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From the Chairman for April to July 2015 Newsletter discussions on the Ramblers Vision and Governance Documents which you all had an opportunity to reply Dear Ramblers to late last year. Apparently there were only 780 The start of Spring, hopefully and time to get out and responses out of 110,000 members plus 300 pages of really enjoy our walks. I always think this is one of the narrative. Watch this space. happiest times of the year when the first Spring flowers Averil Brice made a stimulating presentation with are out and the birds are singing. photographs to show what we, the volunteers, Some of us can feel quite virtuous, having walked achieved in 2014 with vegetation clearance. Let’s throughout the winter. The winter mud has again been hope that 2015 will be as good. a challenge as well as the rain. However it did not stop You may see that there is a new initiative called The the intrepid walkers who came to the January Pudding Big Path Watch which will be rolled out later this Walk from my house. Seventeen of us had a short cold year. This has been funded by the Ramblers Holidays walk (it rained quite hard for around 30 minutes) and Charitable Trust and is aimed to provide a snapshot of we all agreed that a four mile road walk was the best the whole of the UK’s footpaths. We will await we could achieve before the sumptuous tea with instructions. puddings. The spread was simply wonderful – better I hope you will enjoy the forthcoming walks and than any restaurant. Hot crumbles, spotted dick, cold events in the programme as well as book your diaries collations – the choice was salivating and most people for the White Cliffs Walking Festival 27 August – 2 decided to have a little of everything, starting with the September 2015. hot dishes. Very best wishes to you all Six members of our group went to the Kent Area AGM, held at Longfield village hall by Dartford and Margaret Lubbock Gravesham Ramblers. Usually AGMs are rather boring Chairman, White Cliffs Ramblers but this one was not. Most contentious were the 3 Volunteer Vegetation Clearance White Cliffs, Maidstone, Canterbury, Sevenoaks, North West Kent, Dartford and Gravesham, Tonbridge The clearance team has enjoyed a rest over the winter and Malling. Several other groups showed a keen months. However, since the end of November we have interest at the Kent Area AGM on 7th February. They cleared CH14 where it runs parallel with the Thanet were given a document to help them set up and Way and CB190A, near Adisham Station. Both paths, details of how to obtain help if needed. each 400 metres, were completely blocked. They are now impressively clear. In the New Year we cleared Please remember that it is important to let us know several fallen trees from HE186 and HE185, both in the about any vegetation problems you encounter, Swingfield area. These were discovered whilst Steve especially if you are planning to lead a walk. We rely and I were out walking on our own. on your input. Please make sure we get sufficient We have not had any recent requests for clearance, notice to raise a team to deal with it. but expect that to change when the nettles and brambles begin to grow again. We plan to take a look We hope that all our amazing volunteers will still be at all the paths cleared last year and make sure that able to support us again this season. We can’t thank they are kept in order. Priority will be given to paths you enough. needed for the Walking Festival in August. Stiles and gates – some information KCC will be holding a 2 day LANTRA training course covering the use of strimmers. This is planned for April. We all encounter stiles and gates that are in need of KCC has ordered new strimmers and equipment for us repair or replacement. It is often assumed that they to use. It will make a huge difference to the amount of are the responsibility of the local authority. This is work we can carry out. not true. They are the property of the landowners. It is their responsibility to maintain them. Many owners There are now 7 active volunteer clearance groups in are unaware that they could be held liable should an Kent. 4 accident/injury occur as a result of them not being fit CAWs - Countryside Access Wardens are official for purpose. badge carrying Local Authority wardens. They are trained by the local authority and not allocated areas. When stiles are reported to KCC they are placed in a They are ‘hands on’. They fit the coloured discs, priority list based on the danger they pose to the coloured tape and arrows to mark the rights of way. public. KCC will contact the owners and ask that they They also fit the end plates on the footpath posts, attend to them. The owners are often given the option showing the number of the path. They are issued of the work being carried out by Ramblers volunteers. with definitive maps and small hand tools. They carry out minor vegetation clearance around stiles and KCC is keen to encourage the use of kissing gates in other areas. They report issues to the local authority, place of a stile. They are much easier to access, last and have their own designated area on KCC’s fault longer than a stile and require very little maintenance. reporting website. KCC receives thousands of reports about stiles every year. They have very few staff or the resources to deal LFOs - Local Footpath Officers are mainly Ramblers with demand, so only the high risk ones or those Volunteers. Many are CAWs. They have their own preventing further access along the footpath (blocking parishes to monitor. They report problems on the the route) will get priority. If the stiles are a bit wobbly, local authority public website as they encounter but still useable, or if you can easily get past, they are them. They investigate proposed changes to rights of likely to remain very low down the list. way, i.e. closures and diversions, and are often We have had quite a bit of success contacting the involved in a battle to preserve rights of way if owners directly ourselves. It seems to be the best way appropriate. It often involves representing Ramblers forward, provided we are tactful and diplomatic. at official hearings. Theirs is a vital guardianship and campaigning role to ensure that nothing ‘slips through CAWs, LFOs, Parish Wardens – what’s the difference? the net’. 5 Parish Wardens - These are also Ramblers volunteers engagement with the work of Ramblers– and an who adopt a local parish/s. They are asked to walk increase in members and volunteers. each path in their parish/s once a year and report any issues they find to the local authority using the public The survey will not repair the issues discovered, but it fault reporting website. will highlight them and bring them to the attention of those who can set the wheels in motion to resolve They all fulfill a different but vital role, being the eyes them. and ears on the ground safeguarding rights of way for Averil Brice everybody. There are a huge number of public rights of way, so you can never have enough volunteers. If Walks with a difference, in this programme you are not already doing one of these jobs and would like to become involved, please contact Averil and Fri Apr 3 (Good Friday) A South Downs Way Loop Steve Brice. c26/20ml. Meet 09.00 in Eastbourne at western The Big Pathwatch end of promenade (B2103) by South Downs Way marker post, GR TQ600972 Map: Exp 123. Park Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust is funding a survey near school on left. The 20ml is a circular route of the entire rights of way network in England and on the South Downs via Beachy Head, the Seven Wales. It will open in June and it is hoped that as many Sisters and the Cuckmere valley; return on the members as possible will volunteer to survey a path(s) South Downs Way. The 26ml is the same but with in their area. the addition of Firle Beacon and Willingdon Hill. They hope that this project encourages thousands Lunch stop at Alfriston. Ls: (26ml) Graham Smith more people to feel a sense of ownership of and pride T: 01304 367853; (20ml) Joy Davies T: 01304 in their paths and that this leads to greater 825302 7 The ADRA Visit We have planned two walks that are in this It’s time once again for the annual visit of the French programme, 2nd June and 25th July. ADRA group. (from Dunkirk). The 2nd June walk is an early evening walk from Leeds village that gives superb views of the DATE: Tuesday 12th May. Normally they come on the castle. first Thursday in May but this year it coincides with the The 25th July walk is a figure 8 around the ever last 'little boats’ trip to Dunkirk and some of our French popular Kings Wood area near Challock. friends are involved in, and want to witness the Pub meals are optional on both walks, but need celebrations. to be booked ahead by emailing me. Both pubs are happy for us to use their facilities prior to the WALK: A LINEAR WALK to commence at Goodnestone, start of the walks. See programme for precise Lunch at the Five Bells at Eastry and Finish at details.