September 2018 Newsletter Here

The joy of walking by Stuart Braisier Telford & East Shropshire Stuart is a Rambler who loves exploring lesser known places and sharing them with members. As well as being known for leading long walks in less explored countryside Stuart also leads short urban walks for Walking For Health. In this article he simply explains why he does it and the pleasure he gets from it! We Ramblers found it moving and inspirational and hope you enjoy reading it too

I sometimes get asked “Why walk when there's a bus”? So how do you answer that?

Many do it for the rewards of a mixed bag of health reasons, walking is good for heart, lungs, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and helps prevent diabetes and cancer. It also strengthens muscles & bones, keeps you fit, increases energy levels, helps manage weight, has mental health benefits in relieving stress, lifts your mood and self esteem and assists with better sleep.

Besides this lot there's the refreshment of breathing fresh air, the human instinct to know what's over the hill and the bliss of visiting new places not so easily seen from the car.

The social aspect is important too to meet people, make new friends and sometimes meet with old friends and some meetings may even evolve into a love life which can bring such happiness when one has given up in this area of life.

The new Autumn and Winter Walks Programme is just out: make sure it isn’t the last Walking the Shropshire Way will reveal to you some of England’s best kept secrets. one you ever get. Now resist the temptation to turn the page over, we know people’s You can discover the stark rocky crags of the Stiperstones with its unique landscape, eyes glaze at the mention of data protection regulations, but, even if you don’t have walk over ancient hill forts, stroll in Medieval towns and villages, wander through a computer, even if you think you have agreed to let Telford and East Shropshire beautiful woodland and then realise you don’t have to climb a high mountain for a Ramblers (TES) send you information in the past, please read on. These new data spectacular view as you reach the summits of the Clee Hills and the Wrekin. laws mean we can’t carry on sending you our next local walks programme, the Group's The fully waymarked Southern Section is a scenic traverse over the Stiperstones, newsletter, details of footpath working parties, information about last minute changes Clee Hills and Wenlock Edge before descending to Ironbridge Gorge. From there it to walks, or invitations to socials and local walking events. You must be registered takes you over the Wrekin and visits Wellington before returning via Haughmond Hill as 'opted in' with Ramblers nationally, by Email, Telephone and /or Post first . to Shrewsbury. Waymarking is now almost complete for the Northern Section.

These options are in your account area on the main national Ramblers website and The Northern Section provides a your personal details can only be entered by you or an administrator at Ramblers contrast to the Shropshire Hills HQ: it is only details on the national database that count, not what you tell us. Some with canals, meres and the members who updated their preferences following a message in a recent Ramblers Nature Reserve of the Shropshire newsletter have not had their details changed yet in the main Ramblers national Mosses, an important area for database or a wife/ husband's preferences have been changed but not their partners. birdlife and rare plants. There’s an option of a route to Can we ask you, therefore, as a matter of urgency, if you want to stay in touch with Whitchurch with the original link us, to check your Contact Preferences in your own account on the Ramblers website, to the Sandstone Trail. At http://www.ramblers.org.uk/my-account.aspx Login first, then update your contact Maesbury Marsh there is the Telford & East Shropshire Ramblers on The details, next we advise everyone to tick both the Ramblers may contact me by email opportunity to take a detour to Shropshire Way over Brown Clee and post boxes. Please tick email if you have it, we cannot afford to send every the historic town of Oswestry and communication to everybody by post. If you don't have email we suggest you tick the magnificent hill fort on the the contact me by phone box too please. Email or phone/text is the only option if a outskirts. From here you will pass through Llanymynech Rocks on the Welsh border walk is cancelled or a starting point is changed at short notice (very rare but it has with its famous lime kilns. happened that walkers without internet/email have turned up at the wrong place or time). This is especially important for walk leaders, footpath volunteers and regular If you want to explore the Shropshire Way there are webpages for each stage with walkers as details need to be given in advance and may even change at short notice. downloads for maps and .gpx filles see: Shropshire Way Association http://www.shropshireway.org.uk/ Cicerone Guides has asked John Gillham, to write If you joined Ramblers by post or phone some time ago, click on Register at the top a guide to the Shropshire Way main route. John is busy walking the entire route, of the http://www.ramblers.org.uk/ or email [email protected] with your making notes and taking photographs for publication either later 2018 or early 2019. request. If you do not have email then please ring Ramblers HQ on 020 7339 8500 So all you walk leaders and budding walk leaders - watch this space ! and ask them to update your contact details so you can be contacted by both post and telephone/ mobile text. You will need your membership number. A great new scheme to look after the section of the Shropshire Way In Telford and Wrekin has now been set up; see Facebook page Friends of The Shropshire Way. If It is entirely up to you whether you tick any of the boxes under the Ramblers may you want to get involved supporting The Shropshire Way the AGM of The Shropshire contact me about special offers from their carefully selected partners section. Way Association is Saturday 1st December 14.00 at Shrewsbury United Reformed Church lecture room. Free parking at the English Bridge gyratory. Important Message for all our Members. New Shropshire Way Completed At Last

These options are in your account area on the main national Ramblers website and The Northern Section provides a your personal details can only be entered by you or an administrator at Ramblers contrast to the Shropshire Hills HQ: it is only details on the national database that count, not what you tell us. Some with canals, meres and the members who updated their preferences following a message in a recent Ramblers Nature Reserve of the Shropshire newsletter have not had their details changed yet in the main Ramblers national Mosses, an important area for database or a wife/ husband's preferences have been changed but not their partners. birdlife and rare plants. There’s an option of a route to Can we ask you, therefore, as a matter of urgency, if you want to stay in touch with Whitchurch with the original link us, to check your Contact Preferences in your own account on the Ramblers website, to the Sandstone Trail. At http://www.ramblers.org.uk/my-account.aspx Login first, then update your contact Maesbury Marsh there is the Telford & East Shropshire Ramblers on The details, next we advise everyone to tick both the Ramblers may contact me by email opportunity to take a detour to Shropshire Way over Brown Clee and post boxes. Please tick email if you have it, we cannot afford to send every the historic town of Oswestry and communication to everybody by post. If you don't have email we suggest you tick the magnificent hill fort on the the contact me by phone box too please. Email or phone/text is the only option if a outskirts. From here you will pass through Llanymynech Rocks on the Welsh border walk is cancelled or a starting point is changed at short notice (very rare but it has with its famous lime kilns. happened that walkers without internet/email have turned up at the wrong place or time). This is especially important for walk leaders, footpath volunteers and regular If you want to explore the Shropshire Way there are webpages for each stage with walkers as details need to be given in advance and may even change at short notice. downloads for maps and .gpx filles see: Shropshire Way Association http://www.shropshireway.org.uk/ Cicerone Guides has asked John Gillham, to write If you joined Ramblers by post or phone some time ago, click on Register at the top a guide to the Shropshire Way main route. John is busy walking the entire route, of the http://www.ramblers.org.uk/ or email [email protected] with your making notes and taking photographs for publication either later 2018 or early 2019. request. If you do not have email then please ring Ramblers HQ on 020 7339 8500 So all you walk leaders and budding walk leaders - watch this space ! and ask them to update your contact details so you can be contacted by both post and telephone/ mobile text. You will need your membership number. A great new scheme to look after the section of the Shropshire Way In Telford and Wrekin has now been set up; see Facebook page Friends of The Shropshire Way. If It is entirely up to you whether you tick any of the boxes under the Ramblers may you want to get involved supporting The Shropshire Way the AGM of The Shropshire contact me about special offers from their carefully selected partners section. Way Association is Saturday 1st December 14.00 at Shrewsbury United Reformed Church lecture room. Free parking at the English Bridge gyratory. The joy of walking by Stuart Braisier Telford & East Shropshire Stuart is a Rambler who loves exploring lesser known places and sharing them with members. As well as being known for leading long walks in less explored countryside Stuart also leads short urban walks for Walking For Health. In this article he simply explains why he does it and the pleasure he gets from it! We Ramblers found it moving and inspirational and hope you enjoy reading it too

I sometimes get asked “Why walk when there's a bus”? So how do you answer that?

Besides this lot there's the refreshment of breathing fresh air, the human instinct to know what's over the hill and the bliss of visiting new places not so easily seen from the car.

But there's more to it than that, many like to explore, to find the unknown features that Britain's unrivalled landscape has to offer in its dense network of paths that lead to Stuart and his partner Janet aon Hope Bowdler Hill. Stuart is popular and hidden leading a walk here in our new Walks Programme attractions. Newsletter A few reap satisfaction from the challenge of big hills, long distances or speed. Others just walk for the pleasure of it and the cloud nine feeling of getting out September 2018 and away from it all. In my case its the challenge to resurrect childhood type The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company adventures and to see fascinating features . limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492).Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment,London SE1 7TW Dates for your Diary THURSDAY XMAS RAMBLE AND MEAL - HIGHLEY DEC 6th 2018 These days it is also to use the Back by popular demand - Severn Valley Ramble and The Ship Inn for Xmas comforts of a traditional British pub Non-walkers welcome to join us for the meal - contact the leader. Jean will need with dark beer. Then there’s the confirmation if you are eating at least a week before, by Wed Nov 28th at the latest. achievement of devising a route linking Mob 07762083134 Email [email protected] these features that are not necessarily on the map with a determination to SUNDAY XMAS RAMBLE AND MEAL - DEC 16th 2018 get from A to B no matter what is in Walk Beckbury, Badger Dingle then meal at The Red Cow at Ackleton between; only barbed wire, private Non-walkers welcome to come for the meal only. Pam and Tim will need confirmation signs, locked gates and un-bridged if you are eating by Fri Dec 7th at the latest. Can make menu choice on the day - no rivers keep me out. need for choose in advance. Contact Pam and Tim 01952 460828 or 07977 452664 So my answer to why "Walk" is a determination, with the bigger the Remember for these Xmas walks, last minute changes are possible. Contact the leader challenge the better, which when completed gives me a vast sense of exhilaration and then, to put the walk on offer for the benefit of those that enjoy such childhood FESTIVAL OF WINTER WALKS: 10am 31 Dec Dawley Pools; Anne 07903 325011 adventures. With all things considered the question should be, why catch the bus when TELFORD & EAST SHROPSHIRE RAMBLERS AGM & SOCIAL EVENING you can "Walk" - how will the couch potato answer that? BLISTS HILL MUSEUM VISITORS CENTRE 13 November 7.30pm The New Telford T50 50 Mile Trail An interesting and entertaining evening with lots of chance to socialise, enjoy our famous home made cakes and snacks and hear an entertaining illustrated talk from a guest A beautiful, fascinating new fifty mile green corridor walking route opened in Telford speaker. Don’t miss this popular event. It’s also an opportunity to influence what happens 16 June 2018. How did this come about? TES Chair Anne Suffolk tells the tale. in our Group next year and share views and ideas over a glass of wine or cup of coffee. TES Ramblers committee all agreed we should do something special for the fiftieth We do need some new blood on our committee as some long standing members have anniversary of Telford becoming a new town: a major re-launch of The Hutchison Way to leave us soon for personal reasons. Soon we will need a new Treasurer and Footpaths and Silkin Way with new waymarks and leaflets perhaps? Officer - could it be you? Have a chat to Cary and Paula about what is involved .Why not talk to one of us about what needs to be done to make our Group a success? Many things Then one of our members, Naomi that help us along can be done don’t take up a lot of time. Wrighton, who is the Secretary of SHROPSHIRE AREA AGM MARKET DRAYTON 26 JAN 2pm - Optional morning walk Wellington Walkers Are Welcome, contacted me and said she thought we Thank you to our sponsors should all be a lot more ambitious. It Take a holiday and you could benefit our Group as well as yourself had long been her dream to have one continuous green corridor circular Our newsletter and our walks programme is sponsored by Ramblers Walking Holidays walking and running route linking and HF Holidays. Quote our Ramblers Group name, Telford and East Shropshire, and together Telford's local nature reserves, for every person booking our group gets £10 for a UK holiday. parks, open green spaces and woods. We get £20 for short haul and £30 for long haul bookings. Dag Saunders from The Ironbridge Walking Festival had a similar idea and This makes a real difference to keeping our Group going. If you book a holiday with wanted to include historic places. RWH, our group benefits financially through The Walking Partnership. These Walking Obviously a joint project beckoned. Partnership funds help pay for printing costs for our Group and other activities. So with Eve Clevenger, Chair of Wellington Walkers are Welcome, the four of us got Research shows the greatest incentive to get people walking and the greatest barrier together to plan bids for funding. We decided Trail should be 50 miles in length, one stopping them is whether or not there is an inviting footpath close to where they live. mile for every year since the foundation of the New Town. Telford and Wekin Council The Trail is designed so most people can start from a path close to home and use local gave us a grant of £1700 from their Legacy Fund and we got a £650 donation from buses and trains to plan linear or circular walks of any length. There are maps, gpx EnviroGrant Veolia. We invited Jim Cox from the Marches branch of The Long files, bus route information all downloadable from the website. There will soon be a Distance Walkers Association to join us. Our Group's Footpaths Officer Paula Doherty guidebook to support the route with information about the history and wildlife one volunteered to help as did Pam Hill who leads walks for both TES and Wellington can enjoy on the way. It is waymarked in a clockwise direction and soon it will be fully Walkers. Between us the seven member planning consortium now represented six waymarked anticlockwise too. There is an Information Board at the Trail start in the organisations including Telford Harriers and Walking For Health. Town Park. It is on the LDWA database of Long Distance Trails.

I was lucky enough to meet Ramblers Chair Kate Ashbrook at the Ramblers General Council in April when we were in search of a 'walking celebrity' to open our Trail. Kate is also General Secretary of the Open Spaces Society and Patron of Walkers Are Welcome. The perfect person to speak about the need for and importance of the value of accessible and walk able spaces. Kate opened the Trail 16 June together with the Mayor and Leader of Telford and Wrekin Council Raj Mehta and Shaun Davies. Over a 150 walkers and runners then took part to walk and or run the entire Trail in the first 24 hours with a group from the LDWA covering all 50 miles in just 16 hours and Telford Harriers running the route Fron left: Pam Hill, Dag Saunders, Naomi Wrighton, Anne Suffolk, Eve Clevenger and Jim Cox at the unveiling of the Trail Information Board . in a relay- how amazing is that! Paula Doherty missed the launch ceremony as she was on holiday. I enjoyed working closely with other organisations: a lesson in teamwork, trusting in We had to bring the whole thing together at great speed between applying for delegation and how important it is for Ramblers to reach out and engage with all funding in November, getting the money in the New Year and launching the Trail walkers, not just our membership. Telford’s Mayor Raj Mehta has asked us to organise with a mass walk and relay run in Telford Town Park by 16 June - no pressure then! a sponsored walk to include GP surgeries and Walking For Health start points to promote the health benefits of Naomi came up with a draft route. We divided it into seven stages of four and ten walking and raise money for the miles between us to test the route, walk it and waymark it. Arguments ensued as we Mayor's Fund charities. So start debated which favourite highlights to keep or reject if the route was to be kept to exploring our new long distance the 50 mile limit. Council officers helped with mapping the route digitally, checking footpath. We will be leading walks its rights of way status and incorporating the Telford T50 anniversary logo into the along the entire route starting with design of our distinctive magenta Trail waymarks. The two longest stages have been Stage 1 Town park to Ironbridge in divided into two walks of about 5 miles so there are nine sections in all, each one the new Walk Programme. It really supported by a detailed illustrated walk direction leaflet guide and map. is a 'Trail for Everyone' - get out and enjoy it. So with Eve Clevenger, Chair of Wellington Walkers are Welcome, the four of us got Research shows the greatest incentive to get people walking and the greatest barrier together to plan bids for funding. We decided Trail should be 50 miles in length, one stopping them is whether or not there is an inviting footpath close to where they live. mile for every year since the foundation of the New Town. Telford and Wekin Council The Trail is designed so most people can start from a path close to home and use local gave us a grant of £1700 from their Legacy Fund and we got a £650 donation from buses and trains to plan linear or circular walks of any length. There are maps, gpx EnviroGrant Veolia. We invited Jim Cox from the Marches branch of The Long files, bus route information all downloadable from the website. There will soon be a Distance Walkers Association to join us. Our Group's Footpaths Officer Paula Doherty guidebook to support the route with information about the history and wildlife one volunteered to help as did Pam Hill who leads walks for both TES and Wellington can enjoy on the way. It is waymarked in a clockwise direction and soon it will be fully Walkers. Between us the seven member planning consortium now represented six waymarked anticlockwise too. There is an Information Board at the Trail start in the organisations including Telford Harriers and Walking For Health. Town Park. It is on the LDWA database of Long Distance Trails.

I was lucky enough to meet Ramblers Chair Kate Ashbrook at the Ramblers General Council in April when we were in search of a 'walking celebrity' to open our Trail. Kate is also General Secretary of the Open Spaces Society and Patron of Walkers Are Welcome. The perfect person to speak about the need for and importance of the value of accessible and walk able spaces. Kate opened the Trail 16 June together with the Mayor and Leader of Telford and Wrekin Council Raj Mehta and Shaun Davies. Over a 150 walkers and runners then took part to walk and or run the entire Trail in the first 24 hours with a group from the LDWA covering all 50 miles in just 16 hours and Telford Harriers running the route Fron left: Pam Hill, Dag Saunders, Naomi Wrighton, Anne Suffolk, Eve Clevenger and Jim Cox at the unveiling of the Trail Information Board . in a relay- how amazing is that! Paula Doherty missed the launch ceremony as she was on holiday. I enjoyed working closely with other organisations: a lesson in teamwork, trusting in We had to bring the whole thing together at great speed between applying for delegation and how important it is for Ramblers to reach out and engage with all funding in November, getting the money in the New Year and launching the Trail walkers, not just our membership. Telford’s Mayor Raj Mehta has asked us to organise with a mass walk and relay run in Telford Town Park by 16 June - no pressure then! a sponsored walk to include GP surgeries and Walking For Health start points to promote the health benefits of Naomi came up with a draft route. We divided it into seven stages of four and ten walking and raise money for the miles between us to test the route, walk it and waymark it. Arguments ensued as we Mayor's Fund charities. So start debated which favourite highlights to keep or reject if the route was to be kept to exploring our new long distance the 50 mile limit. Council officers helped with mapping the route digitally, checking footpath. We will be leading walks its rights of way status and incorporating the Telford T50 anniversary logo into the along the entire route starting with design of our distinctive magenta Trail waymarks. The two longest stages have been Stage 1 Town park to Ironbridge in divided into two walks of about 5 miles so there are nine sections in all, each one the new Walk Programme. It really supported by a detailed illustrated walk direction leaflet guide and map. is a 'Trail for Everyone' - get out and enjoy it. YOUR LOCAL GROUP New Footpath Maintenance Team Your local Ramblers Group (Telford and East Shropshire) looks after the We have a new coordinator for our footpath footpaths in our area by opposing closures unfavourable to walkers and by maintenance team, Hamish Kirkpatrick. Our team is helping to keep paths marked and clear of obstructions. It also organises a full now back in action. Following a planning meeting at programme of walks and other events. If you require any further details please The Grazing Cow in Lawley the volunteers opted for a contact a committee member: regular day to do monthly maintenance work and Chair Anne Suffolk 07903 325011 Tuesdays were suggested in the first instance. [email protected] You can see what they can do in a morning’s work Secretary Jo Henderson 01952 595302 clearing overgrown footpaths from the ‘before and [email protected] after’ photos of the public footpath in St Georges that Footpath Secretary Paula Doherty 01952 813520 links the bridge over Redhill Way with the Hockey Club [email protected] car park and forms part of the Telford T50 50 Mile Trail. The steps at either end are much wider now and we Membership Secretary Anne Sumner 01952 810444 uncovered a handrail that hasn't been seen for a while [email protected] as it was hidden under gorse and brambles. They have Treasurer Cary French 07879 447804 set to work on Kynnersley Drive and hopefully in the future many more projects will get underway. Programme Secretary Pam Day 01952 460828 [email protected] The Council loan the tools, liaise with the landowners Assistant Programme Anne Furlong 01952 460715 and provide insurance so all that is required from our Secretary team members is some spare time and enthusiasm. It is fun to do and immensely satisfying to unblock a right Publicity Secretary & Anne Suffolk 07903 325011 of way and open it up for public use again. If you would Webmaster [email protected] like to help why not give Hamish a call or send an Minutes Secretary Anne Wheeler 07946 627693 email. If you know of a local footpath that needs some [email protected] tlc please let us know. Committee member Mick Coats 01952 810747

Footpath Maintenance Hamish 07962 400182 (non c’tee post) Kirkpatrick [email protected]

You do not have to be on the committee to help your local Group thrive. Members are welcome to volunteer as walk leaders, join our footpath maintenance group, contribute as 'admins' on our Website or Facebook pages, or help with social events. If you would like to contribute in any way please talk informally to a member of the committee. Photos by Derek Houghton, Martin Gibbons and Anne Suffolk. Typeset and printed by Badger Print & Design, Shifnal TF11 9NQ 01952 730 511 Keeping Watch Over Our Footpaths Becoming a Walk Leader - Walking for Health and Ramblers All walkers benefit from the work Ramblers Groups do protecting local footpaths. “The reason I started walking with and leading walks for Walking for Health was Our Group has been camapigning to restore The Hutchison Way which has been to give something back to walking which has given me so much over the years. I deteriorating in recent years. A walk by our members between Newport and have derived considerable benefit from it though and have made new friends. The Donnington found less than a dozen waymarks in place and most of those were shorter nature of it also fits in well with other demands on my time.” Naomi Wrighton damaged. The Council have just supplied over 300 new waymarks so we can remark this important 19 mile path. We will identify where there are missing signposts and Have you ever wondered about becoming a walk leader? All you need is enthusiasm damaged stiles so these can be replaced and repaired. This route was created by and the rewards are great. Perhaps you already lead walks for The Ramblers. Have Telford & Wrekin council as a millennium project to commemorate the late former you thought about helping people to start walking and stay walking ? Some of our Chief Executive of the Council and keen walker David Hutchison who helped preserve leaders also lead walks for local Walking For Health Telford and Wrekin Groups. many of our open spaces. It runs from Wellington to Newport via Telford and passes through woodland, Granville Country Parkand and many interesting landscapes. These are free walks for people of all walking ‘abilities’ from easy slower A landowner in Edgmond has been visited because of a complaint we got via Ramblers paced walks for ‘beginners’ or people HQ (PathWatch). A fingerpost and some extra waymarking will be installed.Most recovering from health issues to farmers do respect and maintain rights of way but occasionally we get reports of paths faster paced walks for people who that have not been reinstated after ploughing, planting and cropping or have been want short walks in their local area to blocked. We then work with the Council to get these paths reopened. maintain their fitness or just for fun. Our Rights of Way officer Paula Doherty walked The Shropshire Way with the Council Groups meet in the same place each Rights of Way Officer Andrew Careless, from Little Wenlock to Loamhole Dingle at his time with drinks, snacks and a chat request to show him work that needed doing. As a result some stiles, finger posts and after see the walks programme: www.walkingforhealthtelfordandwrekin.org.uk waymarks will be replaced. Walks are three miles or under and the commitment is not onerous, you just need Full details are on our website about how to report rights of way problems with to lead a short walk (90 mins max) at least once a month. Free help training is links to the relevant Council http://tesramblers.org.uk/footpaths.html available. The walks that need leaders are in Madeley ,Telford Town Park, Stirchley and Donnington although new leaders would be welcome for any walks. In order to lead in the scheme you need training, which normally takes a (short) day, though experienced Ramblers leaders could probably do this in a half day session which would include a short demonstration walk. The next scheduled training is in September. If you are interested a first step could be a go on a walk and see if you think leading could be for you, or email Naomi at training@walkingforhealthtelfordandwrekin

We also need new leaders for our TES Ramblers walks on Thursdays and Sundays. We can offer one to one mentoring and training about walk planning and management, map reading or using sat nav/gps systems, and an archive of past walks for you to try. Why not talk to a walk leader about going with them on a recce and Padlocked gate with the crop planted up to the field edges and barbed wire across the path back marking a walk, it’s a great way to gain practical skills. Shropshire Ramblers Area make these two rights of way impassable. If you see this happening please report it. are also planning some free walk leaders’ courses. If you sign up to receive email and other notifications (see page 2) we will keep you posted - literally. Dates for your Diary THURSDAY XMAS RAMBLE AND MEAL - HIGHLEY DEC 6th 2018 These days it is also to use the Back by popular demand - Severn Valley Ramble and The Ship Inn for Xmas comforts of a traditional British pub Non-walkers welcome to join us for the meal - contact the leader. Jean will need with dark beer. Then there’s the confirmation if you are eating at least a week before, by Wed Nov 28th at the latest. achievement of devising a route linking Mob 07762083134 Email [email protected] these features that are not necessarily on the map with a determination to SUNDAY XMAS RAMBLE AND MEAL - DEC 16th 2018 get from A to B no matter what is in Walk Beckbury, Badger Dingle then meal at The Red Cow at Ackleton between; only barbed wire, private Non-walkers welcome to come for the meal only. Pam and Tim will need confirmation signs, locked gates and un-bridged if you are eating by Fri Dec 7th at the latest. Can make menu choice on the day - no rivers keep me out. need for choose in advance. Contact Pam and Tim 01952 460828 or 07977 452664 So my answer to why "Walk" is a determination, with the bigger the Remember for these Xmas walks, last minute changes are possible. Contact the leader challenge the better, which when completed gives me a vast sense of exhilaration and then, to put the walk on offer for the benefit of those that enjoy such childhood FESTIVAL OF WINTER WALKS: 10am 31 Dec Dawley Pools; Anne 07903 325011 adventures. With all things considered the question should be, why catch the bus when TELFORD & EAST SHROPSHIRE RAMBLERS AGM & SOCIAL EVENING you can "Walk" - how will the couch potato answer that? BLISTS HILL MUSEUM VISITORS CENTRE 13 November 7.30pm The New Telford T50 50 Mile Trail An interesting and entertaining evening with lots of chance to socialise, enjoy our famous home made cakes and snacks and hear an entertaining illustrated talk from a guest A beautiful, fascinating new fifty mile green corridor walking route opened in Telford speaker. Don’t miss this popular event. It’s also an opportunity to influence what happens 16 June 2018. How did this come about? TES Chair Anne Suffolk tells the tale. in our Group next year and share views and ideas over a glass of wine or cup of coffee. TES Ramblers committee all agreed we should do something special for the fiftieth We do need some new blood on our committee as some long standing members have anniversary of Telford becoming a new town: a major re-launch of The Hutchison Way to leave us soon for personal reasons. Soon we will need a new Treasurer and Footpaths and Silkin Way with new waymarks and leaflets perhaps? Officer - could it be you? Have a chat to Cary and Paula about what is involved .Why not talk to one of us about what needs to be done to make our Group a success? Many things Then one of our members, Naomi that help us along can be done don’t take up a lot of time. Wrighton, who is the Secretary of SHROPSHIRE AREA AGM MARKET DRAYTON 26 JAN 2pm - Optional morning walk Wellington Walkers Are Welcome, contacted me and said she thought we Thank you to our sponsors should all be a lot more ambitious. It Take a holiday and you could benefit our Group as well as yourself had long been her dream to have one continuous green corridor circular Our newsletter and our walks programme is sponsored by Ramblers Walking Holidays walking and running route linking and HF Holidays. Quote our Ramblers Group name, Telford and East Shropshire, and together Telford's local nature reserves, for every person booking our group gets £10 for a UK holiday. parks, open green spaces and woods. We get £20 for short haul and £30 for long haul bookings. Dag Saunders from The Ironbridge Walking Festival had a similar idea and This makes a real difference to keeping our Group going. If you book a holiday with wanted to include historic places. RWH, our group benefits financially through The Walking Partnership. These Walking Obviously a joint project beckoned. Partnership funds help pay for printing costs for our Group and other activities. YOUR LOCAL GROUP New Footpath Maintenance Team Your local Ramblers Group (Telford and East Shropshire) looks after the We have a new coordinator for our footpath footpaths in our area by opposing closures unfavourable to walkers and by maintenance team, Hamish Kirkpatrick. Our team is helping to keep paths marked and clear of obstructions. It also organises a full now back in action. Following a planning meeting at programme of walks and other events. If you require any further details please The Grazing Cow in Lawley the volunteers opted for a contact a committee member: regular day to do monthly maintenance work and Chair Anne Suffolk 07903 325011 Tuesdays were suggested in the first instance. [email protected] You can see what they can do in a morning’s work Secretary Jo Henderson 01952 595302 clearing overgrown footpaths from the ‘before and [email protected] after’ photos of the public footpath in St Georges that Footpath Secretary Paula Doherty 01952 813520 links the bridge over Redhill Way with the Hockey Club [email protected] car park and forms part of the Telford T50 50 Mile Trail. The steps at either end are much wider now and we Membership Secretary Anne Sumner 01952 810444 uncovered a handrail that hasn't been seen for a while [email protected] as it was hidden under gorse and brambles. They have Treasurer Cary French 07879 447804 set to work on Kynnersley Drive and hopefully in the future many more projects will get underway. Programme Secretary Pam Day 01952 460828 [email protected] The Council loan the tools, liaise with the landowners Assistant Programme Anne Furlong 01952 460715 and provide insurance so all that is required from our Secretary team members is some spare time and enthusiasm. It is fun to do and immensely satisfying to unblock a right Publicity Secretary & Anne Suffolk 07903 325011 of way and open it up for public use again. If you would Webmaster [email protected] like to help why not give Hamish a call or send an Minutes Secretary Anne Wheeler 07946 627693 email. If you know of a local footpath that needs some [email protected] tlc please let us know. Committee member Mick Coats 01952 810747

Footpath Maintenance Hamish 07962 400182 (non c’tee post) Kirkpatrick [email protected]