British Horse Society awarded grant for Geographical Information System

The British Horse Society has been awarded a grant of £8,115 by Awards for All for its Geographical Information System (GIS) project.

The project aims to form an expansive equestrian database of information, utilised through Digital Ordnance Survey maps and layers of numerical data and illustrative images.

The Society currently holds 1:25000 scale maps on the system for Britain and intends to add Northern Ireland and the Republic as soon as funding is sourced.

Heather Holmes, BHS GIS Officer, said: “The news of the grant is absolutely magnificent and we are extremely grateful to Awards for All. The grant will enable the project to become mobile and accessible to members of the public, in particularly local communities and people wishing to make a difference in their area.

“It will significantly assist the fulfilment both of the aims of the BHS, particularly those specific to Access and Rights of Way, and the promotion of equestrianism in the UK and Ireland. There are many varied potentials within this project which we look forward to developing.”

The project, which is currently under development, will be launched at the Access Conference on 23 September in Bath. Following the launch members of the public can contact the BHS at its Stoneleigh headquarters by phone, email or letter, and see live demonstrations at selected equestrian events throughout the UK.

Awards for All England is supported by the Arts Council England, the Big Lottery Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England.