LINCOLN NEWSLETTER No.129 September 2019

AGM

Our AGM this year is at 2pm on Sunday 20 October at Branston Village Hall. There will be an amble starting at 10.30am and lunch at 12.30pm for AGM attendees. Members who wish to attend the buffet lunch need to book with our secretary Gill ([email protected] 01522 535399) by 7th October. Please note that members are asked to make a voluntary donation towards the lunch: a donation of £5 is suggested. Any items for the AGM Agenda to Gill by 30th September.

Coach Trips 2019

Thank you to all members who have supported the coach trips this year. Thanks, as well to the leaders and backmarkers.

Coach Trips 2020: Cost will be £12 per person Four coach trips have been arranged for next year. Sun 26 April: Cromford Wed 10 June: Bempton Cliffs & Bridlington Sun 19 July: Chatsworth Wed 9 Sept: Haworth There is no compulsion to walk, you can do your own thing. Put the dates in your diaries. Bookings can be made from the beginning of March.

Amendments to Programme: Change of Start Place: Wed 27 November: WA The Ivy, Hugh C 01522 752378 Change of Leader: Wed 13 November: LL9 John W 01522 793928 Wed 27 November: WW Maidenwell Aileen P 07498 529803

Reserve Walk Leader Required: Wednesday 16th October: Fiskerton (Notts) Terry Storey, who is due to lead this walk, has a foot problem. Is there anyone who could lead this walk at short notice, in case Terry is unable to lead? Please contact Terry on 01400 275025 or email [email protected] for walk details, route etc

Monday 2 mile walks start at 11.00am Easy walking with a lunch. Contact Miriam Smith for details 01522 682479. Oct 7th , Stone Arms Maureen & Jenny 01522 683408/884841 Contact Miriam for details of November and December

Anniversaries: We congratulate the following for the support they have given to the Ramblers (Figures to 30 September 2019) 25 years: Sondra and Peter Rooke

New Members: The following have joined us since the June newsletter and we welcome them to the group and hope they all enjoy walking with us: Chris Robbins from Nettleham: Joy Tribe from Welton: Julia Fixter from : Steven Taft from Navenby: Ian Cooper from Lincoln: Kim Hodges from Owmby by Spital

Parking: Could we please remind walkers to park with consideration for other road users and local inhabitants, when parking in villages or on grass verges, at the beginning of walks?

Stray dogs on walks (and other animals): On a recent walk, a dog attached itself to the walkers. This did not cause a problem until there was a busy road to cross and opinion differed on the appropriate action. The committee was asked to look into the problem of stray dogs on walks. The advice given on various websites and common sense is this: (1) in the first instance, ignore the dog, do not fuss/feed it (even if you are a dog lover). The chances are, it will return home on its own. (2) If it doesn’t and someone in the group is happy to catch the dog to see if it has a tag with owner’s phone number, contact owner. (3) Find the nearest vet or rescue centre who will check to see if the dog is micro-chipped (not easy if you’re walking in the countryside) Horses: Recently a walker, whilst walking along the Chesterfield Canal, stopped near a horse field. His partner fed one horse some grass, another horse came over and bit the walker on the face, which entailed a visit to A&E and possibly needing a skin graft. Please remember, that not all horses are friendly.

2020 Programmes/Annual Reports etc: The 2020 programme booklets will be available about the middle of November. If you have delivered some in the past can you please let me know if you are still able to deliver again, if I haven’t contacted you? Also, if you have moved house, can you check that your current address is on the RA database by going into your account and checking your details? Thank you.

AREA OFFICER VACANCIES: Important roles at Area are becoming vacant. An Area Treasurer is desperately needed to replace John Harker who is standing down. Also an Area Footpath Officer for Mid-Lincs and a Webmaster for the Area Website. If interested please contact Area Secretary, Stuart Parker on 01522-534655.

Railway Walks: The new autumn programme of Penistone Line railway walks departing from Lincoln and Saxilby is available from Stuart Parker on 01522-534655. He will post or email you a copy.

South Lincolnshire Walking Festival: Runs from 28th September to 27th October with over 58 walks at weekends. Many walks led by local Ramblers groups. See listing on www.southlincswalking.com

Footpath Volunteers: Do you have a little time on your hands? Would you like to help improve your local footpaths? If the answer is ‘yes’, why not become a ‘footpath volunteer’ for the Countryside Team at Lincolnshire County Council. You can adopt a parish or small group of parishes and walk the paths on a regular basis throughout the year. You will be issued with a pair of secateurs so that you can trim round gates and stiles and then report the condition of the paths to the Countryside Team. If you want to find out more tap ‘Lincolnshire Footpath Volunteer’ into your computer browser and read all about it.

Footpath News: Please continue to report any footpath problems to our 2 footpath officers. Don’t think that it is a waste of time reporting problems. They need to be able to show the councillors that there are problems in the countryside and they need more money to deal with them. Please give as much information as possible, grid ref etc and a photo is very helpful. Footpath Officer South: John Wright [email protected] Footpath Officer North: Linda Yeardley [email protected]

If you are thinking of booking a Ramblers Worldwide Holiday, don’t forget: LINCOLN GROUP is now a member of THE WALKING PARTNERSHIP – supported by Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Every time a group member(s) makes a booking with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays just nominate Lincoln Group and as long as the nomination is made before the holiday takes place, the group will receive funding. This even includes bookings that have already been made. It is taking some time for this to filter through to our account, so if you book a Ramblers Worldwide Holiday, can you please let our treasurer Terry Storey (01400 275025 or email: [email protected]) know, so he can follow it up?

Lincoln Group Newsletters: The last 4 newsletters are available to read on the Lincoln Group Website.

Next Newsletter: The next newsletter will be out after the AGM in October 2019, so if you have anything, which you think is of interest to our members, please can you email me [email protected]?

Christine