A Kington walking group has received its prestigious King’s Award in a wonderful ceremony

Kington Walks has been presented with its Kings Award for Voluntary Service by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Mr Edward Harley CBE and Mrs Harley.

The award recognizes the dedicated work of over 100 Kington Walks volunteers and is the MBE for Volunteer Groups.

The ceremony took place at The Burton Hotel, Kington on Friday, April 24 2026, which, fittingly, was the first day of Kington’s Spring Walking Festival.

The Chairman and The Leader of Herefordshire County Council, Mr Roger Phillips and Mr Jonathan Lester attended, together with seven Deputy Lieutenants and members of Kington Town Council, including Kington’s Mayor, Mr Philip Sell.

The 80+ guests included many of Kington Walks’ local volunteers and supporters.

At the ceremony Barbara Barrett and Bernard Ray of Kington Walks received the award crystal and certificate signed by His Majesty King Charles from Mr Edward Harley, Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire.

In addition, two volunteers from Kington Walks will attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May 2026, along with other recipients of this year’s award.

The award to Kington Walks was first announced as part of the King’s 2025 Birthday honours and was one of only two such awards given to Herefordshire volunteer groups that year.

Afterwards the guests enjoyed a beautiful cake created by Solange of Kington, flowers from The Living Room, Kington’s new florist were presented to Mrs Harley and a signed copy of Kathryn Moore’s lovely book, A Brush with the Borders, from her spell as Artist in Residence at Hergest Croft Gardens was presented to Mr Edward Harley, Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire.

Kington Walks is a registered charity, established in 2011 with the aim of promoting walking with its benefits to health and well-being in Kington and its surrounding area.

They run two popular annual Kington Walking Festivals, bringing hundreds of visitors annually to the town, and a weekly Walking for Health programme in partnership with Kington Medical Practice, providing group walks for local people to improve health, support recuperation and offer friendly company.

Kington Walks volunteers also carry out regular maintenance of over 30 miles of the area’s local footpaths, improving accessibility for visitors and locals alike, heading out fortnightly to strim and trim away obstructions and strimming and fix broken stiles, footbridges gates and signs.

Edward Harley CBE, Lord-Lieutenant for Herefordshire, said: ‘I am delighted that Kington Walks has been awarded this honour. It is wonderful that the Kington group of volunteers has enabled so many to enjoy and appreciate the great outdoors and the beauty of Herefordshire. The positive impact for the local community and visitors to the county have been immense.”

Since the group was founded in 2011, Kington Walks has succeeded in its aim to put the small market town of Kington on the Herefordshire-Powys border on the map as a Centre for Walking, benefitting the town’s hospitality and retail economy, and enhancing Kington’s unique character.

Support from the community of Kington has been superb, with local businesses each sponsoring a Walking Festival Walk, and Kington Chamber of Trade, Kington Town Council and the Kington Medical Centre all providing backing for the group’s activities in recognition of how much difference walking makes here.

Chair of the Trustees of Kington Walks, Sarah Lee, said: ‘We were all excited and looking forward to being presented with this high award by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant. As well as our newest volunteers, the original founders of Kington Walks took part in the ceremony.

“It was a proud day for Kington Walks and the town of Kington. We are honoured and thrilled that our group’s work has been recognised nationally. This is a tribute to so much hard work and commitment over the years, sharing our love of walking and our wonderful local countryside with so many people.

“It is also a tribute to the community of our great little town where people from all walks of life have come together to make so many good things happen.

“One of our walkers recently said to us, ‘Walking with you guys has transformed my life this year. It’s given me the confidence and motivation to join other groups and activities. I’ve made friends and really filled my time with movement and fun. For once, I am not dreading the winter.’”

Kington Walks is one of 231 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award this year.

Their work, along with others from across the UK, reminds us of all the ways dedicated volunteers are contributing to their local communities and working to make life better for those around them.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by local volunteer groups to support their communities.

It was created in 2002 to celebrate Her Late Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee and was continued following the accession of His Majesty The King.

2025 marks the third year of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. Award winners this year are wonderfully diverse and include volunteer groups from across the UK.

To find out more about Kington Walks and how to get involved, visit www.kingtonwalks.org or get in touch on [email protected]