INTO EXPERTS WALK ‘THE ENGLISH WAY’ TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release: 10 September 2014

INTO EXPERTS WALK ‘THE ENGLISH WAY’ TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Leading representatives of the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) are going on a pilgrimage from Ferrol, on the North Coast of Spain, to Santiago de Compostela, next week along a route promoted by INTO members, Tesouros de Galicia.

The walk has two main aims: to raise awareness of the English Way, which offers a wide palette of art, history, culture, natural beauty and wonderful gastronomy, and the work of Tesouros de Galicia, INTO’s only Spanish member organisation; and to raise funds for and awareness of the work of the International National Trusts Organisation.

It is part of a wider project to promote the English Way route, 80% financed by the Diputación Provincial de A Coruña and implemented by Tesouros de Galicia.

From 15th – 19th September, INTO Trustees Simon Molesworth (our Chairman from Australia), Bill Turner (our Canadian Vice-Chairman), Justin Albert (from Wales) and Emily Drani and John de Coninck (from Uganda) will be joined by members of the INTO Secretariat, Catherine Leonard and Oliver Maurice on a voyage of discovery along the 120km English Way.

They will participate in various events promoted by the councils, associations and groups that make up this route, not forgetting to sample local foods, wines and tourist attractions!

The catalyst behind the walk is INTO’s Director of Membership, Oliver Maurice, who writes “For many years I have wanted to walk one of the Pilgrims’ Ways to Santiago de Compostela and as I was approaching my 70th birthday I decided to celebrate the occasion by doing so. We have been working closely with one of our newer members, Tesouros de Galicia who are putting together the detailed programme for the Walk.”

This is the first time INTO has organised a sponsored event of this kind and we are hoping to raise vital funds to support work such as our Small Grants Programme which enables our member organisations to undertake low budget projects such as the preparation of a management plan, participation at a conference or the publication of a brochure.

“Money we raise by walking this walk will go to support INTO. It will go toward sharing experiences and opportunities with all our member organisations and toward better communication between our world-wide Trusts. INTO is a large family and I am very proud to be raising money for this global partnership that protects and shares our heritage”, said Justin Albert, Director of the National Trust in Wales.

Emily Drani reflects “I work with the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda which is a member of INTO. Over the past couple of years, CCFU has made several attempts to preserve our national heritage including the built heritage. Currently many beautiful, old historical buildings in Kampala are being demolished at an alarming rate. This is probably because there is so little knowledge about their historical significance. This fundraising walk will contribute to the production of a historical buildings’ map for Kampala city. This will be the first of its kind and will support our efforts to enrich cultural tourism and serve as a valuable learning aid for heritage education.”

For more information, please contact Catherine.leonard@nationaltrust.org.uk and watch our website www.internationaltrusts.org and social media outlets for updates along the Way.

NOTES

INTO was established in 2007 as a permanent focal point for the movement and is now the leading authority on the work of National Trusts worldwide and the issues affecting these community-based, non-governmental conservation organisations.

Since the establishment of the first ‘National Trust’ in 1895, the movement has grown to include a range of countries and INTO now has over sixty members from Australia to Zimbabwe! Each is different, but each faces similar challenges and opportunities: increased pressure on land and landscapes, economic volatility and remaining relevant in an ever changing society.

Tesouros de Galicia is a non-profit association that intends to promote the Galician Heritage and its cultural identity. It encourages a different image of Galician tourism and is seeking to promote this internationally. At this moment, Tesouros de Galicia is working in a project to enhance the English Way, which is co-financed by the Diputación Provincial de A Coruña. The visit of the INTO Board is one of the ways to promote this project, along with other activities planned to take place in all the municipalities along the English Way.

Oliver Maurice in La Coruna

Galician gastronomy

Cathedral of Santiago