:#aaaaaa; font: normal 11pts Arial; margin:5px;}.backg {float:left; width:750px; background-color:#fffadd; border-style:solid; border-color:#fffadd; padding:10px; text-align: left}a:link, a:visited, a:active { text-decoration: none }a:hover {color=yellow}.title {letter-spacing:1pt; font-size:14pt; font-weight:Bold; background:#ffffff; color:#00ff00; font-family:Times New Roman}h2 {background: white ; color:#f08040; font-family:Arial; font-weight:Bold ;font-size:10pt;} FREEDOM TO ENJOY OPEN WATER River and Lake Swimming Association SAFETY THROUGH INFORMATION Swimming legally Trespassing The HSE Occupiers Liability Post a message Places to Swim Read messagesWild swimming on the Breakfast Show BBC1 Wed 9th Julyclick here for a wild swimming slide show on the BBC website We would like to announce the appointment of Jean Perraton, the author of 'Swimming against the Stream' to the post of RALSA's President.Jean has, for a couple of years now, been helping us with various campaigns in an unofficial capacity and has independently written letters to the press aimed at highlighting our cause.Jean is only the second person to be invited to take up the hereto unfilled position of RALSA's president. The first one was the late Roger Deakin, the author of "Waterlog". Sadly he declined, probably because of failing health. Jean is a member of the Newnham River Bank Club. Her concern for the environment stretches back almost as far as herlove of wild swimming. With a degree in geography and a diploma in town planning, she has struggled with environmental problems in various capacities and countries, as a university researcher in Cambridge, a regional planner in Botswana, rural policy manager in Cambridgeshire and a planning consultant in Barbados. Now she has time for making sculptures, playing the piano and table tennis, growing organic vegetables, and trying to learn modern Greek. She chairs the Cam Valley Forum, which seeks to conserve and improve the environment of the riverCam. She believes that, in our affluent and polluting society, we need to regain a delight in simple pleasures, such as swimming in natural waters, pleasures that re-unite us with the earth that sustains us.Needless to say, Jean's election was unanimously welcomed by all member clubs. Her appointment will strengthenour team considerably. We extend her a warm welcome. THE IGNORED MAJORITYA recent survey carried out by a consortium of commercial organisations, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Royal Yachting Association show that outdoor swimming and spending leisure time at the beach are, by far, the most popular water-related leisure activities in the UK. The results, published in a document titled ‘Watersports and Leisure Participation Survey 2006’ (download it)show that 12.35% of UK’s population (5.95million) participated in outdoor swimming and 12.49% (6.01million) participated in spending general leisure time at the beach. Outdoor swimming includes swimming in the sea and inland water both in the UK and abroad. Around 4.1 million swim outdoors in the UK.Participation in some other popular leisure based watersport and coastal activities.are given as: 2.21% canoeing, 1.09% small sail boat activities, 1.19% motor boating cruising, 1.12% angling (from boats), 2.27% angling (from shore) and 12.21% Coastal walking Furthermore, participation in outdoor swimming increased by 1.75% (from 10.74% to 12.49% of the population) between 2005 and 2006 – the largest increase of participation in any watersport. By comparison, Spending general leisure time at the beach increased by 0.99%, angling from the shore by 0.34% and canal boating by 0.25%.The 4.1 million who swim outdoors in the UK average about 7 swims per year thus creating 28,660,840 ‘swimming events’. Of those, 16,915,562 are in the sea and 11,745,278 in inland waters. Swimming constitutes the highest number of inland water events followed by angling from the shore (8,366 783), rowing (3,844,669) and canoeing (3,012,295).Clearly, whichever way one looks at the figures, swimming outdoors is the most popular UK watersport. It is therefore extraordinary that the activity is, at best, totally ignored by Government bodies, local authorities and other public bodies . Take for example, the Environment Agency (EA) document 'A better place to play' - the agency’s strategy for water related sport and recreation (2006-2011). The document sets out how the EA 'will boost the number of people using water and watersides for sport and leisure; encourage a richer diversity of people to water and watersides and increase how often people visit’. The word ‘swimming’ is not even mentioned in it nor is outdoor swimming mentioned on the EA website. Perhaps this is because the EAassociates open water swimmers with dummies Click here.See also Jean Perraton's article below.We believe that the time has come to ask for an explanation. Too cold to swim in English rivers - well, what about Scotland?By Jean Perraton - author of Swimming Against the StreamThose who appose swimming in inland waters often suggest that English lakes and rivers are too cold to swim in safely and so, you might expect that no one would be swimming out-of-doors in Scotland. Yet a recent survey by Scottish NationalHeritage reveals how many do. A small minority, but not so small as those taking part in several other outdoor activities that are regarded more favourably by the authorities that encourage us to explore and enjoy the countryside.The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 opened up the countryside to walkers and gave a legal right to people to swim, and toexplore in non-motorised boats, most of Scotland's rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Scottish Natural Heritage now has aprogramme of conducting annual surveys of how people use the countryside (see www.snh.org.uk). Unlike similar surveys inEngland in recent decades, they are not forgetting to ask questions about wild swimming. The results for 2004/05 showed that, as we would expect, walking was by far the most popular outdoor activity; 67% of the sample had been walking duringJuly to September. After that we find, for the same period, 8% had been cycling, 6% had been fishing, and 4% had swam inrivers, seas and lochs. Twice as many people had been swimming than had taken part in all other watersports and four timesas many as went horse riding!We don't know how many people swim in natural waters south of the border. There are many reasons - not least the legalconstraints - why participation could be lower. But the Scottish survey suggests that perhaps wild swimming in England may not be so very different from other water sports, which local authorities and water companies often allow in countryparks and reservoirs where swimming is banned, and not so different from horse riding, that local authorities actively promote in their Rights of Way Improvement Plans. But, they don't even ask about the swimmers.[March 2008]NEW BOOKS  SWIMHIKING IN THE LAKE DISTRICT AND NORTH EAST ENGLAND By Peter HayesSwimhiking is based on a simple idea: instead of leaving your clothes on the shore, take them with you in a swimsac. Once you are no longer tied to the spot you enter the water, all kinds of possibilities open up. If you have not tried it yet, this superb book will inspire you to set out on your own swimhiking adventures. Peter explains how it is easy to make a simple swimsac. The routes he covers take you across almost all the lakes and most of the best swimming tarns in the Lake District, as well as a selection of historic swimhikes in the North East. There is something for everyone including:* Family Swimhikes. Swim across Windermere and walk to Beatrix Potter’s house.* Wildlife Swimhikes. Swim to Holy Island with seals and puffins.* Heritage Swimhikes. Swimhike to Durham Cathedral and Hadrian’s Wall.* Challenge Swimhikes. Try the Frog Graham Round: 40 summits, four lakes and three islands.Peter also draws on his professional expertise as a political theorist to argue succinctly that swimming in lakes and rivers is a natural right--regardless of what officious signs might say. The book is 200 pages long and includes numerous black and white maps and illustrations. Swimhiking is available from the swimsac website WILD SWIM By Kate RewWild Swim is a lovely book in all its aspects. Its tone accommodates comedy, glee, beauty, discomfort and hard fact. It’s inspiring, without being prescriptive. It sends the mind out adventuring, but also makes specific adventure possible. There are some fine touches: the 'oil-rig' water that Kate finds roiling darkly around the legs of the Brighton piers, or Dominick’s description of a llyn up in the Rhinog hills as 'gruff' – so unexpected as an adjective, so exactly right (not least because the Rhinogs has a healthy population of wild goats). This is a wonderful - in the old sense of that word - and joyful romp of a book. It's been researched with bravery and impishness, and written with the same qualities: a dash of Huck Finn and plenty of Mole and Ratty. Roger Deakin spoke to me several times about his wariness of any commercialisation of wild swimming. He was concerned that the improvisation of it all would be lost. But I know that he would have approved of Wild Swim. This is a book that, likeWaterlog, will launch a thousand swimmers. So go on. Dive in. (From the preface by Robert Macfarlane's)More on the OSS website. Click here for your chance to win a free copy. WILD SWIMMING By Daniel StartDaniel's book is a 'must have' for seasoned wild swimmers who will be introduced to scores of new magical swimming holes all over the UK. It also offers an attractive package to newcomers who will find in it all they need to know before takingthe plunge. We liked the useful double-referencing - one by regions and the other by type of swims at a glance (e.g. Paddling; Combined with Cycling; Suitable for Tubing; By Waterfalls).One hundred and fifty of the most attractive swimming venues in the UK are clearly marked on regional maps with clear directions on how to find them. The text is laced with skilfully balanced bits of history, folklore, useful hints and episodes from the author's own experience as he travelled up and down the country gathering the information. The author's literary talent is well matched by his photographic skills. The abundance of excellent photographs make thebook particularly attractive and interesting. Last but not least, the book contains dedicated chapters on Ideas for Waterside Games and Activities; Water Fun; Rafts and Boats; Canoe Camping; Riverside Saunas; Wildlife; Water Quality; Swimming Legally and even Waterside Edible Wild Fruits and Vegetables - all of which have new and fascinating information, useful to anyone who is interested in enjoyingthe outdoors. More on Daniel's new website. Congratulations to Daniel on a great achievement.Some of Daniel's pictures Sunday Times article See also aselection of swimming places from the book on Google Maps (launched by Daniel). Add your own entry with text and pictures. Click here Welsh Assembly Minister for the Environment supports open water swimming We have been informed that, in a speech delivered by Jane Davidson, Welsh Assembly Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing at the launch of 'Wales' strategy for water related recreation' she expressed heropinion that people should be encouraged to swim in Wales' natural waters.The Minister's responsibilities includeplanning, energy, water, access, waste and the promotion of walking and cycling.Jane is a keen cyclist and walker (she recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro). Until her appointment as Minister, she was the Vice President of the Ramblers in Wales and has walked most of Wales' long distance footpaths and regularly cycles to theAssembly.SUMMER 2008 SWIMMING EVENTSClick here For details of the NeneRiver Swim on the 10th August.Please apply now - ENTRIES CLOSE ON JULY 10.The Great North Swim - Saturday 13th September in Lake Windermere. Full details can be found on the website. It promises to be a fantastic day and is open to elite swimmers (who will set off first) as well as to those new to outdoor swimming. The event is part of the Great Activity Campaign which is intended to get people out of their chairs and into activity!Great Pier Swim - Saturday 27th SeptemberThis will be the first open water event of its kind to be held in Southend-on-Sea. Havens Hospices have teamed up with the great Southend pier which is the longest in the world, to put on this unique event. The challenge is a 3k open waterswim from Southend Pier. For more information or to book visit www.havenshospices.org.uk or call 01702 220356 jcurtis@havenshospices.org.uk This will be a fundraising event for Havens Hospices which incorporates Fair Havens Adult Hospice and Little Havens Children's Hospice. Fair Havens cares for adults suffering cancer and other life threatening illnesses through its In Patient Unit, Day Care Centre, Community Macmillan team, Hospice at Home and Bereavement Services. Little Havensprovides respite and end of life care for life limiting children and their families from across Essex. It will costnearly £5 million this year to ensure the care continues, with limited government funding. The charity relies heavilyon the generosity of the public and businesses through kind donations, fundraising events, charity shops and gifts inwills.The summer season for open water swimming has started in Cork Ireland.The largest swim of the year (400+ swimmers expected) the 'Vibes & Scribes" Lee Swim is open for entries. Details on www.corkmasters.ie The event is a 1.25 mile tidal/river swim through the heart of the City – followed by a great party!PLEASE COME.There is a full schedule of casual and smaller event swims in Cork each year – about 200 each year! All competent swimmers- in just Speedos or in wetsuits are welcome. Very few of the swims cost money or require registration. There are groups of swimmers active in Kinsale, E Cork, Fermoy and W Cork. Go to http://www.corktri.com/mvc.php?message=sis to download schedules.If you are over for business or holiday - send email Ned Denison (ned.denison@cadcoevolution.com) and he will get you connected to the next swim! See last year's swim on YoutubeMore swims on the Outdoor Swimming Society (OSS) website.Organising a swim in your area this summer? Contact us and get it publicised here 'Look, everyone is out of step except our Johnny!'  There is now little doubt that the attitude of some UK organisation towardsswimming in natural water, inland water in particular, is not only unique - it looks increasingly irrational and obsessive.Take, for example the following extract from the official website of the Yosemite National Park in the States MORE.... The dangers in the water - the lies, damn lies and statistics 'For water safety advice talk to the cool people in swimsuits not to the wet people in grey suits'[Pete Roberts - famous for not being the founder of the RoSPA Admiration Society (RoSPAAS), 2007] Have you ever been bewildered by quoted UK drowning statistics? Warned of catching Weil's disease or of the threat posed by poisonous algae? Click here to discover how the health and safety merchants manipulate the media. Extracts from the judgement in the Tomlinson v Congleton BC HSE clarifies scope of 'Blue Book' Heath ponds court victory Environment Agency clarifies its attitude to swimming The verdict is unanimous: the H&S Bonkers must be stopped Judges, politicians, those at the helm of the Health and Safety watchdogs, a writer and a scientist (to mention just a few) have voiced their concern over the proliferation of irrational restrictions on recreational activities which has plagued our society in recent years. [Click on the images to read what each celebrity had to say on this issue.]              So who are the Health and Safety Bonkers? Click here to find out. Britain's waterside beauty spots still under threat: Click here to find out whyRoSPA must be stopped LIDOS AND SWIMMING POOLS NEWS The Pooling Resources Group has been set up to help people campaigning for their local pools Local authorities, concerned at the rising cost of energy, are looking for savings. With every swim costing on average £5, and being subsidised to the tune of £3.30 (so swimmers only pay £1.70 per swim) they are fully justified in doing so. Among proposals being considered are: lowering the temperature, delaying refurbishment plans and even closure of some of the UK's 5,200 pools. There is of course, as our members are very well aware, a much cheaper alternative to heated pools. It just needs to be permitted! Do we really need to tell Richard Caborne the Sports Minister? Surely in hot weather provision for outdoor swimming, perhaps in depth-restricted areas of lakes could be considered. There'd be no heating bill to pay. Read about the joy of open air pools in Lidos for cool kids published in the Times on June 18, 2007 Click here for links to lido and other media articles. Campaign to save Broomhill pool  Opened in 1938, Broomhill Open Air Swimming Pool has been central to summer leisure activities for many generations of Ipswichians. The Pool building is one of the most attractive Lido style structures in Britain The pool is the only Olympic sized open air pool in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex and offers the only 5 metre diving board in the county. In addition to its appeal to recreational swimmers, many local groups have used Broomhill Pool for a wide range of water sports including Live Saving Training, Canoeing and even Dinghy Sailing. The 1970's and 1980's saw as many as 50-60,000 swimmers use the pool during the 90-100 day opening period, but lack of investment, a steady reduction in opening hours, a reduction in the period of opening and increasing health and safety restrictions have all led to a reduction in the number of swimmers using the pool. In 2003 the Council took the first step on a path which put the pool under threat of being demolished. The Friends of Broomhill Pool group was set up to safeguard the future of the pool and has so far raised a huge amount of support for saving this unique facility. A nine-months feasibility study is currently in progress (Jan-Sept 2006). For further details Click here to visit their website or here to read an article by Sally Wainman publishe on the 999today.com website. RIVER & LAKE CAMPAIGNS Problems at Hatchmere?Has anybody challenged your legal right to swim at Hatchmere Lake, Cheshire, lately? Please contact us givingas many details as possible and pictures if available. See also www.hatchmere.com [Posted July 08] Black Park Campaign update (May 06)  Bury Lake update Following the latest legal clarifications of operators liabilities regarding swimming in open water there is no longer a justification for keeping traditional inland water bathing sites, such as at Bury Lake, Rickmansworth closed to the public. More.. RALSA is an association of clubs & individuals representing wild swimmers. Membership is free and we make no demands.Please join us to show your support[Click here] Please contact us by emailing to: yacovlev@hotmail.com Media enquiries: 0151 428 3990 (9 till late) 0793 0810 316(M) Postal address: 26 Baroncroft Rd. Woolton Liverpool L25 6EH Member of the Y.Lev Web Sites 2003 |
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