Jane’s Walk is an annual festival of free, citizen-led walking conversations inspired by Jane Jacobs.

The walks allow people to tell stories about their communities, explore their cities, and connect with neighbours. They are designed as a walking conversation–so come along and find out more about Liverpool as well as share your own stories of the area.

This year, two free walks are being organised in Liverpool. Book online now to avoid disapointment.

Walk 1: Liverpool Waterfront

When: Saturday 4th May 11am-12.30pm

Walk leader: Rob Burns

Meeting place: Porthole outside of John Lewis – near Liverpool ONE steps

Rob Burns is an archaeologist, urban designer and heritage specialist with over 30 years’ experience in the sector. Formerly employed by Historic England as a Historic Areas Inspector for the North West, and then as the Urban Design and Heritage Manager for Liverpool, he now works as an independent consultant nationally. He was involved with the nomination and management of the Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City World Heritage Site, and in many of the regeneration schemes in the city–including Liverpool ONE, Mann Island, Lime Street Gateway, Liverpool Waters and Kings Dock–and is still involved with some of the current large-scale projects in the city, in a consultancy role.

Walk 2: Accessing the RopeWalks

When: Saturday 4th May 2pm-3.30pm

Walk leader: Pam Thomas

Meeting place: RopeWalks Square – opposite FACT, 88 Wood St, L1 4DQ

Pam Thomas is an elected member of Liverpool City Council and is Cabinet Member for Inclusive and Accessible City. Pam is a wheelchair user and, along with other disabled people, has been involved with campaigns to remove societal disabling barriers–both cultural and attitudinal–which perpetuate systems and practices that do not take account of disabled people. Many people recognise personal ‘disability’ (personal activity limitation, which is caused by long term medical conditions). Disabled people have shown that there is also ‘social disability’ caused by societal disabling barriers, due to disabled people not being taken into account in built environment design. These disabling barriers mean that disabled people encounter and interact with the built environment in a very different way from people who are fully mobile and have full sensory or other perception (such as people with autism, dementia, anxiety).

The RopeWalks area of Liverpool presents barriers for disabled people with mobility or visual impairments. This walk will highlight some of the issues disabled people encounter when attempting to take part in urban life in areas such as this. Potential solutions will also be considered.

Both walks are free – Book online.