Website highlights allure of Welsh countryside

Edited by the Marketingservicestalk editorial team Mar 28, 2007

Accessible interactive maps, new chapters and easy access to online publications feature on a website - www.ccw.gov.uk - launched by the Countryside Council of Wales through Reading Room.

With award-winning digital communications agency Reading Room leading the strategy and delivery, CCW's central objective is to enable all audiences to discover the spectacular natural heritage of the Welsh countryside and how it is being cared for.

The site promotes opportunities that exist to simply get out there and enjoy nature.

Rob Owen, CCW head of communication, said: "After a lot of research, the website has been designed from the reader's point of view - making it easy to roam around without getting lost: the information will be continuously updated as news becomes available and in response to enquiries by readers of the website.

"As the site develops, our emphasis will be on 'where you live' - we will strive to highlight places, natural features and nature conservation projects near towns and cities, so that people can enjoy, and get involved with nature directly - without the hassle of travel".

Kris Croucher, Reading Room's commercial director, added: "It's simply fantastic to see the vision that we've shared between us come to life.

"Working with such a strong team at CCW we have proven it is possible to create a truly creatively stunning, highly interactive site, rich in high quality editorial written specifically for the web.

"The site is intended to be an exemplar of accessibility and innovation online" Some of the new features include: a beautiful new web design - structured to allow readers to browse through the site easily; fantastic new website standards - the site has been built to allow disabled users an excellent online experience - you can even 'listen' to the site pages directly; new interactive maps - using innovative mapping technology from GIS leaders Dotted Eyes, the site will allow people to explore walking routes or just plan their Welsh countryside adventure, all from their own computer; brand new website chapters - exploring the beauty of the landscape, our habitats and species, and other important areas - such as environmental change; available publications and research - a catalogue of the latest CCW reports and resources; best in class search - based on industry leading technology from Autonomy, the site will respond to natural language and immerse users in truly relevant related editorial.

Even as the site launches, new features have been penned in for launch in the next few months.

These include a new 'Education' chapter, as well as a central 'Where I live' chapter - in line with our ongoing site emphasis and commitment to involve people in nature directly.