SPRING/SUMMER PROGRAMME April 2020 – July 2020

www.mendipramblers.co.uk

MENDIP RAMBLERS FREE WALKING FESTIVAL 2020 SHIPHAM AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND 29/30/31st August On each of the 3 days there will be 3 morning walks, ranging from 3-4 to 11 miles, starting at 10.00am, and 1 shorter walk, 3-4 miles, starting at 1.30pm Walks will start from: Shipham Village Hall New Road, Shipham, Winscombe Somerset BS25 1SG We are again offering our popular two short walks on each day. Somerset Ramblers, new and inexperienced walkers, non-Ramblers, visitors to the area and children with their families are all welcome. Please see the website for detailed information. Tea and cake will be available after each walk. Please make a donation! All details at www.mendipramblers.co.uk Any questions? Call Kevin on 01749 672996

Walks in this programme include: Cup of tea walks in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Stourhead, Coxley and Wells A linear Wessex Wanderer walk (4 different lengths) with Mike Walking with Janet in Cantuctun, Cantoctona Cantetone or simply the Quantocks Laurence will lead you from Bargain Wood on a walk in the Wye valley

COMMITTEE NEWS

THE MENDIP WEB SITE Unfortunately some parts of the website have been down for the last month or two as they are on Tony Dyson's web server that he has had to take down as it was hacked whilst he was in New Zealand. We are hoping this will be available again shortly.

What else is on the Mendip website?

If you want to find a walk on the Mendip website Simply click on Walks and choose Recommended walks. There are over a hundred here. If you want ideas for a weekend away walking Look for and choose Past Holidays. If you want to see what new walks have been put on the walks schedule Look at Walks. Choose Walks Programme Work in Progress. Choose Click here to view latest version. On the top left of the schedule you will find a date with a letter. If there is more than one update on a day, the letter changes from a to b etc. contact Peggy at [email protected] If you want to report a problem on a footpath in Somerset Look for and choose Footpath. Click on Report a footpath problem in Somerset.

If you want to use the Interactive Map Look under Footpath and choose How to Use the Interactive Map. If you are interested in finding lost paths in your area Look under News on the website and click on Lost Paths and Hidden Highways. You can see what your neighbourhood looked like in 1888. If you are interested in Footpath Regulations and Law Look under Footpath Management Knowledge Base. If you need a map Look at Map and Book Library. If you are lucky, let Les know what you want.

COMMUNICATION - How do we communicate with our members

Programme Our programme comes out three time a year and contains our walk programme, details of future social events and holidays plus other useful information about the ramblers and walking. We print about 250 programmes. The majority are hand delivered by volunteers and the rest are posted. This is very time consuming and expensive at over £600 a year. The programme is available on the web site for you to read, download to your phone, computer, or print. If you DO NOT need a paper copy to be sent to you then please let Les know by emailing him on [email protected]

Facebook Mendip Ramblers have a Facebook page. If we need to communicate with you in-between programmes we will put it on Facebook. For example, if the start point of a walk is changed or a walk or event is cancelled, then this will be on our Facebook page. We strongly recommend that you sign up to our Facebook page. Details of how to do this can be found on our web site under News.

Email We will not send advertising and junk to your email address. Emails will be sent to the email address you have given Ramblers. We cannot send emails to other addresses, so please ensure your membership details have your correct email address. We will only send emails containing important information such as a walk or event being cancelled or changed.

WALKS AWAY

Brittany Thursday 17th September to Thursday 24th September 2020 (Self Booking) 7 days walking in France. This year, we shall be stopping at ‘Le Panoramic Camping’ at Binic-Étables-Sur-Mer in Brittany. https://www.lepanoramic.co.uk/ This has camping as well as mobile homes for rent. Binic is about 3 hours drive from Cherbourg (ferry from either Portsmouth or Poole), and about 1½ hours from St Malo (ferry from Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth or Weymouth). Tony & Jane Dyson 01761 232715 [email protected] I hope to see you all there next September, when hopefully there shouldn’t be any midges. Tony & Jane

MENDIP RAMBLERS EXTRA WALKS Thursday: West Mendip Walkers. Every Thursday Tony S arranges walks for this sub group of Mendip Ramblers. Details are on the website.

Sunday: Frome Rights of Way. Every second Sunday of the month there is an afternoon walk. Members of Mendip Ramblers walk with this group. Frome Rights of Way is not affiliated to the Ramblers. Contact Mike on 01373 472101 or Les on 07768 556735.

COMMITTEE 2019:

Mike Plaskitt [email protected] 01373 472101 Secretary: Janet Morland [email protected] 01458 835238 Web Master: Les Stather [email protected] 07768 556735 Assisted by Tony Dyson Treasurer: Tony Dyson [email protected] 01761 232715 Footpath Officer East: Les Stather [email protected] 07768 556735 Footpath Officer West: Brian Underwood [email protected] 01749 672457 Assisted by Ken Masters Membership Secretary: Mary Birchall [email protected] 01373 474530 Press Secretary/Publicity Officer: Elaine Dadley [email protected] 01275 461017 Social Committee: Jane Dyson [email protected] 01761 232715 Area Committee Rep: Les Stather [email protected] 07768 556735 Programme Co-ordinator: Peggy Fortunati [email protected] 01278 783270 Committee Members: Jane Dyson [email protected] 01761 232715 Kevin Moynihan [email protected] 01749 672996 Nancy Moynihan [email protected] 01749 672996 Mo Bennett [email protected] 07387 088151

Leaders, thank you for your walks in this programme!

Every walker is a guard on patrol to protect the ineffable - Rebecca Solnit

A reminder to all walk leaders Some walkers are not confident when crossing fields with cows and horses. The committee recommends that all walk leaders gather their group together before crossing such field, enabling members to walk together in a group if they so wish. Could walk leaders be also mindful not to underestimate the distance they specify on walks.

The following days do not have a walk If you would like to fill one in, please contact Peggy Sunday 19/04/2020 Sunday 28/06/2020 Sunday 31/05/2020 Sunday 19/07/2020 Sunday 07/06/2020

WALKS PROGRAMME

Date, start time Grade, description, start, coordinates, distance Contact Thu 02/04/2020 Moderate. Walk in the Batcombe area Tony P Time: 10:00 Meet: Batcombe, near the church (park considerately) 01749 342285 EX142 BA4 6HP, ST690390 07752 689629 Distance: 6mi/9.7km Sun 05/04/2020 Moderate. Prestleigh, Pilton and Burford Bob & Rosemary Time: 10:00 Meet Shepton Mallet, junction of Compton Road and 01749 346023 EX142 Westway Lane BA4 5FH, ST617428 Distance: 12mi/19.3km Mon 06/04/2020 Easy. Cup of tea walk Stratton-on-the-Fosse Val & Trevor L Time: 13:30 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall 01761 232311 EX142 BA3 4QQ, ST658510 Distance: 3mi/4.8km Thu 09/04/2020 Moderate. Wookey Hole and Priddy Tony P Time: 10:00 Meet: Ebbor Gorge car park 01749 342285 EX141 BA5 1EL, ST520485 07752 689629 Distance: 7mi/11.3km Sun 12/04/2020 Moderate. Easter walk: Blagdon and Ubley Janet Time: 10:00 Meet: Burrington Combe top car park 01458 835238 EX141 BS40 7TZ, ST489581 07706 181609 Distance: 10mi/16.1km Thu 16/04/2020 Moderate. Walk from Alfred's Tower Mike P Time: 10:00 Meet: Alfred's Tower car park 01373 472101 EX142 BA10 0JS, ST748353 07711 090656 Distance: 6mi/9.7km

Date, start time Grade, description, start, coordinates, distance Contact Thu 23/04/2020 Moderate. Lower Strode and Chew Stoke Gus Time: 10:00 Meet: Herons Green parking area, west side of Chew 01749 840349 EX141 Valley Lake 07840 926769 BS40 6NL, ST554593 Distance: 6.5mi/10.5km Sun 26/04/2020 Moderate. Claverton Down and Kennet & Avon Canal Gus Time: 10:00 Meet: Near bus stop, Bath - Odd Down Park and Ride 01749 840349 EX155 BA2 2PD, ST733615 07840 926769 Distance: 12.5mi/20.1km Thu 30/04/2020 Moderate. Across the Mendips above Wells Margaret P Time: 10:00 Meet: Wells, park Ash Lane, meet east end near A39 01761 232042 EX141 BA5 2LW, ST548465 07910 873853 Distance: 7mi/11.3km Sun 03/05/2020 Moderate. Writhlington, Hemington and Ammerdown Margaret P Time: 10:00 Meet/park in road near Radstock museum 01761 232042 EX142 BA3 3EP, ST689549 07910 873853 Distance: 9.3mi/15km Mon 04/05/2020 Leisurely. Cup of tea walk Stourhead Jane D Time: 13:30 Meet: Stourhead NT car park (charge for non-NT 01761 232715 EX142 members) BA12 6SH, ST778340 Distance: 4.2mi/6.8km Thu 07/05/2020 Moderate. Oakhill, Stoke St Michael, Three Ashes Lane Jane D Time: 10:00 Meet: Oakhill Village Hall car park 01761 232715 EX142 BA3 5AN, ST633475 Distance: 6.5mi/10.5km Sun 10/05/2020 Moderate. Hornblotton, Alford and Sutton Roger Time: 10:00 Meet: Ditcheat, Harvester Yard 07803 791414 EX 142 BA4 6RB, ST624363 Distance: 9.8mi/15.7km Thu 14/05/2020 Moderate. Beckington and Rode Les Time: 10:00 Meet/park on road outside Village Hall 07768 556735 EX142 BA11 6SJ, ST800522 Distance: 6mi/9.7km Sun 17/05/2020 Moderate. Rookham, Watcombe and Wookey Hole Margaret P Time: 10:00 Meet: Ebbor Gorge car park 01761 232042 EX141 BA5 1EL, ST520484 07910 873853 Distance: 11.8mi/19km

Date, start time Grade, description, start, coordinates, distance Contact Thu 21/05/2020 Moderate. Shipham, Sandford and Winscombe Brian L Time: 10:00 Meet: Shipham Village Hall 07856 975976 EX141 BS25 1SG, ST421571 Distance: 5.8mi/9.3km Sun 24/05/2020 Moderate. Street, Polden Way and Compton Dundon Janet Time: 10:00 Meet: Street YHA 01458 835238 EX141 BA16 0TX, ST480345 07706 181609 Distance: 10mi/16.1km Thu 28/05/2020 Moderate. Walk from Bruton Ken M Time: 10:00 Meet: Bruton, free car park in Station Road 01749 670349 EX142 BA10 0EG, ST686348 07784 941439 Distance: 6mi/9.7km Mon 01/06/2020 Easy. Cup of tea walk Coxley (Wells) Mary & Maggie Time: 13:30 Meet: Brown's Garden Centre, Woodford Lane, Wells 07780 387045 or EX141 BA5 1QQ, ST538440 07815 812686 Distance: 3.2mi/5.1km Thu 04/06/2020 Moderate. Beckington, Lullington, Laverton and Rode Mo Time: 10:00 Meet: Beckington, Mill Lane 07387 088151 EX142 BA11 6SN, ST800520 Distance: 7mi/11.3km Thu 11/06/2020 Moderate. Wellow and Combe Hay Brian L Time: 10:00 Meet: Wellow, public car park 07856 975976 EX142 BA2 8QB, ST738581 Distance: 6mi/9.7km Sun 14/06/2020 Moderate. Coleford, Harridge Wood and Stoke St Claris Time: 10:00 Michael Meet: Coleford British Legion car park 07811 242061 EX142 BA3 5PB, ST686495 Distance: 10.5mi/16.9km Thu 18/06/2020 Moderate. Around Glastonbury Francoise Time: 10:00 Meet: Glastonbury, centre of Bretenoux Road 01458 831823 EX141 BA6 8DY, ST508381 Distance: 6mi/9.7km Tea, coffee and cakes at the Meare’s after the walk Sun 21/06/2020 Moderate. A Quantocks ramble Janet Time: 10:00 Meet: Hawkridge Reservoir 01458 835238 EX140 TA5 1AJ, ST206360 07706 181609 Distance: 11mi/17.7km

Date, start time Grade, description, start, coordinates, distance Contact Thu 25/06/2020 Moderate. Winscombe, Winterhead and Shute Shelve Brian L Time: 10:00 Meet: Winscombe Recreation Ground, The Vinery 07856 975976 EX141 BS25 1AZ, ST421572 Distance: 6.4mi/10.3km Sat 27/06/2020 Moderate. Wessex Wanderer linear Walk: Frome to Mike P Time: 10:15 Bath 6, 8 10, 13 miles. Choose your distance. Finish: 01373 472101 EX142 Bath railway/bus station 07711 090656 Meet: Frome Station, BA11 1JU, ST784476 Distance: 13mi/20.9km Thu 02/07/2020 Moderate. Lamyatt and Wyke Champflower Roger Time: 10:00 Meet: Ditcheat outside church. Additional parking in 07803 791414 EX142 Harvester Yard BA4 6RB, ST624363 Distance: 7.5mi/12.1km Sun 05/07/2020 Moderate. Shipham, Burrington and Blagdon Brian L Time: 10:00 Meet: Shipham Village Hall 07856 975976 EX141 BS25 1SG, ST421571 Distance: 10.5mi/16.9km Mon 06/07/2020 Leisurely. Cup of tea walk Wells Mary D Time: 13:30 Meet: Wells, Morrisons car park 01749 342285 EX141 BA5 1FA, ST548451 07951 467453 Distance: 3mi/4.8km Thu 09/07/2020 Moderate. Maiden Bradley, Gare Hill, Honey Pot Lane Mo Time: 10:00 Meet: Maiden Bradley Village Hall car park 07387 088151 EX142 BA12 7JG, ST802390 Distance: 6.5mi/10.5km Sun 12/07/2020 Moderate/hilly. Walk in the Wye Valley Laurence Time: 10:00 Meet: Bargain Wood near Tintern (M48 - A466 - minor 01373 452294 OL14 road). HR2 6QW, SO525299 07568 584994 Distance: 11mi/17.7km Bargain Wood. Take the old bridge M48 to the Chepstow exit, then A466 to Tintern. Half a mile after the Abbey, take minor road signed to Catbrook, on left for 1.5 miles. Through Botany Bay to a junction with a side road. There is a forestry track into the wood to car parking. Thu 16/07/2020 Moderate. Walk from Wells Kevin Time: 10:00 Meet: Wells, western end Ash Lane, where Mendip 01749 672996 EX141 Way crosses 07816 842127 BA5 2LS, ST543463 Distance: 6mi/9.7km

Date, start time Grade, description, start, coordinates, distance Contact Thu 23/07/2020 Moderate. The hills above Wells and Ebbor Gorge Clive Time: 10:00 Meet: Wells, western end Ash Lane, where Mendip 01749 671339 EX141 Way crosses BA5 2LS, ST543463 Distance: 6mi/9.7km Sun 26/07/2020 Moderate. Hinton Charterhouse, Farleigh Hungerford Mike P Time: 10:00 and Rode 01373 472101 EX142 Meet/start where Branch Road meets the A36 07711 090656 BA2 7TE, ST780591 Distance: 10.9mi/17.5km Thu 30/07/2020 Moderate. Stratton-on-the-Fosse area Trevor L Time: 10:00 Meet: Stratton-on-the-Fosse Village Hall 01761 232311 EX142 BA3 4QQ, ST658510 07976 629342 Distance: 6mi/9.7km

Extracts from Trevor Letcher’s talk on SUSTAINABILITY to the Rambler’s Association, Somerset Area Annual General Meeting. Sunday 16 February 2020

What do we mean by SUSTAINABILITY? A sustainable development is one that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We are exhausting the planet’s bounty. We are even running out of elements such as HELIUM gas, (used for cooling magnets for magnetic resonance imaging ) and there is no other substance available and we cannot make it. Helium comes from a few oil wells in the US and in less than 30 years, it will have all but disappeared. We are also running out of RARE EARTHS – elements such as Nd, neodymium and Sm, Samarium, largely found in China. Elements vital for making high-quality magnets for wind turbines, (also use for the magnets in cordless tools). The Royal Society of Chemistry has highlighted 16 ELEMENTS that will be in very short supply in the next 100 years. They include LITHIUM and PLATINUM. And we are also running out of land to plant crops. In this talk I will focus on only two areas: PLASTIC WASTE and GLOBAL WARMING. PLASTIC WASTE Sixty years ago, digging in old rubbish dumps, we unearthed only glass bottles and broken crockery. Today, landfills also contain plastic in all its forms: bags, cups, containers, and packaging, and will do so for hundreds of years. As with many inventions, it is a case of “unintended consequences” with little thought given to discarded plastic material, by the inventors of plastic. Over the past 60 years we have come to rely on plastic for structural elements, in tools, food and goods wrapping, clothes, nappies, to name a few which we now can’t do without. Today, over 10 billion tonnes of plastic is produced globally, every year, of which only 10% is recycled

and more than half discarded in landfills and generally dispersed with millions of tonnes finding its way to the oceans. What can we do with plastic waste? (a) Firstly, we can reduce our use of plastic and in particular plastic food packaging. It is essential in some areas for fresh food but, TO PROVE THE POINT many supermarkets in Europe and the UK have launched plastic free aisles to sell such things as fruit, cereals, nuts, etc. (b) We can recycle plastic but there are the dual problems of collecting it and not mixing the different types of plastic. It is a problem that can easily be solved; we must use the international plastic type numbering system (1 for polyethylene terephthalate, PET , 2 for high density polyethylene, HDPE, etc) inscribed on every piece of plastic and sorting can easily be done with optical sensors aimed at the conveyor belt carrying the discarded plastic. (c) We can limit the types of plastic that are manufactured to a dozen or so. (d) Mixed plastic can be compressed into blocks and used for outdoor benches, chairs, walkways fences, etc. (e) Finally, the plastic that can’t be reused in any form (too dirty, or mixed plastics) can be burnt to extract energy or used in cement factories or iron foundries for its energy content. (e) What more can WE do? We can urge our local councils to improve plastic collection and we can vote for the local and national candidate to push for plastic waste improvement with regard to collection and the building of recycling plants. In a sense, plastic waste is a simple problem: we know what to do, but WE need the will to do it. GLOBAL WARMING Climate change is the most serious problem humans have had to face in all of human history. We are at present, witnessing a 10C rise in average global temperature, a sea level rise of 1 mm per year, unnatural flooding, droughts, melting glaciers and melting ice sheets, melting permafrost (releasing methane gas – a potent greenhouse gas), hurricanes, typhoons and tornadoes. Perhaps the most frightening prediction is of 500 million climate refugees looking for new homes by 2075, just when our grandchildren are thinking of retiring. Our changing climate is due to a rise of carbon dioxide concentration and also other greenhouse gases such as methane and water vapour. We know water vapour’s greenhouse property from witnessing frost-free cloudy nights in the depths of our winter. The concentration of water vapour in the atmosphere is at least ten times that of CO2 and varies from 0.4% to 1% while the concentration of CO2 is now 0.04%. The concentration of CH4 is very much smaller (0.0002%) but it is a very much more potent greenhouse gas (25 times more effective). At the moment it is not as important as CO2 in warming the planet. Methane’s concentration has increased 150% over the past 200 years and is rising, whereas the CO2 levels have risen over 50% from 270 in pre-industrial times (1780) to 415 ppm. It is the greenhouse effect of CO2 and H2O that is mainly responsible for keeping our planet relatively warm. Without it, the average global temperature would be – 170C and not +170C which it is today. The global greenhouse effect is a complicated process; the rise in CO2 concentration causes a slight rise in overall global temperature which in turn causes more water on earth to evaporate, which in turn traps more heat. The CO2 is really just a trigger for global warming; most of the global warming effect is actually due to H2O. To compound the problem of climate change, there are tipping points which result in accelerating and exacerbating the problem. These include: the melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica; the heating of the permafrost in northern tundra regions releasing CO2 from peat and CH4 from methane clathrates; and the reduction of the Gulf stream. The obvious solutions are: to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel and to increase our use of renewable energy and other non-fossil fuel forms of energy. Getting rid of coal is the first step.

Burning coal produces more CO2 per gigawatt of energy than does burning methane gas North Sea gas. In the UK we still have 5 coal-burning power stations with two closing next month. Meanwhile in China there are about 1000 coal burning power stations (each of at least 1 GW and China continues to build at a rate of two a month) and about 100 in the US. The worst offenders are the countries dependent of fossil fuel for their export revenue. These are Australia and the United States. It is interesting that most of the world’s deniers are in the US and in Australia. Unfortunately, we lack laws to keep the planet safe and sustainable. What can we do? We must each try to do the best we can; for example, drive less and fly less. BUT it is Governments that MUST do the big things. Such as close down coal powered power stations. In terms of reducing CO2, shutting down one power station on 1 GW, is equivalent to growing 400 million trees. YES, planting trees is good but not very effective in the long run. It is also interesting that Europe is the most active region of the world fighting climate change. The Chinese Government too is very much more active than the present US Government in combatting climate change. I say this, in spite of China building 24 new coal powered power- stations per year. What will make people come to their senses is unfortunately the occurrence of even more environmental disasters – fires (as in Australia, California, in 2019) and flooding (as in the UK, and US Midwest, Philippines, etc) and winds. It is very important that people do voice their concerns, publicly, in order to get the ear of the government. That is why organizations such as Extinction Rebellion are so vital and essential. We need a massive Mexican wave of action, pleading with policy makers to act. SOMEHOW, we must get Governments to do something – starting with the shutting down of coal burning power-stations and in future, doing the same to oil/gas burning power stations and investing in solar and wind energy, storing energy facilities and perhaps producing hydrogen as a storage method. We need an import tax on all goods coming from countries that use coal to produce electricity. IS CARBON DIOXIDE THE REAL CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM? This is a question that is often asked and should be honestly answered. The relationship between the rise of atmospheric CO2 and the rise in the average global temperature is a good indication that the rise in CO2 is indeed the cause of global warming. Actually, this cannot be proven absolutely as we cannot do the controlled experiment by suddenly switching of CO2 production for a few years. BUT the experiments of absorption of energy by the bonds in the molecules CO2 and H2O and other greenhouse gases, as a function of the heat energy wavelength, make a water-tight case for this explanation. Furthermore, any thoughts that it might be due to variations in the sun’s energy reaching the earth, or variations in the earth’s wobble around the sun, or any other mechanisms, have been discounted by all the world’s experts working in these areas. The next 10 years are crucial, BUT there are signs that people are waking up. The drive is coming from young people and we can only hope that Governments will take heed and do something. Our planet protects us from the harshness of space (magnetic fields deflecting harmful rays from the sun and giving us a warm planet with CO2 as the greenhouse gas) but WE don’t protect the planet from the harshness of us. The need to create a sustainable atmosphere for our future generations poses a serious question: In all of human history, has any generation been asked to do something to benefit future generations that does not benefit their own generation?

Volume 83 February 2020 1919202019 2019 SOMERSET RAMBLER

Ramblers website upgrade As part of the continuous data quality programme Ramblers’ has deleted website accounts which have not been used for 24 months. This is in line with our data security and privacy policies. This means that if you are trying to log in to an online account you have not used for over 24 months, you will have to create a new account first.

Please share your stories of walking with children Walk magazine will be including a feature in Autumn 2020 about walking with children – and we’d like your help! We would love to hear your top tips and hints on getting little people out on walks – plus any nice images of Ramblers Groups out walking with children, babies or teenagers. We’ll be approaching the dedicated family groups that we know about too. Please email [email protected]

New volunteer fundraising volunteer role - please contact us if you are interested… As part of our ambition to sustain, diversify and grow Ramblers’ charitable income, we will be launching a new volunteer fundraiser role in 2020. We wish to recruit volunteers who are interested in local fundraising within your community. As this is a brand-new role, we will be piloting the recruitment in a few Areas first to test and refine our approach and hear your ideas and feedback. We’ll be in touch with Area chairs shortly, to discuss this new role with them, and find out which areas might be interested in being involved in the pilot. If you have any questions or would like to register potential interest in this new role, please contact Jade Deeley on [email protected].

Write your Will for Free With a gift in your Will to the Ramblers, you’ll always be with us as we protect the places we love to walk. And now you can write your Will for free, just enter RAMBLERS5 at checkout. There is no obligation to leave a gift to the Ramblers but if The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales .Company registration you do, you’ll be leaving a lasting footprint that will help people experience the power number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England & Wales number: 1093577.registered charity in Scotland, number: SC039799.Registered Office: 2nd Floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW. of walking for generations to come. 12 1 Share the power of walking application being withdrawn), to suggest alternatives that can be put to the If you are planning to shop on Amazon this season, please support the Ramblers by applicant. A recent case in S. Somerset resulted in improving the access and shopping at smile.amazon.co.uk. line of route. Government proposals to simplify the legal procedure for You can support us every time you shop and help to protect walkers' rights, our makingchanges (on hold for work on Brexit) have still not been formalised. glorious countryside and access to open green spaces for everyone. New Claims – the County Council is steadily working through outstanding claims to alter the definitive map and has been using consultants to accelerate App upgrades the process. Many of these claims for new routes are from the Bridleways We’ve made several recent improvements to the Ramblers app, which now includes 3,000 routes for you to explore. You can follow routes with descriptions and photos, Assoc. and I have been in regular contact with their representative to give search for routes and group walks more easily, and save routes to come back to later. appropriate support to the claim. There are a small number of potential Download it from Apple’s App Store or Google Play by searching for ‘Ramblers’. claims for unrecorded footpaths that I am currently working on and Group FPSs have been asked if they can identify any in their area. Claiming footpaths Walk leadership on historic grounds is much more difficult than claims for higher rights of way. Finally, a quick reminder that we are running a series of Walk Leader Essentials Cropping of Paths – It is worth reminding all that at the start of the growing courses across England, Wales and Scotland. Please encourage current and future season, if a cross-field Right of Way is found to be cropped, it is important to Walk Leaders to book onto these courses - and get in touch if you are interested in a report it to the Highway Authority (Somerset County or North Somerset). hosting a course closer to you. [email protected] Walk leaders are especially asked to report any cropping to the relevant

Footpath Secretary or directly on-line in the case of Somerset paths. The previous provision to report it to the Rural Payments Agency under EU rules still applies until the new Agriculture Bill is made law and can continue to be used. Ramblers is hoping that the replacement agricultural grants scheme, included in the Agriculture Bill, will provide similar opportunity to report such obstructions, but we still await details of the new arrangements. A303/A358 Dualling – The Sparkford – Podimore scheme has now been approved with reasonable provision for crossing the new road safely and it is due to go out to tender once the new government gives the formal consent to Don’t Lose Your Way Campaign An estimated 10,000 miles of paths proceed. We now await the detailed proposals for the A358 dualling before across England and Wales could be lost forever, unless we come together we can make proposals on the RoW affected. Both Taunton Deane and S. to save them. Somerset group FPSs will be involved. On 11 February the ‘Don’t Lose Your Way’ mapping tool was launched, Long Standing Obstructions – Despite the meeting Les Stather (as Area making it really easy to find, map and save lost paths and we'll need your Chair) and I had with the Head of RoW on 5th June last year and a promise of help. action, we have so far, received no confirmation of action. I recommend that the Area Chair write formally to the Head of RoW asking for a report on the issues raised at that meeting. Annual Meeting of Group FPSs – this year’s meeting will be arranged in May or June and is an opportunity for group FPSs to discuss matters of common interest and be up-dated on developments.

Carl Earl Area Footpath Secretary 2 11

West Somerset Group Group Reports Our walking programme continues to be well supported as does our social events. The Somerset Walking Club Walking Weekend: We are looking forward to eight walks over four days Despite a particularly wet and muddy autumn, attendance on based at Paignton 27 - 29 March with three levels of walk now planned that include Berry Head, Brixham, Totnes and on Dartmoor. our varied programme of walks has held up well. At the end of Day Coach Outings Although it was a fine day for our October coach trip to September, we organised a successful weekend away for 44 Killerton House it proved to be adventurous as the River Exe was in flood and members, based at a delightful hotel in Porth, just outside an unexpected diversion was needed to get us out of deep water. Newquay. The spectacular coast path walking between Port Isaac and Newquay was made all the more dramatic by extremely high winds, which actually blew a couple of our smaller ladies over. Fortunately, the wind was coming onshore so we didn’t lose anyone! In October we completed the final

Our next coach trip on 16 May will be to Bradford-on-Avon taking in two two days of the East Devon Way, from Sidbury to Exmouth, with 7 aqueducts on the walk from Limpley Stoke. The long walk will include Iford of us having managed all 4 days (covering over 40 miles). We Manor and the Farleigh Hungerford Castle. passed through several interesting nature reserves and arrived at Walk, fish & chips and skittles Over forty members joined us in Minehead for the estuary as the late afternoon sun was reflecting off the water. an excellent social event on 29 January. The walk on North Hill was blessed by Our AGM with bring and share lunch took place at fine weather and views which has proved to be a rarity in January. It may well be repeated. Crowcombe, preceded by a beautiful Quantock walk, with clear Looking Ahead We are now planning a weekend in the Elan Valley, Mid-Wales, views from the ridge, though made more challenging by the very in April 2021 and hope we will be well supported for this excursion. high levels of water in the streams running along the combes, many Gerald Swayne - Chairman of which were above walking boot level. In December 28 of us enjoyed Christmas lunch at Ralegh’s Cross, preceded of course by Report of Area Footpath Secretary – January 2020 a very muddy Brendon Hills walk. Changes to the definitive map – we continue to receive consultations on For more information on walks through the rest of the changes to RoW which are sent to the relevant Group FPS for consideration. winter and spring, and to view our gallery of photos, please visit Based on local knowledge the local FPS will advise me on whether the change is acceptable, whether we should suggest changes or oppose it. I can then our website www.somersetwalkingclub.co.uk or Facebook page. respond accordingly to the Highway Authority. This provides the opportunity, Cherry Bird - Programme Secretary if we do not object to the proposal outright (which may result in the

10 3 South Somerset Ramblers Taunton Deane Group We hold two walks on Thursdays of differing lengths and a The Group continues to maintain its traditional programme longer walk on Sundays. Attendance in the winter months is often of four walks per week - on Wednesday afternoons, Friday better than in summer with 24 on a C and 18 on a D the same day evenings and Sundays (all day and half day). making 42 walkers out on one Thursday in winter. Average The AGM took place at the Friends’ Meeting House, Bath numbers attending C and D walks is 16. Membership remains Place, Taunton on Friday 29th November. After a number of years constant at 261. in post, Lynda Stewart and Dot McKay stood down as joint David Fawthrop announced he would stand down as Walks Secretaries at the meeting. Many thanks are due to them for their Coordinator. Martin Pakes has agreed to take on this role. efforts over that period, not only in terms of administration, but Our annual summer supper is scheduled to be held at the The also for their organisation of many of the Group’s social activities. Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil on 9th July. We were naturally very pleased that Lynda Kearn stepped forward Roger Cripps, on behalf of Carl Earl, reported three working to take on the role of our new Secretary, and feel that she will be a parties having taken place, mainly doing clearance work in Martock, valuable addition to our Group’s Committee. Donyatt and Aller. A Walk Leadership Workshop was held on 24th January, The Group held its annual Christmas Dinner on Thursday which nine members attended. The evening started with some map 12th December with 55 attending at the Muddled Man, East reading exercises, and continued using a Tracklogs presentation of Chinnock, which has served us so well in the past. The walk various walks using the group's projector. The evening continued beforehand was led by Daphne Denney and a small group of with a presentation of good leadership practice where there was a intrepid walkers braved the appalling weather conditions. useful discussion over a range of points. There was plenty of time Our Group AGM was held on Saturday 2nd November at finally for members to go through the group's walk book searching East Coker Village Hall. All serving committee members had for new walks of interest. Each member departed with a pack of agreed to stand again. This was a special AGM as we celebrated useful information points - Good Practice, Walk Start Points, South Somerset Ramblers 50th Anniversary with champagne and a Check Lists, etc. lovely variety of cakes. Unfortunately only 17 turned up to help us A very successful Barn Dance was held at Trull Memorial celebrate this event. Hall on 1st February - many thanks are due to Judi Townsend and John Oliver, who has been a long-standing Committee Liz Ollerenshaw for making the arrangements. member and walk leader, is hanging up his boots. As well as leading After some delay in arranging more tasks owing, in part, to Thursday C walks, John organised the annual Group holiday, held in the departure of the previous County Council Volunteer Co- Menorca last year, which has seen the Group travel abroad in the ordinator, a further path clearance session was scheduled at the last few years. His sterling efforts will be missed. time of writing for 18th February near Langford Budville. Linda Fawthrop, Joint Chairman Philip Bisatt, Area Rep

4 9

Sedgemoor Group Report Mendip Group Our membership as compared with January 2019 has remained static At the 1st of February our membership is 324, down 2 from this at 131. time last year Our walking programme has continued to run well over the winter Our Working Party has opened a couple of paths in the last few period. With the wet weather that has predominated throughout months that had been closed for years. the period, flooded paths and mud has become a great problem but The 2020 walking festival will be held at Shipham Village Hall on the with a few deviations our leaders have managed to find a way Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the August Bank Holiday through. Weekend –see below The Christmas meal took place at Enmore Golf Club in December. Our Spring Holiday next year is at Lynton. This was the last event to be organised by Jenny, our social secretary Les Stather – Area Rep who stood down after a number of years, at our AGM in October. No one came forward to replace her so social events are likely to MENDIP RAMBLERS FREE WALKING FESTIVAL be very limited in the current year. We do, however, have plans in SHIPHAM AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND 29/30/31st August On each of the 3 days there will be 3 morning walks, ranging from 3/4 to 11 place to continue with our 2 main annual events of Summer Lunch miles, starting at 10.00am, and 1 shorter walk, 3/4 miles, starting at 1.30pm. and Christmas meal. Walks will start from: Shipham Village Hall, New Road, Shipham, Winscombe, Our footpath working party has continued to meet monthly and have Somerset BS25 1SG done maintenance work on a number of paths as allocated by We are again offering our popular two short walks on each day. Somerset Somerset County Council. One of the jobs we have taken on is the Ramblers, new and inexperienced walkers, non-Ramblers, visitors to the area, clearance of debris from a footbridge in Holford Glen. The bridge and children with their families are all welcome. Please see the website for spans a deep gorge and is surrounded by trees. Their leaves lie in a detailed information. Tea and cake will be available after each walk. Please make a donation! All details at www.mendipramblers.co.uk wet, sticky mess on the bridge and, if left, cause the bridge to rot and Any questions? Call Kevin on 01749 672996 deteriorate. The bridge was erected by Royal Marines in 1987 and Somerset County Council were employing contractors to clear the Woodspring Ramblers bridge bi-annually at a cost in excess of £1000. We have also Despite the continuous wet weather and atrocious ground continued to survey footpaths on a quarterly basis, again as allocated conditions along our footpaths over the last four months by Somerset County Council. Woodspring has continued to fulfil all but one walk on the A party of members are booked for a week’s holiday to Guernsey in programme. There does not appear to be any let up in the very May. Our summer outing has also been planned and the coach disappointing conditions but it isn’t putting our walkers off. In fact, booked for a day out to Abergavenny where there will be a choice the group has seen a further increase in membership since last of 3 walks on the surrounding hills and along the banks of the Usk reporting. The recent figures give an overall increase of two. It is and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. really very satisfying to see not only new members out but many Edward Levy, Chairman members from other groups in the area joining us on our walks. 8 5 is now a member of our social committee. June Ballinger has had Manoeuvring around a to stand down from the social committee due to declining health. I fallen tree on a winter wish to thank our outgoing committee members for all they have walk. done to help Woodspring be the great walking and social group we are. I also welcome our new members of both committees. We had our annual mince pie walk which had an incident at one point in the walk. Just before we were about to stop and have our mince pies and mulled wine, we had a runaway horse which had thrown the rider and had bolted. It was really very lucky that no-one was seriously injured or even killed. A few seconds later and the front walkers would have been in a position where they could not have moved out of the way of the horse. The horse was not stopping. Luckily no one was injured and the horse was recovered later on. The group managed to have the mince pies and copious mulled wine without further incident. The group are now looking forward to the first of three holidays this year. We are hoping for much improved weather in March at Ilfracombe. Our social activities have also been attracting new members David Thompson – Chairman which is very nice to see. We welcome them all along. Total membership now stands at 214. Our footpath maintenance team continues with a very high rate of pedestrian gate, kissing gate, Bristol gate installations, bridge repairs and of course, vegetation clearance. The team very often succeed in the installation of 6 gates at each session. Despite the very poor weather and sometimes challenging The deadline for submissions for the next Somerset Rambler will be ground conditions they have not missed a single session. 10th June 2020. Any items of general interest would be most welcome. At our last AGM in November we had a few changes to our [email protected] main committee and social committee members. Pat Hicks stood down as social secretary after two long terms in office. Our previous chair, Marion Davies, has taken on this very valuable post. Martin Raines’ post as footpath secretary has been taken on by Paul Spears. Reg Young was a committee member and area rep. His post has been taken over by Jan Horn. And finally, Hazel Crandon 6 7 is now a member of our social committee. June Ballinger has had Manoeuvring around a to stand down from the social committee due to declining health. I fallen tree on a winter wish to thank our outgoing committee members for all they have walk. done to help Woodspring be the great walking and social group we are. I also welcome our new members of both committees. We had our annual mince pie walk which had an incident at one point in the walk. Just before we were about to stop and have our mince pies and mulled wine, we had a runaway horse which had thrown the rider and had bolted. It was really very lucky that no-one was seriously injured or even killed. A few seconds later and the front walkers would have been in a position where they could not have moved out of the way of the horse. The horse was not stopping. Luckily no one was injured and the horse was recovered later on. The group managed to have the mince pies and copious mulled wine without further incident. The group are now looking forward to the first of three holidays this year. We are hoping for much improved weather in March at Ilfracombe. Our social activities have also been attracting new members David Thompson – Chairman which is very nice to see. We welcome them all along. Total membership now stands at 214. Our footpath maintenance team continues with a very high rate of pedestrian gate, kissing gate, Bristol gate installations, bridge repairs and of course, vegetation clearance. The team very often succeed in the installation of 6 gates at each session. Despite the very poor weather and sometimes challenging The deadline for submissions for the next Somerset Rambler will be ground conditions they have not missed a single session. 10th June 2020. Any items of general interest would be most welcome. At our last AGM in November we had a few changes to our [email protected] main committee and social committee members. Pat Hicks stood down as social secretary after two long terms in office. Our previous chair, Marion Davies, has taken on this very valuable post. Martin Raines’ post as footpath secretary has been taken on by Paul Spears. Reg Young was a committee member and area rep. His post has been taken over by Jan Horn. And finally, Hazel Crandon 6 7 Sedgemoor Group Report Mendip Group Our membership as compared with January 2019 has remained static At the 1st of February our membership is 324, down 2 from this at 131. time last year Our walking programme has continued to run well over the winter Our Working Party has opened a couple of paths in the last few period. With the wet weather that has predominated throughout months that had been closed for years. the period, flooded paths and mud has become a great problem but The 2020 walking festival will be held at Shipham Village Hall on the with a few deviations our leaders have managed to find a way Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the August Bank Holiday through. Weekend –see below The Christmas meal took place at Enmore Golf Club in December. Our Spring Holiday next year is at Lynton. This was the last event to be organised by Jenny, our social secretary Les Stather – Area Rep who stood down after a number of years, at our AGM in October. No one came forward to replace her so social events are likely to MENDIP RAMBLERS FREE WALKING FESTIVAL be very limited in the current year. We do, however, have plans in SHIPHAM AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND 29/30/31st August On each of the 3 days there will be 3 morning walks, ranging from 3/4 to 11 place to continue with our 2 main annual events of Summer Lunch miles, starting at 10.00am, and 1 shorter walk, 3/4 miles, starting at 1.30pm. and Christmas meal. Walks will start from: Shipham Village Hall, New Road, Shipham, Winscombe, Our footpath working party has continued to meet monthly and have Somerset BS25 1SG done maintenance work on a number of paths as allocated by We are again offering our popular two short walks on each day. Somerset Somerset County Council. One of the jobs we have taken on is the Ramblers, new and inexperienced walkers, non-Ramblers, visitors to the area, clearance of debris from a footbridge in Holford Glen. The bridge and children with their families are all welcome. Please see the website for spans a deep gorge and is surrounded by trees. Their leaves lie in a detailed information. Tea and cake will be available after each walk. Please make a donation! All details at www.mendipramblers.co.uk wet, sticky mess on the bridge and, if left, cause the bridge to rot and Any questions? Call Kevin on 01749 672996 deteriorate. The bridge was erected by Royal Marines in 1987 and Somerset County Council were employing contractors to clear the Woodspring Ramblers bridge bi-annually at a cost in excess of £1000. We have also Despite the continuous wet weather and atrocious ground continued to survey footpaths on a quarterly basis, again as allocated conditions along our footpaths over the last four months by Somerset County Council. Woodspring has continued to fulfil all but one walk on the A party of members are booked for a week’s holiday to Guernsey in programme. There does not appear to be any let up in the very May. Our summer outing has also been planned and the coach disappointing conditions but it isn’t putting our walkers off. In fact, booked for a day out to Abergavenny where there will be a choice the group has seen a further increase in membership since last of 3 walks on the surrounding hills and along the banks of the Usk reporting. The recent figures give an overall increase of two. It is and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. really very satisfying to see not only new members out but many Edward Levy, Chairman members from other groups in the area joining us on our walks. 8 5 South Somerset Ramblers Taunton Deane Group We hold two walks on Thursdays of differing lengths and a The Group continues to maintain its traditional programme longer walk on Sundays. Attendance in the winter months is often of four walks per week - on Wednesday afternoons, Friday better than in summer with 24 on a C and 18 on a D the same day evenings and Sundays (all day and half day). making 42 walkers out on one Thursday in winter. Average The AGM took place at the Friends’ Meeting House, Bath numbers attending C and D walks is 16. Membership remains Place, Taunton on Friday 29th November. After a number of years constant at 261. in post, Lynda Stewart and Dot McKay stood down as joint David Fawthrop announced he would stand down as Walks Secretaries at the meeting. Many thanks are due to them for their Coordinator. Martin Pakes has agreed to take on this role. efforts over that period, not only in terms of administration, but Our annual summer supper is scheduled to be held at the The also for their organisation of many of the Group’s social activities. Quicksilver Mail, Yeovil on 9th July. We were naturally very pleased that Lynda Kearn stepped forward Roger Cripps, on behalf of Carl Earl, reported three working to take on the role of our new Secretary, and feel that she will be a parties having taken place, mainly doing clearance work in Martock, valuable addition to our Group’s Committee. Donyatt and Aller. A Walk Leadership Workshop was held on 24th January, The Group held its annual Christmas Dinner on Thursday which nine members attended. The evening started with some map 12th December with 55 attending at the Muddled Man, East reading exercises, and continued using a Tracklogs presentation of Chinnock, which has served us so well in the past. The walk various walks using the group's projector. The evening continued beforehand was led by Daphne Denney and a small group of with a presentation of good leadership practice where there was a intrepid walkers braved the appalling weather conditions. useful discussion over a range of points. There was plenty of time Our Group AGM was held on Saturday 2nd November at finally for members to go through the group's walk book searching East Coker Village Hall. All serving committee members had for new walks of interest. Each member departed with a pack of agreed to stand again. This was a special AGM as we celebrated useful information points - Good Practice, Walk Start Points, South Somerset Ramblers 50th Anniversary with champagne and a Check Lists, etc. lovely variety of cakes. Unfortunately only 17 turned up to help us A very successful Barn Dance was held at Trull Memorial celebrate this event. Hall on 1st February - many thanks are due to Judi Townsend and John Oliver, who has been a long-standing Committee Liz Ollerenshaw for making the arrangements. member and walk leader, is hanging up his boots. As well as leading After some delay in arranging more tasks owing, in part, to Thursday C walks, John organised the annual Group holiday, held in the departure of the previous County Council Volunteer Co- Menorca last year, which has seen the Group travel abroad in the ordinator, a further path clearance session was scheduled at the last few years. His sterling efforts will be missed. time of writing for 18th February near Langford Budville. Linda Fawthrop, Joint Chairman Philip Bisatt, Area Rep

4 9

10 3 Share the power of walking application being withdrawn), to suggest alternatives that can be put to the If you are planning to shop on Amazon this season, please support the Ramblers by applicant. A recent case in S. Somerset resulted in improving the access and shopping at smile.amazon.co.uk. line of route. Government proposals to simplify the legal procedure for You can support us every time you shop and help to protect walkers' rights, our makingchanges (on hold for work on Brexit) have still not been formalised. glorious countryside and access to open green spaces for everyone. New Claims – the County Council is steadily working through outstanding claims to alter the definitive map and has been using consultants to accelerate App upgrades the process. Many of these claims for new routes are from the Bridleways We’ve made several recent improvements to the Ramblers app, which now includes 3,000 routes for you to explore. You can follow routes with descriptions and photos, Assoc. and I have been in regular contact with their representative to give search for routes and group walks more easily, and save routes to come back to later. appropriate support to the claim. There are a small number of potential Download it from Apple’s App Store or Google Play by searching for ‘Ramblers’. claims for unrecorded footpaths that I am currently working on and Group FPSs have been asked if they can identify any in their area. Claiming footpaths Walk leadership on historic grounds is much more difficult than claims for higher rights of way. Finally, a quick reminder that we are running a series of Walk Leader Essentials Cropping of Paths – It is worth reminding all that at the start of the growing courses across England, Wales and Scotland. Please encourage current and future season, if a cross-field Right of Way is found to be cropped, it is important to Walk Leaders to book onto these courses - and get in touch if you are interested in a report it to the Highway Authority (Somerset County or North Somerset). hosting a course closer to you. [email protected] Walk leaders are especially asked to report any cropping to the relevant

Carl Earl Area Footpath Secretary 2 11

Volume 83 February 2020 1919202019 2019 SOMERSET RAMBLER

MENDIP RAMBLER walks are open to anyone interested. Newcomers are welcome to join us for two or three walks without commitment. After that they may be asked to become a member of the Ramblers. Our programme aims to give full and accurate details of our walks so that members can choose walks to their liking and within their capabilities. We have regular Thursday and Sunday walks. Sometimes Friday walks. We have social events, weekends away and holidays. Take a look at our latest programme for details. Where: We walk almost anywhere in Mendip and surrounding areas. Routes avoid roads as far as possible, using footpaths and bridleways. What time and how long: Thursday walks slow to medium start at 10.00am and are usually about 6 miles, finishing at around 2pm. They are walked at a slower pace than the Sunday walks. We have a coffee stop at 11am and a lunch break at around 12.30 or 1pm. Bring a drink and a packed lunch. Thursday walks fast are walks run by our spin off group West Mendip Ramblers, organised by Tony Strange. This group alternates each week on Thursday between an all-day walk and an afternoon walk. On these walks there is no coffee or break, but the all-day walk has a lunch stop. The walks are not in the printed programme, but can be found on the Mendip website. Sunday walks start at 10.00am, are usually about 10 miles and finish at around 4.00pm. They are walked at a faster pace than our Thursday walks. There is a coffee stop at 11am and a lunch break at around 12.30 or 1pm. We may also stop for a short mid-afternoon break on our longer walks. Bring a drink and a packed lunch. Terrain: Walks are labelled as flat, undulating or hilly. Mud should be expected except in urban areas. Meeting for a walk: The grid reference on the walk programme is the official meeting point. The postcode that is given is an approximate indicator to the starting point. Walks start on time, so be there at least 10 minutes early to give you time to get ready. Refreshments on walks: All our walks – apart from those of our spin off group – include a break at about 11am for a drink and at 12.30pm for lunch. Bring food and drink with you for the morning stop and the lunch break. Having enough fluids with you is important on hot days. Clothing: It is essential to wear stout footwear (walking boots) for most of the year and to carry windproof and waterproof clothing. Walk leaders: All walk leaders are volunteers, who have given their time to survey the walk as well as lead it on the day. Each leader chooses his/her own walk, and usually surveys it with another group member. We are always pleased to hear from people who might want to lead. If you would like to find out what it involves, talk to any leader or the Programme Co-ordinator. Dogs: Dogs – well behaved and under control - are welcome on our walks. If in doubt, ring the walks leader to confirm.

The Charity Working for Walkers Charity number 1093577 Company limited by guarantee 4458492 - www.ramblers.org.uk