ANNUAL REPORT

of the

RAMBLERS’ ASSOCIATION AREA

for the

YEAR 2019-20

Website: www.shropshireramblers.org.uk

“The Ramblers’ Protects rights of way Protects the Countryside Promotes And Educates in matters pertaining to the Countryside”

Registered Charity Number 1093577

Ramblers Association Shropshire Area

Officers for the Year 2019-20

Chair: Will Tandy Vice Chair Anne Suffolk Secretary: Gill steed e-mail: [email protected] Treasurer: Jeff Vaughan Area Secretary: Phil Barnes Walking Environment Officer: Trevor Allison Lost Ways Officer: Trevor Allison Webmaster: Phil Barnes Publicity Officer: Sarah Riley

Ramblers AONB Representative - Charles Edwards* Membership Administration - Heather Morris*

*Not formally Officers

2 Area Chair Report – Will Tandy As I write this report, it has been nearly a year since I was elected into the role of Shropshire Area Chair, and what a year it has been! Back in January 2020 myself, or indeed anyone else could not have predicted what was about to unfold over the coming months and the difficulties that this would present. The Coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone in different ways, either directly or indirectly and continues to do so. Things which we took for granted, such as casually meeting up with friends and family, walking in our respective groups and socialising in general had to change as lockdown restrictions took hold of our everyday lives. The Ramblers has faced many challenges, however through a lot of blood, sweat and tears has managed to find a pathway through all of this by working closely with the Areas. Of course, many walks and other events were unable to go ahead as planned and we have all had to adopt to new technologies, for example holding meetings online (which has taken some getting used to!). However, despite it all I have been amazed by the resilience and optimism of our Area and group volunteers, keeping in touch with members and organising online events and catch-ups to help boost morale. Following the latest government and Ramblers guidance, groups have successfully managed to relaunch a number of their activities and commence some walks again. Whilst this has had to be done in a socially distanced way with reduced numbers and booking systems in place, it has allowed for a level of normality to renter people’s lives, improving the general mental wellbeing of many new and existing members. There have been a number of fantastic projects taking place across the Area. In September the sculpture was unveiled; a spectacular galvanised and sandstone creation, marking the start and end points of the by Kingsland Bridge. Well done to everyone at the Shropshire Way Association for making this possible. Alongside that, there has been a lot of hard work regarding our Rights of Way (ROW). Lockdown forced us all to walk more local, which has provided a good opportunity to get out and explore paths that we may not have walked before, as well as revisiting those that we have. A number of overgrown and obstructed ROW have been identified and reported by our members, which is vitally important if we are to keep these open and accessible for all. There have been small-scale maintenance projects and P3 work to replace or repair footpath furniture, such as stiles, bridges and gates or simply cutting back vegetation. This has all helped feed into the Don’t Lose Your Way initiative; recording those ROW that are missing from the definitive map and identifying how we can save them for future generations. In addition, on a wider scale, planning applications are continued to be reviewed and acted upon where possible. A big thank you to all volunteers and members at an Area and Group level for everything you have done and continue to do to support the work of the Ramblers. Going forward I hope that as restrictions ease, we will be able to meet face to face more and return to a more normal programme of walks and events. We will continue to promote the good work ongoing in the Area both at a local level via the Area newsletter and Facebook page, and to the wider Ramblers and general public. If I can take away a positive from lockdown, it is the increased awareness that people now have of their surroundings and the benefit that exploring it on foot brings; both

3 physically and mentally. This will hopefully stand the Ramblers in good stead over the next year as more members join and support us.

Here is to a great 2021, whatever it may bring!

Treasurer’s Report- Jeff Vaughan

Again, our Budget Request was approved in full and all Groups elected to take the Basic Allocation.

Unfortunately, little progress has been made in reducing Reserves. This has been worsened by the lack of activity this year, particularly with the limited number of Walking Programmes produced. Some Groups have been unable to complete projects for which they had designated funds which also contributes to the increase in Reserves.

I would like to thank all Group Treasurers for their hard work and support.

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5 6

Percentage Reserve Percentage funds non-designated Main or deficit surplus Self Funded Assets(shares) Assets/Stock Funds Designated at Sept 2020 Funds 30th at Sept 2019 Funds 30th Surplus or Deficit Expenditure Total Other/General Admin AGM) (incl Meetings costs Fundraising Work Practical Campaign/casework costs Publication/goods Newsletter/publicity training Walks leader Walk related Walks Programme To (other) Groups To (funding) Groups Expenditure Income Total Other Advert sales Grants sales Publications/good Donations Transfer from self funded Interest Deposit (other) Area From (funding) Area From (other) CO From (funding) CO From Income FOR DATA & GROUP TO THE ACCOUNTING YEAR FINANCIAL AREA SHROPSHIRE 30/09/2020 Restricted & East Shrops East & Telford 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Unrestricted 102.90 528.12 528.12 418.80 109.32 513.24 123.48 256.17 622.56 150.00 120.00 352.56 35.59 98.00 Restricted Market 519.66 319.66 200.00 200.00 200.00 0.00 0.00 Unrestricted 276.75 424.56 424.56 301.57 122.99 153.41 276.40 236.40 30.30 91.17 31.94 40.00 Restricted 496.92 496.92 450.87 100.00 100.00 46.05 53.95 53.95 Unrestricted 1083.00 1088.01 1061.33 145.56 393.01 105.00 800.00 269.99 140.94 296.67 188.67 26.68 12.60 29.38 79.75 88.00 20.00 7.32 Restricted 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Unrestricted 167.34 439.03 480.03 331.39 148.64 262.36 162.91 411.00 120.00 256.60 -41.00 99.45 34.40 Restricted 1362.07 1200.00 1200.00 762.92 599.15 600.85 600.85 Unrestricted -1068.41 1400.16 2015.20 2000.00 3300.16 4368.57 4020.80 2210.00 1086.61 2952.39 1738.98 100.00 197.21 468.36 650.00 476.80 34.82 49.00 86.61 2.30 7.32 Restricted Shrops. Young Rblrs. 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Unrestricted 695.80 667.97 667.97 601.29 162.68 162.68 66.68 96.00 96.00 Restricted Shropshire Area 625.05 625.05 Unrestricted 2081.24 2081.24 1316.78 2885.54 1115.66 1736.60 3650.00 3250.00 181.14 764.46 400.00 33.28

7 Footpath Report – Phil Barnes

2020 has been a strange year, a long period with little happening with potential footpath diversions and being unable to travel to look at issues.

Worryingly there have been landowners attempting to close or discourage use of rights of way ‘due to COVID’. Fortunately, the council have been very proactive in dealing with these.

In terms of proposed changes to rights of way there has not been anything controversial so far, hence comments have been limited to things like ensuring a minimum path width and adequate way marking.

It would be useful to have contacts on the ground who can consult on applications, and maybe survey and take photos. The area covered can be as small as a single parish. If you are interested please contact me.

Walking Environment Report - Trevor Allison

This is my third report in this position, and should be short as COVID ‘19 has affected much of what other people can do. Nevertheless, the number of Planning Applications I have dealt with this last year has been about the same as in the previous one. Moreover, I continue to get some Planning Applications where questions about Rights-of-Way have been incorrectly answered, or where the Applicant/Planning Consultant has used an inappropriate map to show the location of a proposed development. Nevertheless, after just a couple of years ‘at the job’ I have got relatively skilled at deciding within a couple of minutes whether I will need to comment on, or even object to, a particular Planning Application. Just a very few have even required a site visit.

What will continue to take up my time, and sometimes involve an actual site visit or visits, are the Major Developments in the offing around Shropshire; i.e. The North-West Relief Road, where I have hopefully persuaded the Planners that a section of Shrewsbury footpath 96 cannot be extinguished, and that other diversions must be as convenient for walkers as possible; the ‘’ Power Station site, where, led by Anne Suffolk, we continue to press for official Rights-of-Way across the Development to make connections that have been unavailable since the development, not only of the Power Station, but of the railway network that preceded it; the possible re-use of Farley Quarry near ; the proposed (by the Bradford Estates) Junction 3 (M54) major development, where their proposals are very ‘green’ but the loss of Green Belt land is highly contested, as are the County Council’s proposals for major growth in the area; various aspects of the Shrewsbury South urban expansion plans; and the south-eastern Oswestry expansion plans.

Of course, any development of more than half a dozen houses calls for careful study, but fortunately, at present the Planning Department continue to turn down most individual opportunistic single Applications in the countryside, and they are supported by the Planning Inspectorate who have during the last year rejected almost all Appeals made by Applicants for such sites. It is only to be hoped that changes in National Planning Policy will not cause this to alter.

8 I continue to advise our Footpath Secretaries on possible diversions as I still have a good recall of almost all the Rights-of-Way in the County as a result of my 4 year ‘Project’, even that is now receding into the past. I have also helped out Marion Law when the Open Spaces Society have asked for advice about various proposals in the County. And just occasionally I get an intriguing Application, such as an Outline Application for a single dwelling at Titterstone Cottages in Bitterley Parish in the hamlet generally known as Bedlam. I was consulted because legally there is a footpath right next to the site, but what I spotted was that the local War Memorial was actually within the area for development, and NOT mentioned in the Application. By contacting one or two groups who might be interested I have stirred up quite a bit of concern! Finally, I continue to ‘plough’ my way, one-kilometre line at a time, across the Definitive Map of Shropshire and the 1900 25 inches to the mile Ordnance Survey map comparing the two, in a search for worthwhile and useful Lost Ways. The list already stretches to over 11 sides of A4, and I am only just about halfway. Luckily the part of Shropshire left is the ‘Central Belt’ where I know there are fewer omissions. What I am dreading, though, is trying to compare the modern Telford & Wrekin (it falls within my remit as part of Historic Shropshire), which as yet has no online Definitive Map, with the 1900 map and all its collieries and clay pits!

Membership report October 2019 to September 2020

In the Shropshire Area our membership has shown an overall increase of 2.3% but we do need to continue to increase our efforts to attract new members from diverse backgrounds

Oct 2019 Sept 2020 % Change Telford and East 250 267 6.8% Shropshire Market Drayton 136 112 -2.94% Oswestry 155 151 -2.58% Shrewsbury 386 395 2.33% South Shropshire 158 163 3.16% Young Ramblers 64 63 -1.56% Not assigned to a group* 43 50 16.28% Total 1,192 1,221 2.43%

• These are members who have chosen to belong to the Ramblers but do not want to belong to a specific group.

9 Publicity Report – Sarah Riley

It has been a pleasure to promote Shropshire Area Ramblers, its affiliated groups and charitable trusts over the last year. Even with the difficulties we have all faced with the emergence of Covid-19 we have still found ways to enjoy the natural world around us and meet our charitable objectives.

Our groups are all distinctive and valuable in their own right but we are far more than just a network of walking groups. Collectively we are instrumental in ensuring PRoW (Public Rights of Way) are open and walkable for the benefit of our membership and the wider public. Online tools, including social media, have enabled us to better connect online and celebrate and promote the excellent work that we undertake across the county together. The introduction of a Shropshire Area Facebook page has been useful in publicising a range of events that promote Ramblers’ aims and objectives. These have included upcoming group walks and local walking festivals (such as the Shropshire Way Festival of Walks and Wellington Walking Festival), Ramblers’ campaigns (such as Don’t Lose Your Way, #FeelMore and The Grass isn’t Greener for Everyone), Ramblers volunteering awards (such as the Award for Innovation earned by TES Group Chair, Anne Suffolk, Walking for Health initiatives, Shropshire walking group guidebooks, national planning reform updates, quizzes and topical TV programmes/film festivals. It has also been useful in featuring the tireless work undertaken by our Shropshire Way Champions, P3 (Parish Paths Partnership) Volunteers and Area committee members to ‘provide and protect’ our PRoW.

Our volunteers belong to various walking groups across the county and come together to coordinate path maintenance with Shropshire’s local authorities. They have been instrumental in establishing and maintaining the Shropshire Way long distance footpath and other rights of way across Shropshire. Their work involves surveying routes, adding waymarks, reporting obstructed PRoW to local government and cutting back minor growth of vegetation to clear paths for the enjoyment of Ramblers members and our local communities.

We are excited to see new people take an interest in walking and the work of the Ramblers, and have received expressions of interest from members to learn and develop map reading skills, to extend their exploration of the countryside and potentially lead walks. Map reading skills awareness has been introduced to members on our Area Facebook page and it is hoped that when ‘normality’ returns walk leader training (from Ramblers Central Office) and area/group navigation training sessions can be advertised to our membership.

Shropshire Area has now published two issues of its newsletter this year for Shropshire Ramblers members and followers of its Facebook pages. It is hoped that these are easily accessible and keep members informed of the role of Area Committee (the contribution it makes to communicating our work and liaising with local government, other local charities and national bodies), current news and activities that are occurring at group and area levels. With the eventual demise of Covid-19 it is hoped that an Area Events Co-ordinator will be recruited to host events to further bring our groups together and identify opportunities for further community involvement. So far, even given current restrictions, 2020 has been a productive year for Shropshire Ramblers and we will continue to build on our valuable work when restrictions are over.

10 Annual report of the Shropshire Area RA representative on the AONB Partnership 2019/20 – Charles Edwards

In addition to reading papers and communications between meetings, from Oct 2019 to Sept 2020 I have:

• Attended the October 9th AONB Partnership meeting • Attended and made a presentation at the February 27th event for community groups on the Environment and Climate Emergency • Participate in a June 16th Zoom Partnership meeting • Held a 1-1 September telephone ‘catch-up’ meeting with AONB’s Nigel McDonald as part of AONB’s policy of maintaining contact during the pandemic

Background The Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is one of 46 areas in the UK created to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of a designated landscape. The Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership of 36 organisational and individual members is a statuary advisory body to Shropshire and Telford Councils. The Partnership elects an Executive Committee. The Shropshire Hills AONB employs 8 staff who work with a range of other organisations. Alongside the Partnership and staff team is a charity, the Shropshire Hills AONB Trust, which raises and distributes money to conserve and enhance the AONB. My 2018/19 Report featured: 1. Agreement and approval of the AONB’s 5-year Development Plan 2019-2022 With two of the Plan’s ten foci being 8. an ethos of environmental care in tourism & 9. promoting enjoyment of the landscape, nature and heritage 2. The Glover Review of the country’s national landscapes, which recommended a strengthening and extending of AONBs’ remits, which RA nationally strongly supported 3. The AONB’s emerging role in working locally to combat climate change and nature decline

2019/20 Headlines • The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) has supported 2nd stage bid for the “Our Common Cause: Our Upland Commons” project to advance Collaboration, Resilience, Commons for All and Commons for Tomorrow themes in the , and Clee Liberty commons. • The NLHF also funded the AONB’s Young Rangers project to increase awareness and experience amongst less privileged youngsters in the county of the wonderful countryside on their doorstep. • The AONB has been a driving force in the Shropshire Climate Emergency activities, seeing nature recovery as an integral part of the emergency. The Partnership made a series of recommendations to the two Councils to give priority to nature recovery alongside climate change. An event for community groups on the Environment and Climate Emergency was held in February 2020 attended by ca.100 people. • The AONB is involved in practical ongoing projects to improve water quality. Funded by the Water Environment Grant Teme - Onny - Project, one initiative employs 3 Advisors - for the Upper Teme, Onny and Clun Catchments. They make farm visits and develop Farm Water Environment Plans supported with erosion risk mapping to address water quality. The plans will help farmers engaged in the project to secure agri- environment support now and/or in the future. The visits are supplemented by soil assessments and supported by a series of best practice events for farmers focusing on the 11 water environment. Another initiative in the River Clun is increasing the number of trees being planted in the area through several grants from the Woodland Trust. • The AONB has also been active in the area of sustainable tourism. • The Stepping Stones project with The National Trust aims to connect isolated areas of wildlife with corridors around the Long Mynd and Stiperstones areas and is working with farmer and community groups, generating enthusiasm for verge restoration, meadow creation, hedgerow management and species recording.

Nature Recovery Plan With all other British AONBs, the AONB is committed to the 2019 Colchester Declaration pledging to: • support more opportunities for people to connect with nature, • prepare a Nature Recovery Plan for the AONB, • embed an ecosystems services approach into AONB plans, • work with partners towards Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030, • ensure favourable condition of more wildlife habitats and create new woodland. Initial research and scoping were undertaken for the Shropshire Hills AONB Nature Recovery Plan and some overall principles formulated: • managing core habitat areas optimally, • better habitats on the margins of rougher hill land, including mosaics of ‘ffridd’ and scrub, • re-wetting catchment headwaters, including our shallow and pockety peatlands, • expanding tree and woodland cover, • re-naturalising river and stream corridors, • re-creating wildflower meadows and species-rich grasslands, • regenerative farming, restoring soil health, and • managing invasive non-native species

Outdoor Users’ Forum? Following the demise of ’s Walking Forums, Nigel McDonald and I explored the idea of a countryside ‘users’ forum, modelled on the Pembrokeshire Coast Outdoor Forum, to meet to share information, agree best practice and promote sustainable use of the Shropshire Hills for leisure and recreation activities. Nigel agreed to consult on AONB ‘s interest in facilitating this, and I agreed to explore interest in the RA and 3Ps groups.

Area Secretary – Gill Steed

What an unexpected and strange year, one where we have had to adapt and change our way of life for the foreseeable future. Firstly, thank you to all the Group committee members who have worked so hard to keep members informed or entertained throughout the lockdown. The task of restarting walks has not been easy, with advice changing almost daily but all groups have successfully managed to start walking again.

I particularly want to highlight the work of our Footpath Secretaries. Through-out the lockdown they have worked tirelessly to report problems (with the help of members and the general public) from broken stiles/gates, fallen trees, overgrown paths, crop obstructions, illegal obstruction, the list is endless. They have also found time to check many of the paths in their area, respond to planning applications and to keep things going. Thank you so much for all your hard work. You can read the Footpath Secretaries Annual Reports on the Area website.

12 Thank you also to Tony and his wife ( Walkers) who during lockdown kept very busy from April to August by clearing an amazing 15 in their area.

Many congratulations to Anne Suffolk the Chair of Telford & East Shropshire who was the winner of the Ramblers National Volunteer Innovation Award for her outstanding contribution to walking.

Lastly, our Area AGM will be held on Saturday 23rd January 2021 at 2pm via Zoom. I do hope you can join us.

Market Drayton and District Ramblers – Christine Quinlan - Chair

This has been a year of cancellations and restarts! The post-Christmas lunch in January was well attended. Our Spring programme was planned and we were looking forward to a weekend away in Grasmere. Then came lockdown and the suspension of all group activities. Members continued to walk independently close to home and an active Whats App group began. The committee kept things under review and as restrictions eased, we began to think about restarting group walks. The shortened programme began during September and is proving successful. The 3P group resumed footpath maintenance sessions at the end of September. All activities are planned in the short-term following Government guidelines. The committee has met via Zoom and the Group AGM is to be held in November again via Zoom. The Autumn walking break to Aberdovey is going ahead in mid-October.

Oswestry Group – Colin Chandler - Chair

In October 2019 we were running 2 walks a week which were very well attended. From our last AGM we had some changes on the committee as Lorna stepped away as the Chair when she was called back to work. Colin, a previous Chair, stood in again. We also had changes on the committee with 2 new members volunteering. Then the Covid-19 pandemic stopped all our activities.

We restarted our walks in small groups on local walks from July. We now have walks on Thursday and Sunday limited to a maximum of 12 though it is the walk leader’s decision if it needs less numbers due to any restrictions. Our publicity has been restricted at the moment as most of the walks are fully booked. We keep a rolling programme of about a month ahead.

Our work with footpath maintenance group, PP3, has been completely forestalled though Peter Carr did finish a survey of an area of paths to the west of Oswestry that we had been asked to do for Shropshire Council.

We have gained several new members over the period from Mar to now but have lost several others so membership is about the same. We have had no contact with the general public on an official scale though we have met many out walking during lock-down. We are following the guide lines from Government and The Ramblers and hope for a better situation in the next year.

13 Shrewsbury Ramblers – Nev Hubbard - Chair

Our major concern continues to be walking, encouraging participation in this activity, promoting the up-keep of paths etc to keep walking popular and accessible. This has been a particularly challenging year as our walking programme has been severely impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Walking – Following the guidelines from Ramblers Head Office the programme was initially suspended until the 31st May. On the 1st July Ramblers were given the OK to resume walks with groups of 6 and this was increased up to 30 from 30th July. On the 14th September, the Ramblers confirmed that walks can continue with up to 30 members A conducted survey during the latter stages of lockdown informed us that there were insufficient walk leaders to support a 4 monthly programme being produced. It was decided to put walks on as walk leaders volunteered. Circa 35 Ad hoc walks have been organized between 12th July and 17th November Breakdown is 13 Sunday, 11 Tuesday, 10 Thursday and 1 on Saturday Numbers have peaked at 22 from Hopesay on Oct 6th and the average turn out is around 12. The walk leaders are supported in capping walkers to a number that the leader is comfortable with for management of the walk or parking restrictions. All places on walks must be booked in advance, contact details given and social distancing measures observed. Walkers make their own way to the start point for each walk. The walk leading role is supported from a smaller compliment of walk leaders as many leaders are happy to walk in small groups outside of the Ramblers organized events. The new Thursday walks coordinator Tessa-Conway Holland has managed to increase the number of Thursday walks after a slow start. Walks are advertised on GWEM, the website, Shrewsbury Ramblers Facebook and a WhatsApp Group and are also emailed out so Ramblers should be aware of organized walking opportunities. The additional work undertaken by Phil Barnes in order to post individual walks on GWEM is acknowledged. At Area Council at the start of September Shropshire Groups compared their relative experiences. It is apparent that Shrewsbury has supported a far more extensive programme than other groups across the region and membership has held up with slightly more members in September than pre-pandemic. Shrewsbury Group committee meetings have migrated to Zoom video conferencing during the period March to present and the AGM will follow suite. The AGM video conferencing session is focused on delivering the constitutional requirement of holding an AGM, signing off the accounts and re-electing the committee. The membership will have the opportunity to sign on or even dial in to the video conference and ask questions that will be tabled on the day. The programme secretary continues to drive to migrate members from postal to email deliveries in an effort to reduce costs and effort and improve timeliness of information flows. Year on year membership is showing a slight increase despite the obvious difficulties of putting on a full programme of walks. It is difficult to envisage a restoration to a full programme until a vaccine is rolled out and public confidence restored. . Publicity The Facebook Page has been effective at promoting ad hoc walks with followers up to 607 from 436 year on year.

14 Sales of the 20 walks book boomed during lockdown with a reprint of 1000 required to satisfy demand. Changes to walks are listed on the website and the book references the page. Amanda Hartley-Newton has increased sales by managing to get new suppliers on board. John Newton’s Memorial walk in January was covered in articles and pictures by the Star and Chronicle. Amanda has forged links with Area publicity (Sarah Riley) with a view to sharing expertise throughout the Shropshire Area.

Shropshire Way The Shropshire Way Association became a Charitable Trust in January 2020 and registered for Gift Aid later in the year. The second Shropshire Way Festival of Walks took place from 19th to 25th September. Planning Permission was granted for the Shropshire Way Sculpture to be erected at Kingsland Bridge marking the Start and End of the Shropshire Way. The Sculpture was made and installed for an unveiling event on 26th September attended by six key people. (Kate Ashbrook, Mayor Phil Gillam, John Macmillan stonemason, Fil Poli blacksmith, Jo Menhinick Designer and Audrey Menhinick Chairman) SWA raised over £5000 in donations which has more than covered the cost of the Sculpture including £500 from Shrewsbury Ramblers In the coming year the Shropshire way association will seek to establish a steady revenue stream to maintain Shropshire’s Long Distance Path.

Lost ways & Footpaths P3 work was severely impacted by Coronavirus with only 5 days of work for two people being conducted between March and October. P3 work has recommenced on the 2nd October with 5 active participants Despite the pandemic, and even due to the pandemic, many walkers were still out and about and reporting footpath problems. The footpath secretary has logged 19 cases between May and late September Walk 13 impacted by footpath closures for six months due to building works along Oteley Road. It transpires that the Council is not obliged to communicate or re-route and has powers to close a ROW at any time for any reason. A diversion has been published on the website. The NWRR Planning Application has now been delayed while Shropshire Council consider the viability of incorporating a flood defence “dam” into the river crossing at Shelton. It is unknown “ Social The continuance of the Pandemic has led to further cancellations of planned events such as West Kirby coach trip on 14th July; Anglesey and Bangor coach trip 22nd August; BBQ - 19th September. A navigation course also fell foul of the Coronavirus. The planned walking holiday in Sedbergh went ahead between the 19th -23rd October primarily due to the dogged determination of the organizer Michael Gadd. Twenty-five Ramblers enjoyed a week of planned long and short walks. Feedback has been extremely positive. Trips to HF houses in Lulworth October 2021 and Peverell October 2022 are in the delivery pipeline. A mince pie walk is planned for December to give the Ramblers a social focus to round off a challenging year. We still have a vacancy for a social secretary though the pressure is off until restoration of social events.

15 Shropshire Young Ramblers Annual Report – Will Tandy - Chair

SYR like other Ramblers groups has had quite an eventful year. Prior to the Coronavirus pandemic taking hold in March we had held another successful AGM in the November, electing in a new Group and Social Secretary. We had also enjoyed our Christmas meal in Shrewsbury and in January co-hosted the Area AGM in with the South Shropshire group. We were gearing up for another packed programme for 2020, with our last ‘normal’ event taking place on the 7th March, which was a talk held by a young lad called Tom Davies, who walked the entire perimeter of in 2016. After that, like everyone else we had a period of quiet as lockdown took effect. However, we kept in touch with our members on a regular basis, engaging them in weekly online quizzes, photo and caption competitions and posting links to good news stories and campaigns from across the Ramblers.

We were all walking more locally due to the restrictions, so took the opportunity to discover/re-discover our local Rights of Way, encouraging members to report any issues, such as overgrown or obstructed paths or any damaged stiles and missing way markers. This also fed into the Don’t Lose Your Way initiative, identifying those paths that are missing from the definitive map. This also meant that numerous walks had been recced, which could then by shared with the group at a later date.

Over the last few months we have successfully re-launched our walks programme, albeit in a socially distanced way with smaller numbers and operating a booking system, which seems to have worked well. The turnout on walks has been generally very good, with people keen to get back out with the group where possible. After an initial dip in membership during the spring, we have now seen a slight rise in members again and have received numerous enquiries regarding joining the group. We hope that over time this translates into even more members signing up and supporting the Ramblers work going forward. Clearly, we have not been able to hold the social events and weekends away that our members enjoy so much about the group, however we are hopeful that 2021 might be different. Fingers crossed!

South Shropshire Ramblers Group Report – Darren Hall (Chair), Robin Pote (Secretary)

How strange to look back at the last Area report and see that it was in February and that the Pandemic was barely a whisper of some outbreak in China! Nine months later and our lives are dominated by the fallout. Rambles are taking place again within our group but now, instead of turning up, we are having to book in advance as well as the strange phenomenon of ‘the reserve list’ having to be activated!

The February report concluded with an optimistic paragraph looking forward to the coming year, to our programme of walks and, especially, to our weekend away in Barmouth! Sadly, none of this happened as we know. However, the group is slowly getting back on track [J] having absorbed the details of restrictions and protocols that allow walks to take place. Within the SSRG area this was slow to recommence as leaders were initially unwilling to lead groups given meeting restrictions and the problem of travelling to a walk. Our large geographical area means that we depend on car sharing to travel. The restrictions meant that too many single person journeys were taking place with people concerned about non- essential travel.

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However, confidence grew and by August led walks began to pick up again thanks to Darren and Pat. With more visitors joining walks and, very importantly, joining the group, SSRG membership has actually increased by just over 3% on this time last year! More leaders are volunteering and prospects are looking bright. We are looking forward to a varied winter programme but, sadly, no social at the turn of the year! Our AGM is being held virtually this year and we are hoping for none of last year’s IT difficulties.

Telford and East Shropshire (TES) Ramblers – Anne Suffolk The membership for T&ES Ramblers as at Oct 1st 2020 stands at 267, the highest that it has been for years with 30 new members since January 2020, compared with 27 new members the previous year. During the year, several long-standing members have left, age and the inability to join in with group walks any more is a reason for some. The Chair was awarded a Ramblers National Award for innovation in 2020 which reflects on the high level of successful activity in our local group. We have continued to work for walkers in spite of curtailment of many activities due to Covid restrictions.

Protecting and enhancing footpaths: Improvements to path network

• Ironbridge Power Station We submitted a detailed written response to the planning application collaboratively with Ramblers Shropshire Area and the Telford Local Access Forum on the need for a 'walking environment', new public rights of way, non-vehicle use for the bridges, traffic calming and friendly road crossings and interconnectivity with PROW long distance routes. • The Shropshire Way needs a new kissing gate at the top of Lydbrook Dingle and some replacement stiles near Little Wenlock. An appeal for action has been sent to T&W. After complaints about obstructions near Woodhouse Farm near Much Wenlock new kissing gates were installed. • Following complaints, the T&W Rights of Way Officer successfully cleared the obstructions on the Severn Way near Ironbridge, is looking into ‘soft’ engineering solutions to tackle the erosion problems and has agreed to keep the route clear of the lush vegetation that close to the river. • Our footpaths officer is working with the ROW Officer to try to resolve issues in the / parishes, the correct line of the Hutchison Way near New House Farm, and the confusion over the signposting and mapping of PROWs over the Great Hay, Horsehay and Telford golf courses. We report ploughing and cropping issues, damaged stiles and missing finger posts. • Our footpaths officer collected evidence for an unrecorded PROW in Longford (Church Aston) to be added to the Definitive Map. It is number 124 on the applications register in . • A PROW 'closed due to Covid' was reopened near Kynnersley and a fake Council closure notice near Ironbridge was removed, thanks to prompt action by local members, the police and Council. • Our path maintenance team has been unable to meet for obvious Covid reasons.

17 Promoting walking locally and educating public about countryside matters and benefits of walking

• Guided walks on Sundays and Thursdays were well supported before lockdown, with 58 walkers on our Winter Festival New Year’s Eve walk. Once Ramblers gave us the go-ahead to restart group walks from July, we offered two walks on our normal walking dates limited to 6 walkers, with a choice of shorter and longer walks. TES Ramblers was one of the first local groups to re-start walking nationally. Walk leaders have been brilliant, preparing and leading walks at very short notice. This became unsustainable so from September we offered one walk a week only, limited the number of walkers to the leader’s discretion up to 12, due to car parking and social distancing issues. At first numbers of walkers were low and some walks had to be cancelled but by November we had begun to be able to offer a 'normal' pattern of walks and walk numbers had begun to grow again with some walks oversubscribed, then the second lockdown hit. • Our website and Group pages on Ramblers website have been improved. Our Facebook followers increased from 425 to 671; most are non-members and local community groups. • We continue to work collaboratively with other walking groups and to support projects and initiatives that promote walking, including local Walkers Are Welcome groups and the Shropshire Way Association. We participated in a new initiative to create new short local circular walking routes on and linked to the Telford T50 50 Mile Trail, these are available to upload as gpx and walk description files from the Trail website, four Ramblers are on the Friends of the T50 committee. • We met Councillors form two E. Shropshire Districts and with Councillors in Telford and Wrekin to discuss the benefits of walking and an accessible footpath network We are active participants in Telford and Wrekin Council's Local Access Forum. • The Chair was interviewed four times on Radio Shropshire about walking in Shropshire. • The Chair was invited to participate in an initiative by Town Council and Broseley Walkers Are Welcome to promote walking and outdoor leisure tourism, monitor local paths and publicise local routes. It is hoped a book of walking routes around Broseley, Barrow and Jackfield will be published, with new leaflets and signboards for the town trail and sculpture trail with other new information boards which will include walking routes.

Protection of the Countryside: regional networking and campaigning with and through Shropshire Area

There are worrying proposals to build extensively in the green belt in East Shropshire -in Shifnal, Tong and around . These are major projects, the one in Bridgnorth would increase the size of the town by a third, the development in Tong would be the size of a new small town. It is not certain that the offer of new PROWS and improved access by landowners would compensate for the loss of open countryside which is already walked. We would wish to work with Area in co-ordinating a response.

18 Bridgnorth and District Walking Club (affiliated to Ramblers) - Anne Furlong - Rep

In the past year our membership has dropped from 58 to 53, these numbers include 1 honorary and 4 longstanding social members. Our walks, led by club members, take place on the second, fourth and fifth Sunday of every month. We have a mentoring system in place to support and encourage new leaders. Our winter programme of walks was well supported with the average number of members walking rising from 13 to 16. The committee recognise that we need to consider how to attract some new members. In March, when the coronavirus lockdown began, we had only completed one walk from our varied summer programme of mountain and lowland walks. We had plans for residential visits to Crianlarich in Scotland in May and the Pembrokeshire coast in September. These had to be cancelled; all the money participants had paid was refunded. A visit to the Lake District in May 2021 was booked in January and the 19 participants are optimistically looking forward to this.

As restrictions eased some members were able to walk in small private groups. After careful risk assessments and clear rules based on the Government and Ramblers guidance, the committee issued guidelines for inclusion in publicising each walk. We decided to re- start club walks on the 6th September with a maximum number of 12 walkers keeping in two groups of 6. This has been successful for walkers and leaders. We have implemented a booking system. At present walks are advertised to all members about a week before they are due to take place and are also listed on our webpage. Our website includes photographs and links to maps of each walk.

Committee meetings are continuing via Zoom and our November AGM will also be conducted by Zoom.

The walking club continues to support the Bridgnorth and District Rights of Way Association (P3) group both financially and with manpower. The group has cleared every footpath in the Bridgnorth parish and during the winter months BWC members were also involved in installing steps from the Stourbridge Road to the top of Hermitage Coppice. Our first walk since lockdown included a descent of these steps. Path clearing has not re- started yet.

SHREWSBURY HILLWALKING CLUB (affiliated to Ramblers) – Gill Pursey - Secretary

It goes without saying that it has been a year like no other. Our walking programme came to an abrupt halt in the middle of March but up to that point walks in and around the county had been held every Sunday since the turn of the year and, despite the season, one trip was made to Snowdonia and another to mid Wales.

For the following four months everything was put on the back burner then, as the restrictions eased, the Club committee met for a walk and discussion about how walks might start again. We began offering walks with up to 6 people at the beginning of August then increased the maximum number of walkers to 10 a few weeks later. Initially the uptake was disappointing during August and the start of September so members were asked for their views on the arrangements and walks being offered. There was no dissension; the low numbers were as a result of people being busy with other commitments which hadn’t been possible during lockdown. Recently walks have been full 19 with a wait list so the Committee has now agreed to increase the maximum number of walkers to 12.

Walks are being arranged a month or two ahead and thanks to the willingness of our leaders we have been able to offer enjoyable walks in Shropshire. Six people have joined us in recent weeks which, for a Club with 37 members at the time of lockdown, is a significant boost.

People are welcome to join us for a couple of walks to “try us out”. If you are interested contact Gill Pursey on 01743 272986 for a chat and/or look online at what we offer www.shrewswalk.co.uk

Wem Walkers (affiliated to Ramblers) - Tony Eccleston, Chair

Firstly, after the lock down in March our first outing took place on the 16th Aug, and again on the 6th of Sept, Our meeting on the 20th of Sept, was cancelled due to the uncertainty with regards the new COVID rules whilst we analysed all relevant information. Once again we restarted on the 4th of Oct, we are walking in staggered groups of 6 with a 2 minute stagger between each group obviously obeying the 2 metre, rule and everyone disinfects the gates or stiles as they pass through making it safe for following walkers. This works very well and it is amazing the turnout has been great as people are so pleased to be out again.

Between April and August my wife and I occupied our spare time strimming and clearing 15 local footpaths which were overgrown.

As a volunteer Shropshire Way Champion, I have walked all the footpaths between Brown Moss and the boundary of Whixall on three occasions, I have reported ROW 0230/103/1 on two occasions due to maize obstructing the footpath, also a Finger Post which had rotted off. This path has been cleared and the fingerpost has been reinstated. I have reported ROW 0233/1/3 twice due to obstruction of a Maize crop and to date this path is still obstructed. I have reported in the last two days a ROW in Higher Heath, 0224/12c/1 to the Lonsdale Estate which was enclosed with a new fence and it is now becoming difficult to pass due to hedge growth.

Whitchurch Walkers (affiliated to Ramblers) – Neil Moore - Chair

Well what a strange ending to what firstly appeared to be a normal year. Up to March we had a good number of attendees for our walks and our P3 team turned out regularly up until we were stopped.

Our Facebook membership has grown over the last 7 months not surprisingly, we now have 358 members, with membership of the group rising as well. We have been holding small group walks of 5 + leader which are popular

We are still having problems with Maize crops planted over paths, which we complain about and are experiencing some success. Thanks to Shona and her team we have had a lot of success getting paths restored over Bubney Moor which is a huge area covered in Maize, but all the paths have been cleared now. Now that our P3 is allowed out we are

20 once again clearing and installing furniture. Let’s hope we return to something like normal eventually.

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