Please note: the monthly Area Newsletter is now available via the Brentwood Ramblers website

Chair’s Notes Since the last Newsletter your Committee has spent a lot of time trying to work out how best to communicate effectively with members. Changes to the Mailchimp system have made it more difficult for Brian to manage, especially with an increasing number of requests for messages. Advice on what we are allowed to send by email in line with GDPR has changed and Jane has done a great job in getting written clarification on this issue from Central Office, so that we are clear about how we may proceed. The cost and workload associated with communicating by post has become difficult to manage. Finally, Steve has created an excellent website with a Members area for Brentwood-specific information which we not think appropriate for the public website. However, very few of us have registered for a password to access this part of the website.

In light of the above we have decided that:- • Mailchimp messages will be limited to urgent issues such as last-minute changes to a Walk Start Point. • Any walk leader wishing to send a Mailchimp must supply the text of the message to be sent. • We will give notice of changes to communication by post. Frankie’s article in this Newsletter gives full details. • Our Walks Programme, including holiday details and booking forms will continue to be sent to all members by email (Mailchimp) as these are classified as contractual communications under GDPR. • We will publish our full Newsletter on the Members area of the website and send an email to advise when a new issue is available. We can no longer email the Newsletter directly as it is considered to be marketing material.

I hope that members will understand the need for us to change and ensure that we are fully compliant with guidance from Central office.

Brian Scroggs will be greatly missed on the Committee having stood down as Mailchimp Editor at our AGM. Fortunately, he has agreed to continue to sort out Mailchimp until his successor is in place. Lorraine has volunteered for this role and, by the time this Newsletter is published, she and Brian will have met to discuss the work involved. Brian has been on the Committee since 2005 and has been Chair, Membership Secretary, Walks Programme Editor and Saturday Rambles Secretary, so his experience and wisdom will be a great loss to us. We thank him for his hard work and hope that he enjoys the extra free time to devote to his many other interests.

I recently attended the Area AGM and it was very informative. There were excellent presentations by Len Bannister talking about Parish Path Adopters, Les Lamb from Fyfield Parish Council talking about joint working with West Essex Ramblers on PRoW maintenance, and Peter Rookes, Vice Chair of Ramblers Board of Trustees, giving an overview of the work of RA and current and upcoming issues. Details of these presentations can be found on the Essex Area website, and I’m we will give more information on issues when they are discussed by our committee to determine what we do in Brentwood to support the RA agenda overall.

Festival of Walks At the Essex Area AGM we were congratulated on our input to the Festival of Walks in 2019.

1

The 2020 Essex Festival of Walks will be organised on a theme of Essex Heritage, so walk leaders are encouraged to start thinking of walks which might incorporate sites of historic interest or importance. The dates are 3-11 October.

Network Rail Inquiry Members will be aware of the vast amount of time and effort expended by our Footpaths Secretary, Gordon Bird, in gathering and presenting evidence on behalf of Ramblers to submit to the Inquiry, the results of which are still awaited.

At the Essex Area AGM, Dr Peter Rookes, Vice Chair of the RA Board of Trustees, presented Gordon and Alan Goffee with a Certificate of Commendation for outstanding effort and work on the Network Rail inquiry. It is good to see the hard work of local volunteers being recognised and here is a photograph of them receiving their award.

Don’t Lose Your way This initiative has received a lot of coverage in national news media recently and is a priority for RA this year. Members may be aware that there are many footpaths across the country which have been used by walkers for centuries, but which are not included on the definitive maps which local authorities are required to keep. The government has set a deadline of January 2026 for missing paths to be identified and added to the definitive map. After this any unidentified paths will be lost!

RA has launched a toolkit to help members to identify missing PR0Ws. It is available on the RA website and all members are encouraged to help with the task. Some paths may be unused and overgrown, but may provide a useful link between other paths and, for example, avoid walking on busy roads; other paths may be well used but simply unrecorded.

Please help if you can! Committee members can help if you’re unsure how to proceed.

Car Parking I’m sure we’re all aware of the need to be considerate of the needs of local residents when parking our cars to go for a walk. The popularity of our walks means that we often have a large number of vehicles and, sometimes, local conditions such as mud, etc can affect the space available. If we encounter difficulty with parking space, it is particularly important to ensure that we do not obstruct access for emergency vehicles to any properties nearby.

As always, car sharing, wherever possible, will reduce the scale of our parking problems. Geoff Sharman

News and Views

Newsletter mail-outs Most of you have received this newsletter and walks programme via email. A few of you will have received a printed copy in the post. From 2021 we have decided that we can no longer send printed copies to members who have an email address. The annual amount we receive from the Ramblers Association only

2 works out at £1.28 per person so with 3 second class stamps costing £1.83, plus printing costs and envelopes, you can see how expensive it is proving. We realise there are a few people not on email so we will continue to send to those.

Thank you to members who have offered to pay an extra contribution or supply stamped addressed envelopes but that would involve us in a lot of extra administration so we have decided against that solution. Thank you also to those people who don’t have printing facilities but use their local library or friends and family to help.

This new arrangement will start in 2021. Frankie Carpenter

Footpath Secretary If you attended the Brentwood Group AGM or Area AGM or have read the Minutes of the AGMs, much of what I have to report has already been announced. So at the risk over-elaborating or repeating myself I shall keep my comments brief.

Footpath Orders – There have been none in the last few months, however footpath diversions at Chase Farm, Little Burstead are still under consideration. Essex Highways gave Footpath Secretaries a detailed presentation on the processes undertaken in raising and confirming footpath orders. It was well received and welcomed by those attending.

The Coastal Path project has been reactivated now that the legal challenge has been removed. Essex Area and several Groups including Brentwood will now assist in progressing this project.

The Lower Thames Crossing development has entered the next consultative phase following representation from interested parties, including Ramblers. The initial impression is that the latest changes indicate that the Public Rights of Way needs in Thurrock, Havering and Brentwood are being catered for. We shall, however, be looking in greater detail at the proposals.

Obstructed Paths - Discussions have been held with Essex Highways regarding the resolution of long-term problems such as obstructed paths. These are on-going. As previously requested, footpath problems experienced when out walking should still be reported via the Essex County Council website. However, any lingering long-term problems please bring to my attention.

The outcome of the Network Rail Public Inquiry is still awaited. There has been no indication of when this will happen.

The Don’t Lose Your Way initiative, aimed at registering old forgotten footpaths on the definitive maps, is to be commenced. Ian Glenn will be coordinating our efforts on behalf of Essex Area. Several volunteers have put their names forward – hopefully more will join. Let me know if you are interested. This long-term project has been widely advertised by the Ramblers.

The Parish Path Adopters initiative - promoted by Len Banister - is now underway. The aim is to get Rambler members to adopt a footpath(s) and report any issues to Essex Highways. It would be good to see Brentwood Group actively supporting this. More details will become available shortly.

Unfortunately, we are now looking for someone to take on the important and interesting role of Area Footpath Secretary after Katherine Evans stood down after many years in post - her contribution will be missed. If you are interested in finding out more details please contact me. Gordon Bird

3 Footpath Working Party - The Brentwood Bramblers The stile we put in a for a landowner in Hullett's Lane earlier last year was somewhat damaged recently by a vehicle. We are waiting to hear from Essex County Highways to see if he wants us to repair it for him.

The group have replaced a footbridge with a new one at the junction of Ingatestone and Fryerning 274 - 14 and 10 as well as some path clearances along 274 – 10. Just north of Mountnessing we have cleared the paths and footbridges along 276 - 20, 28 and 40. Our last footpath we have worked on was Herongate and Ingrave 312 - 50.

At the time of writing, Essex County Highways have asked us to help them with clearing Navestock byway 61. They are hoping to convert the byway into a bridleway instead at some future date. Miles Cooper

Bookable and Forthcoming Events

The Trail Sunday 5 April The follows a surprisingly green route through north-east London for 13 miles from Barnet, through and Edmonton, to finish at Hale. It links woodland, parks and open spaces, keeping close to the brook for much of the journey.

Starting from , one of the highest parts of at an altitude of 440 ft, the Trail traverses a chain of woods, parks, open spaces and scrubland linked by pleasant, mainly residential roads, with much of interest to see along the way. The brook flows into the at Tottenham which is just 36 ft above sea level so the Trail descends steadily but imperceptibly, except at the start!

We will meet at High Barnet station (Northern Line) and finish at station (Victoria Line and Greater Anglia/Overground to Stratford and Liverpool Street). There are various opt-out points en route. A picnic is the suggested lunch option. Please note that there appears to be no C2C or District Line service from Upminster on 5 April 5. Chris Green

May 2020 St Ives Cornwall This holiday is fully booked with 53 ramblers on the trip, so we will be taking over the entire Treloyhan Manor Hotel. Payment of the balance is due by 21 March. Please submit this with the form at the end of this Newsletter.

A detailed itinerary is available by logging into the "Members" area of the website. If you haven't already done so, you will need to register first. Chris Green

June Weekend 2020 HF Dovedale, Derbyshire There are now 47 members booked to go on our June weekend to Dovedale in Derbyshire. The Hotel's address is Peveril of the Peak, Thorpe, Dovedale, Ashbourne, DE6 2AW, phone number 03454707558, hfholidays.co.uk dovedale.

This is a beautiful old house set in the Derbyshire dales, complete with indoor pool! We are taking advantage of the HF leaders so there will be a choice of 3 walks each day, slow, medium or long. We will have full board including breakfast, packed lunch and evening meal.

For those who wish to go by car, the journey is between 3 to 3½ hours (traffic permitting!) and by train the 2 nearest stations are Buxton or Derby. You will need to take a taxi from either station to get to the Hotel. From Buxton it is approximately 35 minutes and costs around £42 and from Derby it will take 40 minutes and costs around £32 if pre-booked.

4 The number of the local taxi company is Ashbourne Taxis 07442 530263 or [email protected]. The balance of £225.00 per person is now becoming due so please send your cheques to Chris Green made out to Brentwood Ramblers Events using the booking form at the back of this Newsletter to reach him by no later than 20 April 2020.

Let's hope it's stopped raining by then and we can enjoy some wonderful walking in the Dales! Dianne Ingram

October Weekend 2020 Cromer, Norfolk Lorraine Hayward and I will be organising the October weekend to Cromer. We’ve worked out some walks which will also include using the steam train from Sheringham to Holt, as well as the coast path between Holkham and Blakeney, and a walk between Cromer and Mundesley. The holiday is fully booked and a form for the balance due will be included in the next Newsletter. Les Cox

Past Events

Christmas Walk/Lunch Tuesday 17 December 2019 After a morning walk, the Christmas lunch was held at Bentley Golf Club. Sixty-six people came along and had a great time relaxing and catching up with everyone. Once again, the event was very successful so thanks to Les Cox for organising the lunch and to Chris Green for leading the morning walk. Ruth Hannon

The Nelson Mandela Way The 12-mile first section of the walk has been completed and included an impromptu rallying speech for Brentwood Ramblers on a soapbox at Speakers Corner and an Indian vegetarian meal after the walk.

Boots are required for future sections of the walk. The second section of the walk takes place on Sunday 19 April and continues north through and Hampstead Garden Suburb to the “” and finishes at Totteridge & Whetstone Tube Station. Breakfast at Hampstead Heath, lots of cafes: try Dominiques or Matchbox. Lunch at a golf club, good beer and sandwiches, no cooked food. Dinner: restaurant in central London.

The third section of the walk takes place on Sunday 24 May and continues northwest, mainly through open countryside to Radlett Train Station. Breakfast at “The Waiting Room”. Lunch at the “Mops & Brooms”, a busy pub that only does cooked food on Sunday; strongly suggest you bring your own food. Dinner: restaurant central London. Colin Raven

Photo of Raven the Rebel at Speakers’ Corner (Ruth Hannon)

5 A Relaxing Walk On Tuesday 11 February, 3 days after storm Ciara, 35 smiling and enthusiastic walkers gathered for the normal Tuesday walk. After the usual announcements and the celebration of a birthday the walk began. It was a thoroughly enjoyable walk, the sun was shining but the cold wind did its best to reduce the apparent warmth. At the beginning of the walk there was not any indication of the adventure that the walk was to become. Some of the established footpaths were shallow streams, flooded ditches had to be jumped and waterlogged mud had to be splashed through. All this is not unusual at this time of year but the real excitement was having to negotiate half of a significant oak tree that had been blown down and was blocking the bridleway. There was no obvious or easy way around or through this obstacle and it seemed that there were as many ways around or through the tangle of branches as there were walkers. It was this obstruction that resulted in the walk being voted the “most adventurous” of the year.

The conditions resulted in some walkers being quite weary and so it would be remiss not to mention and pay tribute to Alan, our diligent, committed and enthusiastic back-marker who never ceases to carefully shepherd those of us who need encouragement. Brian Garner

Rambles Secretaries’ Notes

Sundays/Bank Holiday Mondays At the time of writing the next Sunday/Bank Holiday programme is almost complete, however with the Easter and May bank holidays included it has been a tricky programme to fill.

Therefore thanks as usual to all the leaders who have volunteered, with special note to Colin Raven, Brian Hemming and Dianne Ingram who have all offered to fill 2 dates which really helps. This of course highlights once again the need for leaders to come forward (both old and new!) otherwise we face the prospect of having more blank dates in the future.

Colin Raven’s long-distance trail ‘The Nelson Mandela Way’ successfully commenced on 2 February with over 20 walkers taking part. Legs 2 and 3 are included within the next programme so please see Colin’s article under Forthcoming Events in the Newsletter for full details.

Please also see Chris Green’s article with details of his walk for Sunday 5 April, ‘The Pymmes Brook Trail’.

As we enter this spring/summer programme we will hopefully leave the mud and cold weather behind and can look forward to some warm, sunny and mud-free days walking. Colin Banner

Tuesdays It’s been another successful walks programme and I want to thank all walk leaders for putting on a walk.

Now I want to share a contribution that an unseen member has shared with me. You may know him as backmarker Alan. Well, I normally estimate the numbers who are out on the Tuesday walk when asked by the committee but Alan, when he walks, records everyone on the walk and he has provided me with his records and I want to share some of them with you for all the geeks who like figures.

On 19 walks between July and December the average attendance was 27 people out on Tuesday walks. The most on a walk was 37 and the least was 8 (a very hot day I am told). We also had a total of 5 people who quite regularly walk with us from other groups and also 31 people who have occasionally walked or tried us out. It is quite interesting that we do get quite a lot of ramblers from other groups enjoying our walks who return but on the downside it appears we don't keep many new walkers trying us out.

6 I would like to thank Alan, and I am sure most of you as well, for this contribution and also his brilliant backmarking and the help he gives our ramblers crossing main roads and getting over styles; thank you Alan. Mike Wheatley

Saturdays Numbers are still quite high considering the awful chocolate mousse type conditions! Hopefully things will dry out some time soon.

We also have several people who still would like to do a shorter walk on occasions so please read the comments each week to find out when they will be. It’s not always easy to get a volunteer to lead members back halfway round so, if you feel you can help ou , please let me know. Thank you. Dianne Ingram

Webmaster’s Notes We continue to improve the Website with the future intention of providing access to information such as Newsletters, Minutes of meetings, WaSP lists, holidays and itineraries, etc. This will save us sending out hundreds of emails and help us comply with the rules of what may or may not be considered as marketing. This Information may only be accessed by Members who have registered to the Members’ Area of the Website, so we suggest that you register now if you haven’t done so already.

If you are having difficulty with Registration, please don’t hesitate to contact me on 07809 710676. Steve Johnson

Editor’s Notes

It’s great to welcome 2 new contributors to this issue; thanks to Brian Garner and Kevin Kline. Do have a look at the website for lots more photos. Ruth Hannon

PLEASE NOTE! In view of the fact that occasionally we have had to cancel walks through adverse weather conditions and move a start point of another walk for other reasons PLEASE note our advice at the beginning of the programme and phone the leader of the walk if you have any doubts about it taking place. We do try to warn you of any changes via email, on the website or by announcements on walks, but it is not always possible to ensure that all our members are informed. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Health and Safety Please see link to the Ramblers website http://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/advice-for-walkers/safety- and-equipment/personal-safety.aspx

Change of Address If you move home, please remember to let Ramblers know: 020 7339 8500 [email protected]

Future Committee Meetings 18 May, 27 July, 21 September, 23 November

7

BOOKING CONDITIONS FOR TRIPS Coach Rambles: Payment is non-refundable. Weeks and Weekends Away: Deposit is non-refundable.

Final balance must be paid 6 weeks before event. No refund will be given once final balance has been paid, unless we are able to re-sell the place or obtain a partial or full refund for accommodation. Any waiving of these rules can only be considered in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the committee. The final price of events may be subject to minor changes to reflect any unanticipated costs.

Also please note that gratuities are included in the booking fee for coaches on all trips. Gratuities are not included in the booking fee for hotel accommodation. If you have to drop out from any booked trip at the last moment, please let the organiser know. Please note that your trips with Brentwood Ramblers are not covered by insurance so it may be a good idea to take out your own cover.

8