sign in sign up
<<
Home , River Thames, Thames Conservancy, Thames Path

ISSUE 3 NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2016

Celebrating the : a Walk Alongside ‘Liquid History’

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Thames Path 1 Anniversary

Thames Path 2 Anniversary Thames Path manager Steven Tabbi with Ramblers at the source of the Thames Thames Path 3 19th century MP described the Thames as “liquid history" Anniversary and for centuries the Thames has played a crucial role in the life of Benson 4 the villages, towns and cies it passes through. A source of water and Improvements food, a transporter of goods, a thoroughfare, a crossing‐point, an inter‐ naonal . On the ground, the Thames Path Naonal Trail provides Task Diary & 5 access to all that the offers, and is 20 years old. We cele‐ Booking brated the occasion with — and walkers from near and In the Office: 6 CAMS far walked along its length—the numbers of walkers grew as the river widened….. Volunteer BBQ 6 In July walkers and members of The starng at Coates, in Ramblers came out in their hundreds to the Cotswold Hills and ending at Cray‐ celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ford , the finishing point of the Thames Path, the only Brish Naonal Thames Path Extension. Trail to follow a river from source to sea. The Path offered many opportunies for The walkers marked the historic event wildlife spong. There was a sighng of with a 16 day walking relay, starng at a curlew being hunted by 2 peregrine the source of the River Thames and end‐ falcons a few hundred metres upstream ing over 200 miles away along its estu‐ from . Steven Tabbi, follow @nhames ary. Thames Path Manager, said: “It A baton, made from the remains of a was an amazing sight that you’d expect 130 year old gate to see in some isolated area of the follow@thamespath20 by the Thames Path Trail Volunteers ‐ Brish Isles, but to see this in Central was handed over each day by a repre‐ is truly awesome. What an in‐ sentave from the local community to a credible experience!” lead Rambler, and carried along the Trail This free event saw representaves

Thames Path Naonal Trails Office Signal Court, Old Staon Way, , OX29 4TL Informaon: thames.path@.gov.uk Volunteers: [email protected] or T: 01865 810211 PAGE 2 20th Anniversary Walk Thames Path

Clockwise from top le: River Thames at ; wave from the Ramblers; carries the baton across at Bablock Hythe; Oxfordshire County Council‘s Field Officer supports the walkers with a welcome cup of tea; the baton passes between Mohammed Altaf‐Khan, the Lord Mayor of Oxford and Councillor Michael Waine the Chairman of Oxfordshire County Council; Steve Good, Thames Partnership Chair greets walkers in Abingdon.

turning out from the local , Coun‐ the Houses of Parliament, Tower and Lon‐ cils, The Ramblers, The River Thames Socie‐ don bridges, finally winding through the ty, our Volunteers, as well as the public World Heritage Site of , with its including walkers from America, Canada, official finish or start at the Thames Barri‐ Chile, Spain and Germany. er. Thames Path Steven Tabbi said: “The event provides a The ‘modern history’ of the Thames Path great opportunity to bring together organi‐ begins in the early 1800’s with the estab‐ Office saons who value what the trail brings to lishment of the Thames Commissioners, Signal Court their area and those many individuals who who saw the Thames playing a crucial role Old Station Way enjoy walking the Thames Path, in a cele‐ in the emerging new transport system of Eynsham braon of this unique Naonal Trail. ” the day – the ! The Commissioners

Oxford OX29 4TL however soon realised that the Thames The Thames Path Naonal Trail has a hum‐ was no system, but a living river, so Tel: 01865 810211 ble start ‐ the infant River Thames rises in a when those plucky Victorians hit an obsta‐ [email protected] field in the western and passes cle, they simply moved the path to the through ever changing countryside – as a other side of the river and installed a Navi‐ field track across water meadows, a path gaon Ferry. With the advent of the rail‐ through villages in Gloucestershire and ways, the Thames soon fell into a then through historic cies like state of disrepair. Oxford and Windsor. Once it reaches London it passes by inter‐ In the 1930’s the Thameside Councils naonally famous landmarks ‐ such as were geng together to try to link up

Hampton Court Palace, Gardens and their riverside parks. They saw their com‐

ISSUE 3 PAGE 3 20th Anniversary Walk Thames Path

This page, clockwise from top le: walking along the Trail, , London; past the London Dungeon; walkers arrive at the , the Thames Barrier.

Love the Trail ? munies walking out on a Sunday, enjoying so finally in July 1996, long aer all the original and engaging with their river and the wellbe‐ long distance routes and most of the other Na‐ ing this has to offer. onal Trails had been created – The Thames Path Naonal Trail finally came into being. These ideas were put on hold during the World War II as the Thames became a demarcaon Today, The Thames Path Partnership involves a zone with the installaon of many pill boxes wide range of organisaons and is responsible along the trail, that we sll see today. for the development of The Thames Path Na‐ onal Trail to ensure a great trail experience for Aer the Second World War, lots of redevelop‐ all. Thanks go to our dedicated trail volunteers ment took place in war damaged , but who help to maintain the route and keep it to a there was also a desire to protect and keep Celebrate the special good standard for the enjoyment of all. anniversary of this much areas of Britain special, and give something back to the returning servicemen. In 1947, the To learn more about the Thames Path Naonal loved Trail with a ‘Hobhouse Commiee’ recommended the Trail please visit www.naonaltrail.co.uk/ classic enamel pin‐ establishment of 6 Long Distance Routes (now thames‐path badge. called Naonal Trails). The Thames Path was Follow us on twier @nhames Perfect for your hat, one of these first recommendaons. In 1949 The hashtag for the 20th anniversary is your rucksack or your The Naonal Parks and Access to the Country‐ #thamespath20. lapel, wear it to show side Act was passed by Parliament to allow this your support for the Naonal Trails. to happen. In 1965 the became the first Naonal Trail. On sale on the Thames Path website, visit Due to the complexies of the Thames Path the Naonal Trails Shop with flooding issues and many creaon orders needed, it was almost forgoen about. Gov‐ ernments came and went but two organisa‐ ons (the Ramblers and the River Thames Society) lobbied relessly for its opening and

Thames Path Naonal Trails Office Signal Court, Old Staon Way, Eynsham, Oxford OX29 4TL Email: [email protected] or T: 01865 810211 www.naonaltrail.co.uk/thames‐path/plan Benson Section Improvements

PAGE 4

Benson Surface Improvements

This stretch is not

only an important

link between

Benson and

Wallingford it is

also a fantastic

wildlife corridor

near the hustle

and bustle of a

busy urban town.

We are working hard to improve the accessibility of the Thames Path and are making good progress with replacing obstrucve sles and poor gates with fully accessible gates, and in places improving the surface. On the stretch which runs from Benson to Wallingford there had been complaints about the surface from monitors and members of the public walking the path. The These works were stretch is not only an important link between Benson and Wallingford it is also a supported by fantasc wildlife corridor near the hustle and bustle of a busy urban town. The the Trust for surface had deteriorated and had become gullied. We wanted to put down a Oxfordshire's surface to improve this secon, using local contractors and with locally sourced Environment in‐keeping materials. Over the years surface works had been carried out at ei‐ (TOE2) ther end of this linear secon but not at the 980m approx. secon in the middle, with funds from which at certain mes of the year became almost impassable. Grundon . We applied for funding through the Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment (TOE2) who provide funding and support for environmental projects in Oxfordshire and were successful with this applicaon. A huge thank you to TOE2, Alan Hughes – (RDAA) Reading and District Angling Associaon and Oxfordshire Coun‐ ty Council for being a part of making this project possible. Making improvements along this secon means greater accessibility and use for all users, increasing the numbers of people accessing the countryside and enjoying wildlife along the Thames. This secon gives people the opportunity to step out of urban day‐to‐ day life and take a walk on the Thames Path. Not only does it provide the won‐ derful physical journey but also it provides the opportunity to appreciate and become educated about the wildlife along the river.

These works were supported by the Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment (TOE2) with funds from Grundon Waste Management.

Thames Path National Trails Team Signal Court, Old Station Way, Eynsham, Oxford, OX29 4TL T: 01865 810211 Email: [email protected] www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thamespath ISSUE 3 Volunteer Task Diary PAGE 5 Practical work is carried out along The Thames Path to ensure walkers enjoy using it. Work is carried out by the National Trail Team, local highway authorities, landowners and con- tractors. Volunteers are welcome to help maintain The and Thames Path by join- ing the task team led by the National Trail Team. The location and activities for the next 3 months are shown below. Please ensure that you book early as the practical tasks are popu- lar. Locations for tasks may change and volunteer numbers can be limited due to type of task.

Volunteer to help with a task by contacting the National Trail Team. Book in advance and as soon as possible. E: [email protected] T: 01865 810211

Task Locations for Ridgeway and Thames Path

11 9 12 1 7 4 3 2 Check

the map 15 5 for a 13 8 14 task

10 6 location

near to

you. Task Dates September November 5th S 1 October 1st Snap W/C 15 6th Cricklade G 2 3rd G 6 7th Chimney W/C 4 7th Dorchester G + S 3 4th Chipper training ½ Day 8th Marlow W/C 13 12th workshop 5th TBC 9th Oxford W/C 12 13th Ewen G 2 10th Watlington W/C 7 10th TBC 14th Kelmscot WC 4 11th W/C 8 14th workshop 20th TBC 12th Swinford W/C 9 15th Overton W/C 10 21st Letcombe Basse S 5 13th TBC 16th W/C 13 26th Chertsey G 6 17th Overton W/C 10 17th TBC 28th BBQ 18th Newbrdige W/C 11 21st Snap W/C 14 KEY 19th Oxford W/C 12 22nd Newbridge W/C 11 TBC=to be confirmed 24th Marlow W/C 13 23rd TBC WC = Winter Clearance 25th Ogbourne W/C 14 28th Monkton W/C 10 G= Gate 31st Uffington W/C 15 29th W/C 8 S = Signage 30th Swinford W/C 9

Thames Path National Trails Team Signal Court, Old Station Way, Eynsham, Oxford, OX29 4TL T: 01865 810211 Email: [email protected] www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thamespath Mapping New Trail Issues - Back in the Office

Sue Gill in the office

Poor surfacing issue photo accompanies monitor report sheet

Now is the me to report encroaching vegetaon ‐ Overgrown vegetaon issue see photo encroaches path

We have a great team of volunteer path monitors who regularly walk a sec‐ on of the path and send in a report to let us know about any issues that may need aenon such as a damaged gate, overhanging vegetaon or Whether flypping. We also somemes get reports from members of the public or reporng by landowners along the route. Sue Gill is a Trails volunteer who has been phone or by working in the office to enter issue details onto our geographical infor‐ email, please maon system known as CAMS. Sue says “It really helps if reports of issues don’t forget to have a grid reference as this makes it much easier to input details onto add a grid CAMS. I love a challenge but it can take a while to unravel a descripon such reference and as: “...... a large fallen branch blocking the path in the second field about 5 a photo is also minutes aer the first footbridge walking from Place A to Place B !” Also a very useful! photo of ‘a large fallen branch’ generally provides far more informaon than a descripon can. The informaon on CAMS plays a crucial part in Trail maintenance and is used to plan work for volunteer work pares or any tasks that may need to be done by contractors. Once an issue is resolved this is also recorded on the system so that reports can easily be produced about what work has been completed. So, if you see something that needs aenon please do let us know by email or phone ...... and please add a grid reference and a photo if possible! VOLUNTEER BBQ Calling all trail monitors and task volunteers! You don’t need to get your hands dirty—just come along to our Volunteer BBQ on Wednes‐ day 28th September in Streatley. The task starts at 10.00 but lunch will be around 1.30.Vegetarians catered for. Please book by either emailing [email protected] or call 01865 810211.