DEPUTY Surveyor Rob Guest and other Forest Enterprise staff and friends are aiming to walk around the ancient boundary of the Forest of Dean for charity.
Perambulations of the Forest have been undertaken for nearly 1,000 years but Rob Guest will be the first Deputy Surveyor to make the 56-mile perambulation since his predecessor, Edward Machen, walked the boundary in September 1833.
Machen set out with three colleagues to check that the encroachments that had been made into Crown land were accurately recorded.
One aim of the May 2000 walk is to raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis research and the Cancer and Leukaemia in Children (CLIC) charity.
In Machen's time the Forest boundary was marked by numbered stones, many of which have disappeared in the intervening years.
Machen began at Blaize Bailey at stone number one and headed in a clockwise direction. The 2000 walk will begin at Plump Hill, near where stone 183 stood, and head in the opposite direction.
"The first day, Friday May 5, will be the hardest because of the undulating terrain and problems such as bramble along the route.
"We are hoping for fine, crisp weather. Not everyone is able to walk the whole distance, but lots of people are joining in for at least one of the days, helping us to raise money for two very worthwhile charities."
Sponsorship forms are available from Forest Enterprise's office in Bank Street, Coleford, and the walkers will have collection boxes.