Over the years, and started back around 2015/6 Rashiwe - suggested a Walk for Freedom. Ever since many of us have partaken in an activity, which is free, inspirational {when in the Countryside} and a good, gentle form of exercise. The first step {excuse the pun} is to consult the maps - both online and off-line {paper-maps} to "plan to explore" - in the UK we are very fortunate to have the OS {Ordnance Survey} and an amazing amount of public footpaths and bridleways. More about the UK and its heritage of mapping: The name ORDNANCE SURVEY hints at how it all began. See more history later;
Our first Walk for Freedom {as ZHRO - since we had tried a Walk to London in 2026 as ROHR} was on 21st August 2017. We took some time at the hills above Brighton - at the Public House, called the Devil's Dyke {near the geographic feature of the same name} See our Photo Album CLICK HERE - to open a new Window
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In 2017 our Walk for Freedom finished at the Zim-Fest - where we commandeered the stage to award Medals to those who got to the end!
History of OS - to be continued
"Britain’s mapping agency has its roots in military strategy: mapping the Scottish Highlands following rebellion in 1745. Later, as the French Revolution rumbled on the other side of the English Channel, there were real fears the bloodshed might sweep across to our shores. So the government ordered its defence ministry of the time – the Board of Ordnance – to begin a survey of England’s vulnerable southern coasts. Until then, maps had lacked the detail required for moving troops and planning campaigns."
"It was an innovative young engineer called William Roy who was tasked with the initial small-scale military survey of Scotland. Starting in 1747, it took eight years to complete what was known as the Great Map at a scale of 1:36 000 (1.75 inches to a mile). Roads, hills, rivers, types of land cover and settlements were recorded. William Roy described it as rather a ‘magnificent military sketch than a very accurate map of the country’."
"Roy’s surveying parties of about eight relied on simple surveying compasses to measure the angles, and chains up to 50 feet long to measure distance between important features. Much of the rest was sketched in by eye. Nevertheless, the map was a powerful tool as part of a broader strategy to open up access to the Highlands. The fact that Roy was just 21 years old with no military commission when he started the survey makes his achievements even more extraordinary. His work paved the way for modern surveying and he understood the strategic importance of accurate maps. At the time of his death in 1790 his vision of a national survey for Britain was almost within reach."
Today - and the future
OS has changed from a centuries-old venerable mapping company into a big data powerhouse. Our location data – or geographic information (GI) – has weaved itself into the very fabric of everyday life, right across Great Britain. While the public still knows us for our comprehensive range of printed leisure maps, the digital side of the business accounts for more than 90% of turnover. The public and private sectors benefit from accurate information about ‘location’ and a world-leading reliable geographic framework helps deliver effective and efficient services.
The majority of information collected in Britain has some geographic feature – from the location of people, buildings and postcodes to administrative boundaries and flood risk areas. The potential to help make businesses more profitable and efficient through linking and analysing different sets of information is enormous. Major investments have been made to help us collect and maintain richer data. This is achieved today through field surveyors, global navigation satellite systems, remote sensing and a range of advanced geographical information systems (GIS) tools and software.
All 243,241 square kilometres of Great Britain are surveyed and up to 20,000 changes are put into the database daily. By being at the forefront of geospatial capability for more than 230 years, we’ve built a reputation as the world’s most trusted geospatial partner.
