Area Footpath Secretary

MANCHESTER AND Manchester and Salford SALFORD Local Group Newsletter and Walks (M & S Ramblers) No 12 – Sept 2012

Open meeting of M & S Ramblers of our wild flower books but certainly it will Tuesday 18th September 2012 make us more observant and appreciative of 7.30pm The Kings Arms, our amazing countryside. Bloom Street, Salford, M3 6AN If you would like to meet someone to come to 60's Quiz Night A disappointing turn out didn't the meeting with let Mags know & we’ll prevent us having a fabulous night at Cord arrange it. Bar in Manchester. The venue (free!) and the staff were great, everyone was helpful and Annual General Meeting friendly, I would definitely consider using Cord Saturday 10th November 2012, again. The 60's questions and music went 10.30 am at the Bowling Green Pub in down really well, which gives you an idea of Chorlton, Manchester M21 9ES. There will be the general age range present! With ticket an approx 5 mile walk around Chorlton sales which included quiz, food and raffle we Meadows,(see walks programme) followed still managed to make a few pounds for our by a free buffet lunch at the Bowling Green funds. pub @ 12.30/1.00pm, The AGM will be held Hopefully our 70's Quiz will be really well after lunch until approx 4.00 pm. supported! Everyone is welcome and invited to attend. FOOTPATH WORK MESSAGE FROM WALK LEADERS Manchester Please can members wear waterproofs, We have a new Manchester Footpath suitable clothing and strong footwear on all Officer Richard Cleverley, Here Richard walks. outlines his priorities in the job, and explains SOCIAL EVENTS Chris Quinn how you can help! Wild Flower Walk - Sorry but it has to be said, our wild flower walk was a 'BLOOMIN The footpath officer is responsible for SUCCESS!!' After the deluge of rain we have organising the surveying, checking and had to put up with in Spring/Summer 2012 our maintenance of the footpaths in the walk on the 20th June was a 'little ray of Manchester City Council area. The path sunshine' quite literally! The clouds parted surveys by M&S members earlier this year and we were rewarded with a beautiful showed many of Manchester’s rights of way to afternoon which attracted 20+ people to join be in good condition, well signposted and us. easily accessible. A few areas remained to be Our walk was lead by Mike Cummings, a local covered, and MAD Walkers very kindly ranger for the area who was very agreed to complete these. knowledgeable about the subject and gave us lots of interesting facts about the names, uses Salle has passed the survey forms to me, and of flowers from folklore up to practical ways has already worked hard in compiling a they have used to create the wild flower spreadsheet with some of the details. meadows in Middleton. Between now and (hopefully) the AGM, I intend to expand and update this, to enable us Mike was very enthusiastic and he hopefully to identify which paths are priorities for inspired a few of us to go home and dust improvement and maintenance. 1 progress we have made in checking the To build on the excellent work done so far Salford paths. There have been a few of us with the surveys, I am asking for volunteers to surveying and recording the condition of the help out in the following ways: paths. 1.“Adopting” some paths- basically keeping an If you would like to join our little team, you of eye on them to ensure that, where they are course, would be very welcome. Other ways good or reasonable condition, this is you could help are to join a working group to maintained, to report any problems tidy up any paths which need attention, or you (obstructions, etc)- and also to keep an eye could “adopt” a path or paths, checking from and ear out for any possible threats to the time to time for any problems, and reporting paths from planned developments, or moves any such to me. to close/divert. It can be one or two paths you However, I wanted to say something about “adopt”, or several - whatever you’re the footpaths that we have surveyed. On the comfortable with! whole they are quite good, although we have identified a few problem paths, and others are 2. Become part of a team taking practical not quite as good as they should be. action to clear and maintain paths- despite the problems from some local residents on What has impressed me has been the quality the day, the work clearing Footpath 135 in and variety of the walking area that we have Levenshulme was successful in getting the in Salford. A large part of Irlam and council to commit to further improvement Cadishead is very rural, with several working work. As I write, a meeting with Steve Dixon farms. We have Country Parks, such as of Neighbourhood Services is imminent to Clifton and Blackleach, and we have nature discuss how this will progress. reserves such as Three Sisters. Good result !! The walks organised by Manchester and 3. Help in leading the Footpath Walks –see Salford Ramblers take us to many of these below. areas, and these are a very good way to find the paths, and learn something of the history From January 2013 the Group will run a and natural history. Footpath Walk on the second Saturday of each month, alternating between Manchester However, what I should like to do now is find a and Salford. The walks will generally be way to share all this information that we around 4-5 miles. The aim is that we get to gathered on the paths with you and with other walk as much of the rights of way network as walkers who might be interested. Of course, we can over the course of the walks. one purpose for collecting the information is to discuss it with Salford Council, in order to This will help highlight any problems and improve and maintain the path network. areas for improvement. We will usually also use other paths and open spaces currently But I am hoping that we shall be able to tell not on the definitive map, so the walks will you more about the paths, including whether also provide a basis for considering where we they are easy to find, easy to walk, what the would wish to see such routes given legal surface is like and so on. We are working on status. The first footpath walk, on 12 January how we can put this idea into practice, and I will be from Wythenshawe bus station- details hope that next time I give a report I shall be to follow. able to tell you that this has now been implemented. Chris Clark If you can help with any of this please contact me. Richard Cleverley TRAIL MOTORCYCLES AND 4X4S [email protected] Coming across trail motorcycles or 4x4s on narrow, unsurfaced lanes has reduced Salford Footpaths most walkers' enjoyment of a day in the Since volunteering to be the Ramblers’ countryside. Lanes have been made unusable Footpath Officer for Salford at the 2009 AGM, by seas of mud, ruts and ponds. Some I have tried to give you regular updates on the walkers avoid routes used by these vehicles Also reports of walks you have done with our whilst others are concerned about their safety. group would be good. After years of pressure by the Ramblers and others the Peak District National Park Photos with articles also appreciated Authority (PDNPA) will be starting the process GET NEWSLETTERS BY EMAIL-QUICKER, for imposing traffic regulation orders MORE INFO, MORE OFTEN, SAVES CASH (TROs) on the Roych (between Chapel and Edale) and on Long Causeway banning 4x4s We would like to have as many members as and motorcycles this autumn. possible on our email list If you haven’t yet please phone us with your email address The process lays down that there has to be a 0161 839 3865 or email Margaret Metcalf at public consultation. If TROs are to be imposed [email protected] it is vital that Ramblers and their friends show their support by writing or emailing in when Committee - Position, Name, the consultation is open. We can be certain phone that the motorcyclists and 4x4 drivers will Address and e-mail organise a major national campaign. Numbers Chair: Salle Dare, 33 Brundretts 861 8491 Road, Manchester ,M21 9DA do matter. [email protected] Secretary: Mags Metcalf, 839 3865 When the consultation is launched a further 83 Blackburn Street, item will be included in the newsletter Salford, M3 6AS explaining how Ramblers can take part. [email protected] Treasurer: Mike Lyons, 20 Darley 445 0826 Bob Kelly RA Derbyshire co-ordinator on Ave, West Didsbury, M20 2YD Offroading [email protected] Walk Co-ordinator: Maggie 794 3565 Manchester Airport unveils plans to concrete Smith, 118 Manchester Road, former greenbelt land. Manchester Airport has Swinton M27 5FQ submitted a planning application for a 'World [email protected] Membership Secretary: Alan 947 0273 Logistics Hub' on the land around Sunbank Moffatt, 57 Winnie Street, Lane to the south of the Airport. The area is Moston M40 9LP currently home to residential houses and [email protected] green fields and also borders onto Cotterill Footpath Officer Salford 788 8144 Clough - a Site of Special Scientific Chris Clark, 15 Gleaves Road, Eccles, Manchester M30 0FU. Interest. [email protected] Footpath Officer Manchester 07891 685 According to an official at Manchester City Richard Cleverley 993 Council's planning department, [email protected] the planning application will be put before the Wythenshawe Area Committee Website Administrator 434 0887 Helen Grady 07533 651 (possibly on 25th October 2012) as well as 121 Atwood Road M20 6JW 250. the Planning & Highways Committee. For [email protected] more information and comment see: http://stopmanchesterairport.blogspot.co.uk/2 Newsletter Editor 012/08/plans-to-concrete-former-greenbelt- Margaret Manning 861 8390 land.html 62 Grange Rd M21 9WX [email protected] Social Secretary WALKING ELSEWHERE Chris Quinn 633 9167 We need articles for future editions - good if 20 IrkVale Drive, Chadderton you can do short (or longer) article about OL12TW walks you have enjoyed – it can be in the UK [email protected] or a holiday abroad. Current Walks programme We hope to see you on some of the walks. If you have any questions about the walk, please contact the leader or check the website. www.manchesterandsalfordramblers.org.uk

There’s always a warm welcome for new walkers on our walks However if you haven’t been on walks with us before and want to meet up with someone to travel to the walk please contact Maggie Smith Walks Co-ordinator –see details above.

Please watch the website http://www.manchester-ramblers.org.uk/masg.asp for any changes to the walks programme For information contact - Mags Metcalf 07947 864 534 Please bring a packed lunch/drink on walks NB Footpath walks will start in the New Year!!

Please wear suitable clothing, strong footwear and bring waterproofs on all walks.

Day Date Walk Description Meeting Place and time. All walks Walk leader All walks circular unless start at 10.30 unless otherwise and contact 2012 stated. Short walks 5/6 stated. details miles. Long walks 10/12 Tuesday Sept Sale Water Park Sale Metro Station Dave Barcroft 11 860 4564 Saturday Sept Irlam/Davyhulme including Layby, after Boysnope Golf Course Bob Lenihan 15 ferry crossing if running just past Barton Airport, Liverpool Rd 07704 671 664 (A57) Irlam Bus 67, 100 Saturday Sept Blackleach Country Park, 37 bus from Piccadilly to Blackleach Mags Metcalf 29 Walkden M28 Country Park, Hilltop Rd. off Bolton 839 3865 Rd. Walkden. Meet in car park Tuesday Oct Kersal Dale, Garden Needs Nursery, Radford St. Maggie Smith 9 Salford Off Bury New Rd. Salford M7 794 3565 bus 135 from Lever St, Manchester, to Higher Broughton Police Station weekend Oct Hartington YH Derbyshire See website at Youth 13/14 Hostel Saturday Oct 27 Prestwich Forest Park Prestwich Metrolink Kevin Murphy 07852 113 971 M/c & Nov Chorlton Water Park, Meet Bowling Green pub, Brookburn Margaret Salford 10 Chorlton, South Manchester Rd. by Chorlton Green. 86 bus to Manning AGM Short walk followed by AGM Chorlton bus station 861 8390 Saturday at Bowling Green pub Tuesday Nov Clayton Vale, Medlock Valley Clayton Vale visitor centre, Edge Chris Clark 13 Lane, Clayton Bridge. Bus 217, 218 788 8144 Saturday Nov Healey Dell, Rochdale Corner Shawclough Rd, Market St Maggie Smith 24 (A671) and Dell Rd. Train from 794 3565 Victoria station or from Shudehill 17 bus to Rochdale, then 446 or 466 to Healey Dell Tues Dec Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre. Parking fees apply. Mags Metcalf 11 Bus 452, 455 from Rochdale 839 3865 Boxing Dec Bridgewater Canal towards Meet YMCA, Castlefield, Manchester Alan Moffatt Day 26 Stretford and back along Ship 947 0273 Wed 11.00 Canal to Manchester start 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 Tuesday Jan 8 River Irwell, Salford and Butterstile Lane/Agecroft Rd Maggie Smith Prestwich Bus 93, 95 794 3565 Saturday Jan 12 Footpath walk Manchester See website

Saturday Jan 26 4th leg Salford Heritage Walk Start Walkden Train Station Roy Bullock Walkden to Irlam Finish Irlam Train Station 736 7306 10 miles Linear Train or 67 bus back Saturday Feb 9 Footpath walk Salford See website Tuesday Feb 12 Hyde. Peak Forest Canal Hyde Central Railway Station Alan Lowe and River Tame circular 292 0351 Saturday Feb 23 Nico Ditch, loopline, Ashton Start at Levenshulme Railway Salle Dare Canal to Piccadilly Station Finish at Piccadilly 861 8491 linear Saturday March Footpath walk Manchester See website 9 Tuesday March Bridgewater Canal and Worsley Courthouse Veronica Yates 12 Boothstown Tram to Eccles then 68 bus 789 5209 Or Bus 33 or 26 from Piccadilly Saturday March Moses Gate Country Park, Car park in Country Park Kevin Murphy 30 Farnworth 8 bus from Shudehill to Moses Gate 07852 113 971 or Bolton train to Moses Gate. Walk down Loxham St to Park Tuesday April 9 Rixton Claypits. Visitor Centre, Rixton Claypits, Maggie Smith Warrington. A57 from Irlam just past 794 3565 Warburton Bridge Bus 100 from Shudehill or Trafford Centre Saturday April Footpath walk Salford See website 13 Saturday April Ancoats Peeps and CIS building, Miller St. Manchester Alan Moffatt 27 Manchester Centre Canals 947 0273

Longer walks in the area programme

Interested in going on other longer walks? Manchester Associates Rambling Club offers members walks of around 8 - 10 miles in Greater Manchester and the surrounding counties on 3 Sundays a month, and runs a coach trip to areas like Cumbria, North Yorkshire, North Wales or Derbyshire once a month. Membership is only £3.00 per year, so if you want to know more ring Simon Cleverley on 0161 860 0350 or email Simon on [email protected]. We'll give you more information about coach trips and the regular weekly walks in our newsletter.

If in your 20s and 30s longer walks also run by the Manchester and district walkers (MAD walkers) a local group of the Ramblers for people who live in and around the greater Manchester area http://www.madwalkers.org.uk/

Ramblers members can also go on walks with any other local group