The Friends of the Parkland Walk is an association formed in 1988 when the linear park was threatened by transport studies. The threat went away with a sea change in transport thinking. For a while the Friends continued with conservation work in association with BTCV, then became dormant. In 2004 the 50th anniversary of the last passenger train was celebrated with a festival on the Walk and the idea for re-invigorating the 'Friends' started. It now is dedicated to resolving issues around investment in, and management of, the Walk.

The Association has now been reconvened and is monitoring proposals to invest in the infrastructure of the Walk now it is part of the Capital Ring of the London Walking Forum's network. It is working with Haringey and Islington and consultants working on their behalf.

The aim of the Friends it to achieve balance between the often competing interests as a walkway, linear park, nature reserve and safe route to schools.

The pictures shown here illlustrate a vision of how the Parkland Walk could look if well managed and sensitively maintained. The top picture is the Jack Mytton Way a former Great Western Railway line on Wenlock Edge - part of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The middle and lower pictures are at Bakewell on the Monsall Trail in the Peak District National Park. See the issues link to see how our Walk fails to meet these ideals. In some places it is almost as good as this - see the pictures of the good bits.