COMMUNICATION
Every organisation whether they be a private company trying to sell you something or a public body such as ourselves trying to explain and involve people in our work, all put out publicity to attract attention. Often these intentions can go astray, for example we could put Information Boards up on the Hills informing visitors about the view -some things are best explored by discovery rather than forcing education at people. This is especially true when someone is carrying out a recreational pursuit. Getting the message across can be done subtly, one of the more direct ways is by word of mouth. We know that the majority of visitors to the Hills are in fact local. The grapevine does work but only works well when those spreading the message are well informed. Part of the purpose of this newsletter is to communicate to those of you who are our most enthusiastic supporters. I hope that over the years you have gained many nuggets of information from the various contributors to the Beacon.

A volunteer warden suggested we have a regular article in the Gazette and I am pleased to report this does now happen in the section devoted to Parishes and WIs. I try in this brief column to give interesting and non-contentious snippets of information.

Increasingly people are looking to the internet to provide their needs and we definitely welcome that. The more information on there about our organisation and its role in managing the Hills the better. We are working towards having our forms on the web site so that people could make applications for easements, seek permission for events and posters etc.

Is all this hitting the spot - have we got our communication right? Sometimes I am too close to the action to tell. We could put out a visitor survey to tell or we could ask you to contact us and tell us. So if you have time during the winter evenings look up our web site www.malvernhills.org.uk or have a look at our leaflets and tell us how we could improve. One new initiative for next year is the production of a leaflet which will explain our responsibility in looking after the Hills.