Newsletter No 20 May 2021 www.tavistockramblers.org.uk Message from the Chair elcome, everyone, to our May 2021 Newsletter. We have not been idle W through lock-down. Tavistock Ramblers is Well, here we are well in to spring with hope in our hearts that involved in the the easing of lock-down will progress smoothly. It feels a bit Ramblers Don’t Lose like walking down a steep damp slippery path as we ease our Your Way Project and way through the tricky bits hoping that our descent won’t be you can read more impeded by a problem which delays our entering safe territory. about this from David Hopefully with sufficient care and patience we will eventually in this newsletter. be able to walk that safer path. Christine and Frances Shortly after Easter we were able to recommence our Group are heading the Slow Walks and, judging by the speed of people booking a place Ways Initiative for our once the programme was published, and the numbers Group and you can attending the walks, members just couldn’t meet up and get read more about this out on a walk again soon enough! With a bit of a struggle we as well. just managed to fill the programme for May, and June is looking good, but a few leaders are leading several walks in Thank you to all those who have helped to produce this order to fill the programme. We really do need more leaders Newsletter, particularly Long John who has once again so please in order to fill our programme with three walks a week. ably produced the finished article. Thanks must also go to the There is help at hand for those who would like to join the team committee for their support and to all who participate in our of leaders. If you are new to leading walks please see Lynda’s Tavistock Ramblers activities. Your support is greatly article in this newsletter. appreciated. Despite the easing of lock-down so far, we are not out of the Best wishes woods yet. We hope that we will soon be able to car share which would greatly increase the territory which we can cover Rosemary in our walks. As lock-down eases we will keep you updated PS See also the “Stop Press” Covid update on the next page. with changes which affect our Ramblers activities. News from the Committee Your Committee met virtually by Zoom on Monday 10th May. Present Covid19 restrictions are starting to ease and hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel! Group Membership numbers have remained steady over the last 3 months and now stand at 175, a slight increase. Leader’s Day 2021 Hopefully, as more people return to a less restricted lifestyle, We are very much hoping to hold a half day workshop they will pick up again. session, later this summer, for new potential leaders. Financially we are holding steady with income steady and We really want to encourage more leaders to come forward. It outgoings well controlled. will include walk planning and care of the group. Walks Programme is running well in its present format and If you are interested please send your name to Lynda by most walks have been well attended. email [email protected] by 31st May. We are keeping to the same format for the time being but it will be reviewed by the Committee as time goes on. Thanks to all Leaders who have supported the programme. Footpaths David is continuing his checks on footpaths in our Area, please let him know if you encounter a problem. David has also been very busy with the Don’t Lose Your Way Campaign, putting in a lot of work to help save some of our older paths. His update is in this Newsletter. Social Programme At the present time we are unable to do any social activities but if all goes to plan, we are hoping to arrange something in August – watch this space!! Other Business News about the Dartmoor Way, Don’t Lose Your Way and Slow Ways can be found in here. Photo on the cover of blubells at Challacombe by Long John. Get there quickly before they are gone. Stop Press! Just as this Newsletter was about to be published, Ramblers revised their Covid guidance in the light of the Government’s easing of Lockdown restrictions with effect from 17th May. This is the latest guidance from Tavistock Ramblers: We are delighted to advise that, in line with the latest step in the UK government roadmap which has relaxed the requirements for meeting others outdoors, we are able to advise of some further relaxation of restrictions to our walks. 1. Ramblers organised walks continue to be exempt from legal gathering limits, as long as they follow Ramblers’ covid-secure guidance. We are therefore removing our previous restriction of maximum 15 on any group walk. However, Walk Leaders will continue to have discretion to limit numbers on their walks e.g. walk numbers will take into consideration matters such as the nature of the walk and the car-parking available at the walk start. 2. It continues to be necessary to maintain a register of all those attending each walk and to maintain this for 21 days following the walk. To facilitate this, and to enable the Walk Leaders to govern the number attending their walks, we ask that you advise the Walk Leader of your desire to join the walk by text at least 24 hours before the walk. Completion of the Risk Assessment Form remains compulsory. 3. It is now permitted to car-share although numbers are restricted to 6 plus maximum 2 households (see government guidance:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for- passengers#private-cars-and-other-vehicles). We are therefore suggesting that, for the time being, you organise your own car-sharing with friends/people who live local to you following the foregoing guidance. It will not be the role of the Walk Leader to facilitate appropriate car-sharing. To be clear, the Walk Start point and time continue to be as shown on the programme – there is no prior meet at Pixon Lane until otherwise advised. We have also been advised that Group social events can now take place for groups of up to 30 outdoors, and groups of 6 indoors, although preference is for online events indoors. Your Committee is looking forward to arranging some events for the coming summer – watch this space! It’s great that “normality” is beginning to return in time for the summer – fingers crossed there are no further setbacks! The June programme is now complete and will be published around 24th May. A Walk in the Park walk in the Park? Well, yes most of For those not confident with navigating it was in a Park, the Dartmoor on these stretches an alternative route is ANational Park. in the written description. The distance, 133 miles; - the equivalent What better way of combining both of the distance from Tavistock to passions than by undertaking a Gloucester, and at 19,500 feet of ascent, sponsored walk around the Dartmoor the equivalent of nearly seven Munros, Way to raise funds for the replacement spread over ten consecutive days, and vehicle. there you have your “Walk in the Park”! On with the well-greased boots, on with a So why would I, a septuagenarian well-packed rucksack, provisioned grandmother, undertake such a venture? enough for whatever weather conditions There must be a reason. were possible (and which indeed did happen), and off I set on day one from Through family involvement with the Buckfast, eyes focused on the 15.5 miles Dartmoor Search and Rescue Tavistock, I of up hill and down dale to finish that day decided to join their Supporters Club. at Princetown. Everyone in Dartmoor Search and Rescue is a volunteer and they get no My walk to Tavistock on the second day Government funding. Many of those in the completed the High Moor Link and so full team work for a living. Regular weekly of enthusiasm with a fifth of my walk training sessions in the evening cover a completed and only a deluge of hail multitude of skills and high standards stones on the “Conchies Road” on a On I walked enjoying my expedition, have to be achieved before you can go moorland stretch coming in to although the weather was not at its out on a “Call Out”. Extra training is Princetown, on the third day I set off to gentlest all the time! My mind flashes required for specialist skills such as for walk right around Dartmoor over the next back to my rapid transit over Dean Moor Swift Water Rescue, 4 x 4 off Road Driver, eight days. and the slopes of Lambs Down with the Rope Rescue and Search Dog Handler wind forcing me along. No brakes! The and often this training is at weekends. On The route visits major conurbations such last day of 12.75 miles was in a top of all this the Rescue Team members as Ivybridge, Buckfastleigh, Ashburton, downpour and strong winds battling need to raise the day to day running costs Bovey Tracey, Moretonhampstead, against me from in front but Tavistock to keep the team operational! Costly items Chagford, and Okehampton and many was beckoning me on. such as essential vehicles and the pretty villages and hamlets in between. Rescue Centre building require additional Places of interest such as Buckfast Oh what a welcome! What a surprise! In funding, hence the Rescue-50 Appeal to Abbey, Castle Drogo, Finch Foundry, Tavistock’s Bedford Square Tavistock raise £50,000 to replace and equip the 19 Lydford Gorge and castles at Ramblers members and Dartmoor year old Rescue Control Vehicle which is Okehampton and Lydford are either on or Search and Rescue were there to greet the mobile communications centre when near the route.