SOUTH EAST No. 106 June 2019

'Richwalker List' property developer thwarted in byway hearing amblers members Communities Act which sought to the county council's barrister. defending a Walton & limit the creation of new Byways Both the witnesses and numerous RWeybridge new byway Open to All Traffic. others who gave written statements order had to contend not only At a public inquiry at the end of praised the quiet rural nature of the with a wealthy neighbouring 2018, where Pidgley was represented track. Several had taken both their golf club boasting two 18-hole by a barrister, the Inspector children and grandchildren there for courses which hosts national appointed to hear the matter upheld country walks, later teaching them the Order, though excepting the and international competitions, to ride bikes in the absence of motor but also a well-known property short initial surfaced part leading traffic. developer who appeared in the to a council cemetery. Both the The objectors' claims of top 400 of the 2018 Sunday Times Ramblers and county council had 'predominant motor use' of 'Rich List'. anticipated the modification and the track were dismissed by the Tony Pidgley CBE, chairman won't oppose it. of the publicly-owned Berkeley The Inspector had heard evidence Inspector. The modified Order has Group, had appeared in person at from a dozen local walkers called by now been published but remains the 2015 Surrey County Council Ramblers Local Footpath Secretary open to High Court challenge for a committee which declared the Rodney Whittaker working with few more weeks. track to be a Restricted Byway with no rights for public motor use. Both he and the Burhill Golf Club own adjacent land and they Put paths first claimed that the 1,500 metre track, most of it unsurfaced, should his year's preserve its ancient vehicular a n n u a l rights. The Ramblers joined the Tg a t h e r i n g county council in opposing this, of the Ramblers' citing the provisions of the 2006 General Council Natural Environment and Rural The track where 'predominant motor use' was claimed. Photo: Rodney Whittaker held in Manchester on 13-14 April, gave unanimous backing to an Essex Area motion Getty application withdrawn asking the Board of r Tara Getty, grandson Trustees to increase of oil tycoon John Paul the publicity given to MGetty, has withdrawn our charitable aims his controversial planning and, in particular, the application for deer fencing work carried out by alongside a public bridleway, members to improve making the route appear private. public rights of way. The bridleway runs past Mr Len Banister, who Getty's farm at Ibstone in the proposed the motion Len Banister, Essex Area's Rights of Way Liaison Officer. Chilterns. Mr Getty wanted on behalf of Essex Area, to erect 1.8 metre-high deer said: "Ramblers have fencing alongside part of the to step in where local authorities are failing. We need to increase the route and then across it, install electrically-controlled gates, move large number of volunteers working regularly on path maintenance the bridleway off-line and create and make sure that the public appreciate what we do. Ramblers pinch points. The application should be known as the charity which looks after public rights of way. was opposed by a number of I look forward to the time when every gate and waymarker we install organisations including Bucks and every bridge we build bares our logo. All this will have serious The bridleway at the Ibstone farm. Photo: Kate Ashbrook Ramblers. implications for the distribution of funding for groups." 2 South East Walker June 2019 A Chiltern Journey

n the autumn of 1874, the her walk, highlighting perhaps the then young and unknown mostly negative changes in Chiltern IRobert Louis Stevenson set wildlife over the years. out from High Wycombe on a While Gail Simmons walked all three day walk to Tring, staying the way, Stevenson hired a horse- the first night in Great Missenden drawn cart to take him on the final and the second in Wendover. He stage from Wendover. His playful wrote about his journey in an comment: "Tring was reached, essay published the following and then Tring railway-station; year in a magazine under the title for the two are not very near, the In the Beechwoods. It was later good people of Tring having held renamed An Autumn Effect and the railway, of old days, in extreme included in a collection entitled apprehension, lest some day it Essays of Travel published should break loose in the town posthumously in 1905. and work mischief" might lead us Almost 150 years later and to ponder on what he would have inspired by Stevenson's journey, made of HS2, especially as civil travel writer and journalist Gail engineering featured in his family Simmons has walked a similar background. He would likely agree Author Gail Simmons. route (Stevenson did not detail with the view held by a couple his precise route) and produced of Gail's interviewees, that once a less destructive and more direct an entertaining and very readable the requirement for HS2 to serve route avoiding the Chilterns could account of her experiences and the Heathrow airport was abandoned, have been devised, potential effects that the route of the HS2 high-speed railway will have on this part of the Chilterns, particularly between Great Missenden and Wendover. It also includes Stevenson's original essay. Published in May, The Country of Larks takes its title from Stevenson's comment on the abundance of larks he found throughout his journey: "Overhead The Country of Larks: A Chiltern Journey in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson there was a wonderful carolling and the Footprint of HS2. Bradt Travel Guides, £11.99, ISBN 9781784770808. of larks which seemed to follow me as I went. Indeed, during all the time I was in that country the larks did not desert me. The air was alive with them from High Wycombe to Tring; and as, day after day, their 'shrill delight' fell upon me out of the vacant sky, they began to take such a prominence over other conditions, and form so integral a part of my conception of the country, that I could have baptized it 'The Country of Larks'. Our present-day writer did not see Sibley's Coppice near South Heath was once threatened. The HS2 route will now A HS2 work site near South Heath where trains will emerge from the northern one skylark until near the end of tunnel below it. tunnel mouth. Walking in New Zealand - is it different?

n last December's South East Walker. safety. Interestingly, there is no equivalent DEFRA, National Trust, English Heritage to Department of Conservation sites, wild Peter Hallinan, a visitor to Essex of the Ramblers. No over-arching national and Youth Hostels Association, with camping is permitted unless otherwise from New Zealand, wrote about the DEFRA very much in charge. This is the I organisation, albeit many local walking advised. Throughout the national parks, differences between walking in his home New Zealand government's Department you must 'carry out what you carry in'. Not clubs. Think instead of a grand amalgam of country and here. Since then one of Essex of Conservation - responsible for the a litter bin in sight, so you know they mean Ramblers members has been to New access and enjoyment of the environment, it. Zealand and repays the compliment. not just its preservation. This results in The walking experience is simply For walkers, New Zealand must be well-maintained, waymarked trails in outstanding. The ongoing investment close to paradise. The biggest similarities each of the national parks. There are nine with the UK are in what walkers prize: an 'Great Walks', each a multi-day hike, with in trail maintenance is evident. While untamed outdoors, paths on high ridges, registered campsites and 'huts'. In all there waymarking is perhaps more basic than spectacular vistas. Superb though our are 950 huts (think of upmarket bothies), in the UK, consisting of coloured arrows own country can be, New Zealand delivers the largest of which have full time wardens, indicating direction held with two nails to a in spades. Imagine five million people at least for the summer. tree, much attention is given to the ground distributed over a land mass the size of the Beyond 'Great Walks', there are dozens underfoot. 'Benching' is commonplace UK. Then factor in a terrain sculpted by of tracks and trails throughout both islands. where the surface has been prepared to glaciers and erosion, rising to over 12,000 All are maintained and regulated, with come out horizontally from the hill. There feet, carrying on its slopes original dense online booking for 'Great Walks' and a are rope bridges aplenty across the frequent sub-tropical vegetation:tree fern, eucalyptus, first-come arrangement for other walks. gorges. Key to the walking pleasure, at least beech. Finally add the coast with its fiords, Accommodation for these lesser trails is on South Island, is the canopy of foliage long inlets (or 'sounds;) and ready water paid via vouchers pre-purchased in $5 which even on ridges gives shade from the transport. Finally the people, who are denominations. All accommodation has sun. As you walk by, the cicadas rise in incredibly welcoming and behave as if you some sort of toilet, long-drop included are the first visitors they have seen. Oh, (details withheld!) and a cold-only water clouds. Oh, and the birdsong is varied and and of course the climate, having a latitude supply, sometimes requiring treatment superb. similar to Rome. before drinking. Sleeping is bunkhouse I recommend it highly. Can't wait to get But I stray away from the walking theme. style, with mattresses side by side on a raised back. With such a backdrop, it is no surprise One of the many 'swing bridges'. shelf, on which you lay out your sleeping Murray Lowe walking is organised; both for pleasure and Photo: Murray Lowe bag. So yes, it's spartan. One is not tied Uttlesford Ramblers South East Walker June 2019 3 walkerSOUTH EAST Distributed quarterly to members Golf course paths sorted of the Ramblers in Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and West Middlesex, Essex, Inner London, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey Areas. after eight year wait THE RAMBLERS Address: 2nd Floor, Camelford ack in 2011, in my a long time, due to significant Order to divert the paths. The Countryside Access team but House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, then role of Footpath delays in the path diversion system Order proceeded through the because of a lack of resources they London SE1 7TW. BSecretary of Thame & at the county council, but would usual system before gaining were happy to devolve this task Switchboard: 020 3961 3300 Wheatley Group, I discovered also involve costs. The golf club approval and was eventually to Thame & Wheately Ramblers. Membership Services: that most of the public rights eventually agreed to meet these confirmed in 2018. It then We have involved the golf club 020 3961 3232 of way across The Oxfordshire in this exercise and they agreed Email: [email protected] Golf Club's course shown on the Web: www.ramblers.org.uk to install new waymark posts and definitive map, and thus on all Company registration no: repair others where necessary. Ordnance Survey maps, did not 4458492 Once this had been done, Ruth Registered charity no: 1093577 correspond to those in use on the ground. It appeared that these Cornish, also a Parish Path EDITORIAL had not been properly checked Warden, and myself managed the Editor: Les Douglas out when the golf course, about work of signing the 11 new and Email: [email protected] diverted paths in and around the Tel: 020 8809 2338 two miles south west of Thame (please leave message) and crossed by the Oxfordshire golf course and removing any Way, was built in the 1990s. As signs on paths to be extinguished. DESIGN AND PRINT a result, if you had tried to walk Once the work was completed, Mortons Print Ltd - 01507 529255 the paths exactly as shown on Jackie Smith, the local Field the maps you would not only Officer from the county council's Opinions expressed by contributors are not specifically endorsed by find yourself crossing several Countryside Access team, The Ramblers. golf tees and fairways and a car joined us to walk the new paths, ISSN 1747-4140 park but also wading, or even annotating the new waymarks on C 2019 The Ramblers. swimming, across part of a lake! her maps, and was happy to give All rights reserved. This clearly needed sorting out, us her seal of approval. so I arranged a meeting between So, almost eight years after Copy Date: For issue No. 107 the golf course manager and is 12 July first raising this issue, we finally representatives from the county Tony Clark with county council Field Officer Jackie Smith on the golf course. have accurate rights of way across council's Countryside Services in Photo: Ruth Cornish June of that year. The meeting and around the golf course and agreed that the only practical these will be shown on all future solution to resolve this was to costs and their diversion request required implementing, which editions of Ordnance Survey divert the paths shown on the was duly entered into the system. would involve signing the new maps. And nobody will risk Definitive Map so that they Six years later, when the request paths and removing any signs on getting their feet wet! corresponded to those on the finally reached the front of the the paths to be extinguished. Tony Clark ground. However, it was pointed queue, the county council made This would normally be carried Path Maintenance Coordinator, out that this would not only take a Definitive Map Modification out by the county council's Thame & Wheatley Ramblers 40+ walks for Coastal solar farm White Cliffs plan opposed ent Ramblers say plans for a massive solar Creek and across the marshes to the Downs. It is easily farm at Faversham Creek would create a accessible from Faversham and Seasalter. It is already festival K'monotonous, industrial landscape'. The popular with walkers and birdwatchers. his year's White Cliffs New walks include Over the development, from Hive Energy and Wirsol Energy, "The solar park, if approved, would replace a Walking Festival, Downs (12 miles), taking in the is for a 1,000 acre farm, with 880,000 solar panels, unique marshland landscape with a monotonous, taking place between 22 downland above Ripple; From stretching for three miles along part of the North industrial landscape for some three miles of the new T Kent coast. England Coast Path. It would take an hour to walk - 28 August, will be opened by Coast to Downs (11 miles) Kate Ashbrook, Vice-President visiting the countryside and Kent Ramblers feel the huge project known as Cleve from one end to the other. The solar park would be Hill solar park would seriously interfere with walkers' the dominating feature of the landscape and spoil the and Chair of the Ramblers, historic villages around Deal and enjoyment of that part of the coast, which takes in part enjoyment of this section of the England Coast Path." General Secretary of the Open Walmer; and Beautiful Hythe of the Saxon Shore Way long distance path. It is also Ian said that the Ramblers recognised the threat Spaces Society, Vice-Chair of and Beyond (five or 10 miles) due to become part of the Kent section of the England posed to the countryside by climate change, and the Campaign for National visiting the area around Hythe. Coast Path later this year. supported measures to mitigate this by switching to Parks and Patron of the There will also be three White The solar farm plans are out for consultation, and renewable sources of energy. The plans are now set to Walkers are Welcome network. Cliffs Panoramic Trails, a Carer's This will be the seventh of 870 responses so far, only 17 are in favour. Kent go before a public inquiry. Ian added: "All walking Stroll for carers and those they Ramblers have formally objected, and one of their lobbies should put in a joint representation and only walking festival organised by care for, a walk for children, an White Cliffs Ramblers, with the main complaints is that the plans contain no proper one of us should speak at the public inquiry. "Swale Introduction to GeoCoaching, opening ceremony at 10am on screening of the development. Footpaths Group and Faversham Footpaths Group and a Crimean Crime Mystery, Deal Memorial Bandstand on Ian Wild, Kent Ramblers' Coastal Access Officer, have agreed, and that the Ramblers should take the recalling a notorious 19th the morning of the first day. The said: "This particular section of the coast path will be lead. I've also been approached by the Open Spaces century crime where two young bandstand was built to remember along the top of the sea defence, providing great views Society who want to be included." Dover women were murdered the 11 Royal Marines musicians over the mudflats and across the Swale and Faversham Graham Smith killed by an IRA bomb in 1989. on the cliffs. Most walks will be This year's festival will in the areas of Dover and Deal, comprise 42 walks, ranging from both towns having Walkers are short special interest ones of Welcome status. Briefly one or two miles, to the 32-mile The full programme will be White Cliffs Challenge on 24 on the festival website www. • Coleridge Way: Boston Ramblers in Lincolnshire are walking this 51-mile August, put on for the festival whitecliffswalkingfestival.org. by the Long Distance Walkers uk, as well as in a brochure being route in Somerset from 21 - 29 September and invite any readers interested to Association. There will be 12 produced for the event which is join them. They will stay at a hotel in Dunster and provide daily transport to new walks, and another two with due to be available in June. and from the route. Well-behaved dogs are welcome too. a slightly different route to that Graham Smith used in previous years. White Cliffs Ramblers For details contact Alex Russell 07903 054604, [email protected]. 4 South East Walker June 2019 SURREY Groups snippets liaise for path works Active group ur group's eight volunteer who provide the tools for any commented: 'The public usually path wardens checked major work. The working party think of the Ramblers as people Omore than 500 path has made a major contribution to who go walking for their own problems over the 15 months to maintaining and improving the enjoyment, but a major issue for us March, and a monthly working footpaths in our part of Surrey and is to help keep public rights of way party has worked to maintain during the past year has cleared in our area open for all to enjoy. and improve many paths. overgrown paths, made a route up The county council no longer Footpaths Secretary Andrew to the Pitch Hill viewpoint, and Bolden said: 'Every month a team installed five kissing gates, two has the funds to look after all our goes out to a particular path or stiles, two sets of steps, seven finger paths as they would wish and so problem, which has previously been posts and 30 waymarks. volunteer groups like ours are agreed with the county council, Group Chair Lynne Davies making a major contribution to the upkeep of footpaths for the benefit of all walkers." The group, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, won the Surrey Area recruitment cup for attracting more new members in 2018 than any other Ramblers The gate donated by Surrey Young Walkers. group in the county. Membership urrey Ramblers footpath maintenance teams continue to increased by 8.6% to 341 whilst help one another and earlier this year the Croydon team membership of the other 16 groups assisted Mole Valley volunteers with repairs to finger posts. in Surrey was broadly static. The S SABRE members also came along to see how the team works and cup was presented at the Surrey helped with boardwalk repairs and clearing overhanging branches Area AGM held in Farnham on and vegetation. Saturday 9 February. Last year we Following Surrey Young Walkers' request for Mole Valley to assist had 169 walks which attracted a with the installation of a kissing gate they were donating, the two total of 2,487 walkers. We have groups successfully installed the gate and a second, which Kingston an eight to 10 mile walk every Ramblers had donated, at each end of a field close to Polesden Lacey. weekend, two five or six mile walks Installing consecutive kissing gates is a Surrey Ramblers' objective on Wednesday mornings and a to establish complete easy access footpaths; funds have been raised by shorter 'taster' walk on the first Surrey groups for at least six more gates to be installed when suitable Monday of each month. locations are found. Richard Peters Pauline Butcher A new bridge built by Guildford Publicity Officer, Leader, Mole Valley Ramblers Maintenance Team A new kissing gate installed. Ramblers. Guildford Ramblers Touching base ingston Ramblers paid line for the England survey across of the airport (at grid reference a visit on 20 March to what was then Hounslow Heath. TQ 077768). Our photo shows Roy Grove in Hampton The two points, roughly five miles K the walk leader explaining the (grid reference TQ 138709), apart, were marked by cannons a spot significant in the early in 1926, placed vertically in the historical significance of this site to development of the Ordnance ground. the 30+ ramblers who attended. Survey. The other end of the base line Brenda Horwill It was here in 1783 that Captain later became a part of Heathrow William Roy, having undertaken a Airport and the site is now Secretary & Publicity Officer, survey of Scotland, set out his base commemorated on the north side Kingston Ramblers

The walk leader explains the significance of the site. Photos: Brenda Horwill The cannon marks the spot. South East Walker June 2019 5 Help needed BUCKS o you enjoy walking the paths in and around Bucks? If so, please can you help us fill some important roles? We need a DPath Coordinator for South Bucks District - which extends from the boundary of London to the Chilterns. briefs Recently the West London Group left our Area to join Inner London Area; the group had been overseeing the paths in South Bucks, with Martin Harris coordinating this work. Some of the group's volunteers have kindly News from Bucks, Milton Keynes and West Middlesex agreed to continue checking South Bucks parishes, but we need a volunteer to coordinate this activity and to help find checkers to fill the gaps. The Area is also looking for more Path Checkers for parishes in other parts of Bucks, Milton Keynes, and the London Boroughs of Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon. We ask our Path Checkers to walk all the paths in their territory at least once a year, recording their condition on forms which we provide, and sending any problems to the highway authority; we provide a Joe helps install copy of the definitive map. It is important work as it enables us to assess the state of the network in our area, and ensures that every path is walked - and it is enjoyable and can be done to your convenience. Please contact me at [email protected] or 07771 655694 if you are interested. donated gate Kate Ashbrook Area Footpath Secretary

rolific Aylesbury Rambler Joe Fontura, joined us on P20 March to help with the installation of three gates in a MK day in Westcott. For each of the past two years, Joe has generously put in £500 to the Donate a Gate reach (DaG) scheme with gate plaques dedicated to Aylesbury Ramblers. This time he wanted to install one of his gates. Joe, formerly a 40 service engineer, fitted straight in and thoroughly enjoyed himself. We retired later to the XT Brewery shop at Notley Abbey to revive MK Ramblers in How Park Wood. Photo: Ian Dunford ourselves where Joe appeared to be in his element taking a particular t's happy birthday to us! walk magazine). fancy to the oak aged Imperial MK Ramblers first walk The first quarter this year has Stout at only 8.6%! Joe said: "I Iwas on Sunday 4 February seen many local walks of varying walk the paths on my own or with 1979, that makes us 40! We lengths. Certainly some of the will aim to include an event short ones are attracting a good the Ramblers several times a week, or two to celebrate later in the turnout. Path checking walks every week, and really appreciate any year. are now underway, including improvements that are made. I am More good news. Milton path clearing where needed. Our very happy to be able to contribute Keynes nomination has been popular Wednesday evening to this through the Donate a Gate successful in Britain's Best walks restarted in May. scheme. I'd like to help again if Walking Neighbourhood awards Our annual coach trip this year they'll let me." 2019 and will be included along takes us to the Malvern Hills on We are 'slowly slowly catchy with nine other nominated Sunday 7 July. There will be the monkey' with a particularly places in the public vote. I choice of an eight or 12 mile walk recalcitrant parish council not a know many neighbouring with both groups walking part groups visit the pathways, of the Malvern Hills north past million miles from Haddenham. 5,000 acres of parkland, rivers, Worcestershire Beacon to Great Our 'local hero' is the Simply Walk lakes and woodland of Milton Malvern. Those not walking will organiser. She has identified several Keynes. Our group regularly get the chance to explore Great stiles close to the village centre takes advantage of these facilities Malvern and its many places that her members simply can't especially for shorter walks. It of interest. Spaces are available negotiate. Unfortunately, following also enables many Walking for on the trip for anyone who is a her complaints and pleas for Health walks to take place from member of a nearby Ramblers improvements, the parish councillor multiple locations benefiting group and wants to join us. You with the footpaths portfolio had a from the Redway network to will be very welcome. Anyone site visit with the county council's allow safe routes across the town. interested please contact Keith I hope that the word can be Lloyd at treasurer@mkramblers. rights of way officer. Without spread and readers will support org for details. inviting her along to participate, the Milton Keynes nomination Ian Dunford between them they agreed that the when the ballot opens (see Milton Keynes Ramblers stiles were 'acceptable'. Since then we've actually installed one Donate a Gate and got verbal agreement from a landowner to North West convert two other awkward stiles to gates only to get the permission rescinded by email explaining: "Not at the moment thanks". This was London Group initiated by their tenant sheep/lambs farmer, who's been troubled by dog ollowing the appeal in the March issue of South East Walker the walkers, so we do hope that after group held a successful AGM chaired by Paul Rhodes, the Area Chairman. Attendance was double that at the previous AGM lambing we may get the go-ahead. F and the group will continue to function, though volunteers to help to Eventually, and it may take a couple expand its activities remain welcome. of years, we may be able to get a nice Margaret Harvey was elected as the new group Chair, whilst Henriette little gated ring route for the village. van Zaelen, Elena Marc and Ken Pignon were confirmed in their roles of 'Slowly slowly catchy monkey'. Before, during and after: Joe's gate eliminated an imposing fence obstruction. Secretary, Treasurer and Rambles Organiser respectively. Adoption of a The two other gates made use of old-stock Milton Keynes two-way gates. Joe Bill Piers new constitution for the group means that the committee is now quorate. is second from left in the 'after' photo. Photos: Bill Piers North Bucks rRIPPLE John Esslemont Area Secretary and Treasurer 6 South East Walker June 2019 10 out of 10 for this BEDFORDSHIRE year's Bedfordshire Walking Festival bulletin his September come and bring your group and help us celebrate the 10th anniversary of this annual festival (from T7 - 15 September) . Back in 2009 when we held our first festival a number of people were sceptical and said it would be a one year wonder. How wrong they have been as the festival, organised by Bedfordshire Area Ramblers with support from all three local Footpaths and RIPPLE authorities and other organisations across the county has grown and grown. All our organisers are volunteers and the festival, in one of n addition to responding to around the Pinchmill Islands in the smaller but very accessible counties, has outshone many other consultations on the east/west Sharnbrook. A state of the paths walking festivals which have large budgets and paid organisers. Irail link between Oxford and survey carried out in Clapham Cambridge and the upgrading of resulted in new directional discs the A421 we now have one with replacing old faded ones and marker the proposed link between the posts re sited. There are still minor new junction 11a on the M1 and improvements to be done in this the A6 north of Luton. And all area and work is in progress. this on top of the usual planning One achievement worth applications and temporary highlighting was that during a walk diversions. There is never a dull in March we came across a location moment! where piles of doggy poo bags and Our RIPPLE volunteers work to empty cans had been left at the side improve the network has received of a bridleway. Looking back in the thanks of town councils, parish our records of November 2017 our councils and even local councillors. Volunteers put in a new marker post. volunteers had installed a marker In Sandy, where part of the Photo: Barry Ingram post near the site and reported this walking 'green wheel' had become again. In Old Warden volunteers unsightly mess to both the borough overgrown and people were using A happy festival group last year at Catherine's Cross, Ampthill. Photo: Elaine Kearns the adjacent field edge, a morning's have created a new permissive path and local parish councils. Reporting enabling people from Ickwell to the matter again in March this year clearance work and removal of When it came to planning this year's festival suggestions included a we were told that it was on private several bags of litter reinstated the walk to the Shuttleworth Collection theme using 10, for example 10 walks, 10 miles/kilometres, along with path to the appreciation of both the and Swiss Garden without having to land and therefore the landowner's the creation of strategically placed hubs at the weekends when a number landowner and the town council. slog along a busy road. responsibility. However, after of walks would leave from and return to during the day and where In Billington a path along the River In Bedford Borough new and pointing out that it was also on a appropriate literature could be obtained. These ideas would be combined Ousel towards Slapton had become replacement yellow topped marker public highway and would have with the regular mix of walks and events like the Greensand Ridge Walk unwalkable due to blockage from posts have been installed on paths been dealt with if it was at the 40-mile, two-day challenge. dead trees and shrubs. Several in Kempston Rural and Ravensden. side of a road, the response from Leighton Buzzard Group was first to commit and gained permission hours work by volunteers not only New and replacement marker the borough council was prompt to use the Heritage Centre grounds in Woburn to put up a gazebo on cleared the path but enabled a lovely posts and some clearance is on and the mess was cleared and Saturday 7 September and put on three different walks during the day circular walk using the River Ousel the programme for the areas of appropriate signs put up as well. with the first starting at 10am and all three walks with the 10 theme. Ivel and Grand Union Canal to be used Ravensden/Thurleigh border and Barry Ingram Valley are creating something along similar lines in Ampthill Park for Sunday 15 September. Bedford Rambling Club, the oldest club in the area and affiliated to the Ramblers, has offered to help achieve a further hub on Sunday 8 September. Last year a very enjoyable day was had when over 50 walkers arrived at Harlington by train. This year our railway walk With Lea & Icknield will be moving across the county to start at Sandy station. A section of ttendances on our walks our spring programme gave us at the back of the party trying to one of England's oldest routes, the Icknield Way, is scheduled for Sunday 8 September and the Greensand Ridge Walk 40-mile, two-day challenge have been generally persistent rain and strong winds. get some grip on the skid marks will take place over the weekend of 14 - 15 September. Prior booking very good since the So much so that one third of left by those at the front. A A required for these two walks and details are on the website. In addition to start of the year. We've gained the way round we staged a mini walk from Cholesbury Common conventional walks the nine day festival includes many shorter informative a handful of new members, mutiny, suggesting to the leader proved to be very 'stilish' with walks such as the John Bunyan one-way boat trip followed by a walk back, had plenty of visitors from that we cut the walk short and 15 of them to tackle, whilst a and railway walks using the Marston Vale line and the Leighton Buzzard neighbouring groups and fortunately he agreed. And whilst walk from Wendover in February Railway. Other organisations such as the Forest of Marston Vale, Central welcomed prospective new sunshine has been in abundance, saw us in shirt-sleeves in the Bedfordshire Council's countryside team and the Greensand Trust all members trying us out. so at the start of the year was unseasonably warm weather. make a valuable contribution with their special interest walks. Of course, we have had mud. A walk from Sharpenhoe We try to include a couple of Your participation will help us achieve 10x10x10x10 miles during the bad weather on a number of in January involved a steep and trips to London each year and our nine days. Details of all walks and events are published on the festival occasions; the first walk on muddy climb, with some of those latest took place on a damp and website www.bedswalkfest.co.uk or for more information email organiser@ bedswalkfest.co.uk misty day in early April. However Barry Ingram the weather did not spoil an interesting eight mile jaunt around the City with the added bonus of arriving at St Paul's just Breakfast walk as the City Run was starting. esides the Sunday and mid-week walks programme our mystery Our annual quiz night took walks have continued each month with a reasonable turnout place in March at our usual venue even on a wet Sunday. A breakfast walk in the local area was of the Red Lion in Great Offley. B also very well received and five sections of the Capital Ring in London Fully subscribed with seven teams, have been walked the winners were 'Teacher's Pet' By the time you read this our group holiday to Worthing will be a for the third year running. The distant memory. During this week our group walking the Monarch's Way team which has bagged the final will complete the walk which began in Worcester many years ago. place for the last few years has Social events over the last few months have included a race night, moved up to fourth place, leaving bingo night and our annual dinner at a local restaurant. All have been the 'Stopsley Subversives' to hold thoroughly enjoyed and well attended. onto the wooden spoon! Our summer programme, always a bumper edition, has over 40 walks Rosemary Hasker including a series of evening walks. You can find the details at www.lb- ramblers.org.uk or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ramblerslb. What more would you want on a 15-stile walk? A little mud of course. Lea & Icknield (Luton) Photo: Rosemary Hasker Ramblers Julian Chritchlow Leighton Buzzard Ramblers South East Walker June 2019 7 maps, confused by compasses, and in the festival programme. If daunted by digital devices ... you are interested in participating Litter pick walks Training then help is at hand.' The course please contact bedswalkfest@ pril saw the first of our quickly sold out and was a great gmail.com. ur small but thriving group, based in Bedford and covering training courses for 2019 success. We plan to offer another Bedfordshire Area has requested the whole of the borough. walks every Saturday. Awith a course for walk Apps, Maps and Compasses to be one of the hosts for a half At our last walks planning meeting it was suggested we do a leaders held at Cranfield village course during the first weekend of day first aid course to be delivered O litter pick walk. It would be a normal walk of around six miles but we hall which was well attended. the Bedfordshire Walking Festival. by St John Ambulance. Details would take bags and pick up litter along the way. The day course comprised of Details are on the festival website will be on the festival website. We couldn't find a suitable place in North Beds so went just over the a morning session where all aspects of walk leadership were border into neighbouring discussed followed by a practical Cambridgeshire on a Saturday session on route planning. After in March and collected over lunch there were opportunities 23 kilos of litter. Pleased with to put the new found skills our success, some members into practice with a walk in the suggested we did the same thing area. Feedback indicated that the following week which we all had benefited and felt more did but thankfully only collected confident about planning and just over 10 kilos. leading a walk for their groups. After both walks members During the Greensand Country felt they had contributed to Festival in May, Nick Markham improving the countryside put on an Apps, Maps and but sad that others were so Compasses course. Publicity for Nick Markham with attendees at the walk leaders course in Cranfield. thoughtless in discarding their this asked 'Are you baffled by Photo: Barry Ingram North Beds Ramblers with their haul. litter in the first place. Photo: Gill Wilkes Ivel wanderings n engaging spring Faraday we entered the University programme saw lots of of Birmingham campus to follow Aactivity which included the sculpture trail, read the many regular bus walks, a railway blue plaques, and enjoy lunch before walk from Princes Risborough setting off for the city. We later to Chinnor and a very interesting visited Gas Street Basin and the trip to Birmingham. Library of Birmingham where we We took the train from Milton went up up to the rooftop garden Keynes to Birmingham New Street for terrific views. then another for the short journey Over the many years of going to Bournville where members had on walks, peoples perception of the opportunity of walking around places often clouds their judgment. In the Bull Ring on the day trip to Birmingham Photo: Marion Watt part of the village created by the For example, if there is a walk in How wrong they are because there was no shortage of members lots of evening walks of around Cadbury family for their workers London or a trip to the Peak District if you have never been , how do booking for the five-day holiday in two hours duration, including the in the late 19th and early 20th members can't wait to book but if Alfriston at the end of April, or the regular 'Say farewell to the longest you know? The place must be centuries. there is a walk in Leicester or Essex coach trip to Virginia Water and day' on 21 June. Bernard and After a short walk along the people tend to switch off because interesting for a leader to spend Windsor in May, or for the city Mary's Yomp Chomp and Roll up Birmingham & Worcester Canal their perception is that these aren't time and effort in putting it on explorer break in Liverpool in June. after the Wednesday morning walk and past the large sculpture of nice places to visit. the programme. Having said that Our summer programme includes at Langford is also in June.

Thursday rambles, invited me to into the lake the furthest, with a were there. I can only imagine go on his walk. We met in the car large lump of lead, called a ledger how frightening and dangerous it park at Earlswood Lakes, south of weight, attached to the end of your must have felt to cross the railway Redhill. line - oh happy days! Unfortunate- here before the footbridge was Opinion Arriving here brought back a ly, the local yobbos decided to set installed. After the bridge we flood of memories for me when I fire to the boat house, so that was continued to Sidlow Bridge which were a lad, living in Purley. I used the end of that. to meet my mates at Purley Cross Sorry, I digress, the idea of carries the A217 over a very sedate and catch a big green double-Deck, Ritchie's walk was to incorporate River Mole, and onwards back Railway crossings London Country bus number a brand new footbridge, crossing to Earlswood Lakes for tea and s I read the March issue of feel they are morally obliged to care 414 to Earlswood, walk across the multiple railway tracks, includ- biscuits. Is there light at the end of South East Walker, with for these crossings. common and golf course to the ing the Brighton mainline and the tunnel? Aarticles about the closure It has been reported that lakes. There are two lakes, the Gatwick Express. This is one of John Tickner of pedestrian level crossings in Network Rail conjure up many lower one is deep and contains the busiest foot crossings on the Malcolm Oliver emailed: We are East Anglia I thought to myself, professionals to appear at the pub- monster fish - allegedly, and used Network Rail system. The tracks reading about Network Rail and the what a shame, but it won't affect lic inquiry hearings into these clo- to have a wooden structure at one carry more than 760 trains a day, safety of path crossings whilst on a me much as I live in Surrey. But, sures. They have the money - our end loosely described as a diving some reaching speeds of up to 90 walking holiday in Portugal. Here hang on, this is the beginning of money - to field a posse of health platform. Health and safety hadn't mph! Whilst we were having our a country-wide programme by and safety officers, engineers, been invented in those days so morning coffee stop, sitting on we find they have a simple solution - Network Rail to close hundreds project managers and legal people. you took pot luck on whether the steps, some walkers one side of a bell clangs when a train is coming of pedestrian level crossings. In fact, a veritable sledge hammer you landed in dirty water or dirty the bridge and some the other, I and a sign warns you not to cross. Can you imagine walking along to crack a nut. Furthermore it mud! The upper lake is larger, reckon at least eight or nine trains There are no gates - just an assump- a footpath through woods and has been estimated that it costs shallower and has an island. There shot past us in the 15 minutes we tion you will use common sense, fields for a mile or so and getting about £9,000 to close one cross- used to be a man in a hut who, if to a railway crossing, only to find ing, so to ultimately close 5,000 you crossed his palm with about that is closed. This makes the pedestrian level crossings will cost 2/6, would let you go out onto footpath pretty much redundant over £40 million! Network Rail is the lake in a rowing dinghy so you and obviously the same applies to concerned about our safety which could bash into other dinghies the footpath the other side of the is good, but surely you don't need containing young men trying to tracks. These footpaths, in most the brains of a rocket scientist to impress their girlfriends with their cases, have been there for possibly think of a fairly simple system boating skills. With fishing rod in a hundred years or longer, even be- which warns pedestrians of an one hand and knapsack over my fore the railway they cross. These approaching train. shoulder containing packed lunch, footpaths are part of our heritage, Then sometimes there is good fishing tackle and maggots, I was no other country has such a won- news like when a new footbridge is ready to capture 'the big one'. derful network of accessible foot- provided over a railway line. As the attention span of a young paths. And Network Rail, which is Towards the end of last year, teenager is about five minutes, indirectly taxpayer-funded, wish to Ritchie B, one of Croydon Ram- unless we were catching loads of decimate this wonderful network. blers' many walk leaders and a fish, which in fact never happened, They should accept their respon- supplier of a very special service, we would resort to having maggot sibility with grace and honour as I that of tea and biscuits after our races or see who could cast out An unusual spot for morning coffee. Photo: John Tickner 8 South East Walker June 2019 Researching 'lost ways'

bout two years ago I guide and advise me as the project local library, which often has old joined a walk with the progressed. How wrong can you be! maps and records. Any relevant ANorth West Essex Group, A clause in right-to-roam information may need to be copied and about a mile or so into it I legislation introduced by the or, in the case of large documents found myself talking to someone government in 2000 stated that any or books, a record of their reference who seemed very knowledgeable pre-1949 paths must be recorded number, title and author will need Photos: Keith Daniel about footpaths. As we discussed by 2026 to continue to carry public to be kept. In my case the library problems such as blocked rights, so we have seven more years search produced some maps dating footpaths and route diversions, to complete this work. However, back to the 1950s, interesting but little did I know that I was being bearing in mind the many miles of not a great deal of use. lured into a trap. I should have footpaths and bridleways that may The next stage was to visit the recognised the danger signs when not currently be on the definitive County Record Office. If you have I was innocently asked whether map, we do not have a lot of time to never visited one before it can be I enjoyed planning routes and do all the research required. a little daunting. On arrival you checking maps. Oh yes, I said, I was clearly out of my depth will need identity documents and explaining that I enjoyed walking but help was ion hand in the form agree to abide by the various rules in hill country using compass and of Sarah Buck's and Phil Wadey's and regulations which vary across the country. In some record offices map for navigation. book 'Rights of Way: Restoring A valuation book showing the address of a property and owner at the time. At this point I was too far in, the the Record', which I took away on you cannot take photos without a trap was set and I realised that the holiday with me. While all around payment, which in Essex is £12 a obtain a document, and usually only by checking the Parish Valuation pleasant lady I had been talking were reading crime dramas and day. So make sure you take plenty three documents are allowed. To book which identifies each parcel of photos to make the payment to was the Essex Area Footpath love stories, I was reading about make best use of your time, when of land by the same number as on value for money. I make a list of Secretary, She mentioned that green lanes, tithe maps and field you have finished one document the map. This can be done at the documents to be photographed she was looking for someone who books. When you're reading about return it and order another. In record office, although some records and when I have sufficient I have could help with what was then such things, it all seems pretty the meantime you can study the have been lost as a result of damage a photo day. This drives the remaining documents. Some fragile incurred during the Second World staff mad as I only need the documents have limited access War. documents for a short while which you can only view in the At some point you will probably and then send them back. In presence of a staff member. Don't need to check the Valuation fairness, the staff at Essex be disheartened if a promising Officer's Field Book, using the land Record Office are very patient looking document fails to deliver parcel number found on the 1910 and helpful. the information you hoped for; Valuation Map. Copies of the Field Many documents may occasionally you will strike gold. Books are not normally held at the be on the shelves or on A good starting point is to look record offices but at the National microfiche, but others are at maps, particularly the 1910 Archives at Kew. Unfortunately stored away and need to valuation maps. These are often these books do not show the route be ordered. It is worth colourfully hand-painted and give of paths, but you may be able to planning your visit by details of each parcel of land, which studying the online is numbered. At the time that they determine that a particular farm had catalogue before arriving. were created, landowners could (say) four footpaths running across This will normally give obtain rebates for each footpath that it. In addition, there may be maps you a synopsis of the crossed their land so it was clearly in the National Archives not held by documents' contents in their interest to record these with your local record office and reference numbers. the Inland Revenue. Such maps will If you live outside London, a visit to the National Archives will A 1911 Finance Act valuation map. Providing you have a often show these paths, annotated membership card you can pre-order as 'Public Footpath'. If your route probably mean an overnight stay straightforward. It's a very different documents in advance, which means is recorded in this way it is very and a second visit, because most of called 'The Lost Ways Project'. At the first morning will be taken up the time I didn't know anything matter when you have to find the they will be ready for you on arrival. good evidence of the existence of a This service will not be available getting a reader's ticket and finding about this project but I said I information and put together your public right of way. As a footpath to you on your first visit, but it is can generally only be changed by an your bearings. So before visiting I would be prepared to get involved evidence to present to the county still worth checking the catalogue extinguishment or diversion order would strongly suggest an online in some small way. I then began a council's legal department. beforehand so that once your card you will need to check these points visit to the National Library of rather unexpected journey. I had When gathering information to support your application to have a is issued you are ready to order before proceeding. Scotland, which has a great deal of anticipated that I would be working footpath recorded on the definitive documents. If a footpath is shown on a information. with others more knowledgeable map the easiest place to start is your In most record offices it can take valuation map you can check if Keith Daniel than me and that they would between 20 and 40 minutes to the landowner received a rebate Uttlesford Ramblers

We are but dark dots on the landscape: The Ridgeway indistinct smudges, slurs of rust on stretches of green. Briefly We are microscopic under the forked tail, the golden eyes of the red kite, his wings so wide, so • Ales of the Trail: Ten small breweries along the route fierce they darken even the sun, summoning in his glide, of the North Downs Way will make a contribution to his gaze a mist sweltering from the south: the upkeep of the national trail for each pint of their a haze to bead & bow the grass where leverets pant, nominated beer sold. The scheme, which was launched ears flattened at the trail's 40th anniversary event last September, in their forms, to deck the ridge with drizzle like a veil, provides a brewery map and 'passport' which can be to stir the grasses' seedheads pink/orange/red/white/ downloaded from https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/ green/cream, to dip down low on banks studded with scarlet poppies north-downs-way/ales-trail. streaked with coals of campions splashed with vetches' bleeding purple. • Lottery award for parks: The National Lottery's But now all colour's muted in the mist. Parks for People programme has awarded funding for Moving under the mighty sky, under this fearsome bird, six parks including Castle Park in Bishops Stortford and crawling over this land we are nothing: mere bodies, Ellington Park in Ramsgate. Castle Park, which has knotted bags of breath passing as fitfully as the gale & just as soon gone: no footsteps, no fleshy colours. no been awarded £1.9 million, will be formed by joining sound or smell of us two adjacent but separate spaces, Castle Gardens and will be left behind. Sworder's Field. New paths, bridges and improvements And still the ridgeway will roll on. to the Stort riverside will be provided together with improved access to Waytemore Castle. Ellington C Lizzie Ballagher Park in Ramsgate was awarded £1.6 million towards (who grew up and often walked sections of the Ridge- way in Bucks and Berks). Photo: Lizzie Ballagher restoring paths and repairing dilapidated features. South East Walker June 2019 9 Time to change Look again

he Ramblers has had also helped him make new continue to support this recently become friends. worthwhile initiative. Doctors Tinvolved in the Time We were encouraged to are now being encouraged to to Change movement (www. think about the benefits of 'prescribe socially' and walking at Harlow time-to-change.org.uk) which walking upon our own mental has a big part to play here. I bout two years is working to change the way health and the positive effects know from experience that ago I moved we think and act about mental and social dimension of being walking gives one time to think from being a health problems and is led with like-minded others, and and talk, problem solve, or A non-active member by the charities Mind and we enjoyed the walk on what simply switch off. of the Ramblers to Rethink Mental Illness. turned out to be a very sunny if Rose Harley take on the role of As a group walk I was chilly day. Hammersmith Fulham & Footpath Secretary leading from Welling to I hope that Ramblers will Wandsworth Ramblers for the Harlow area. Bexley in south east London As a regular walker on 7 February coincided with with Ramblers groups Time to Talk Day, we were in the area, I often joined by Tanne Spielman, visited the Ramblers Ramblers Communications website to plan my Manager. Tanne and two of walking diary. The her colleagues distributed some majority of group flyers among the group before walks with Harlow we started walking. These on the route seemed included a letter addressed to to be those passing all walkers from a member along the Stort valley of Andover Ramblers, who and rarely included reported just how much walking walks within Harlow Town. This surprised The Boar, by Elisabeth Frink, in Harlow Water Gardens. helped him come to terms with Photo: Dave Naylor the loss of his wife. John was me as for many years enjoying the walks on offer and I had been an active associated conversation which The Time to Talk walk at Danson House. Photo: Tanne Spielman member, and sometimes the walk leader, of a Harlow walking group. I was therefore aware of the walking possibilities within the town. As Footpath Secretary I know that the footpaths and byways within the town are extensive and well-used by Harlow residents. I wondered how to encourage Ramblers members to use these paths and byways as they are a significant percentage White Cliffs Ramblers of the footpaths I monitor on behalf of Essex Ramblers. When I raised this with other members, Harlow was described variously as 'characterless', 'unnavigable', 'full of roundabouts and traffic' and a place 'only for shopping whether in the town centre or in the large stores on the edges of the celebrate 30 years town'. Very few members that I spoke to thought that Harlow Town could be considered as a place to go walking. ent's White Cliffs Ramblers celebrated the group's 30th birthday on 24 March with a There is some substance to the negative comments about the amount of traffic. walk to remember their first Chairman. The 10-mile walk from Walmer seafront visited This is a situation that in part was created by decisions made shortly after the last the bench on Hawkshill Common which the group installed in memory of Charles Wake war when Harlow was planned. At that time the route of the motorway, now the K M11, was to the west of the town. Factories and offices were planned and built, who chaired the group when it was founded in 1989. Charles died in 2009, just before the group's as Harlow first developed, to be adjacent to the proposed route on the western 10th birthday. fringes of the town. Unfortunately the then Ministry of Transport decided, Fifty-eight group members went on the memorial walk, led by founder member Graham Smith. without informing Harlow planners, that the best route for the motorway would When the group reached the bench, former Chairman, Ted Roche, gave a short, moving speech be to the east of the town in order to provide a more direct route to Stansted remembering Charles Wake, who had been an active member of Croydon Ramblers before moving to Airport. Hence Harlow has a traffic problem in part due to the many lorries Kent. A celebration cake, baked by group Secretary Andrew Swarbrick, was enjoyed during the lunch going across the town to get to the motorway and many commuters crossing stop at The Smugglers in St Margaret's Bay. town to get to work. A problem created by lack of a liaison between government Group Chairman Margaret Lubbock said: "Who would have thought that we would still be here as departments 70 years ago! Another contributing factor is that about 80% of a thriving group after 30 years? And it all started with our first Chairman, Charles Wake, who showed working people living in Harlow commute elsewhere whilst about 80% of those such dedication and is still fondly remembered by some of our members." working in Harlow live elsewhere. With some 500 members, the group is the fastest growing, and the second largest in Kent (behind In Sir Frederick Gibberd's master plan for the town, Harlow was designed to Bromley). complement the landscape in which it was built. Woods, tree belts and stream valleys, which existed before the new town, were incorporated into the plan as green spaces to separate built-up areas. Old lanes and roads with hedgerows and grass verges were preserved to become footpaths and cycleways. The three distinct neighbourhoods within the town and the town centre were separated by these green spaces. Consequently within Harlow the traffic issues do not affect walkers as walking in Harlow is mainly along restricted byways and footpaths. Where walkers have to cross the ever-busy roads there are underpasses. In my experience of walking in Harlow I have found ways to link most parts of the town by these restricted byways. In later years Harlow District Council has worked hard to ensure that developments within the town such as Church Langley, New Hall and Gilden Way more or less follow the criteria laid down in the original master plan. If central government does not intervene, it is a plan which hopefully will continue to provide a framework for planners and developers in the town. Harlow is officially designated as a sculpture town and this provides an additional attraction for those walkers with an interest in sculpture. There are more than 80 public sculptures strategically placed around the town, including works by Henry Moore, Elisabeth Frink, Barbara Hepworth and Auguste Rodin. The Harlow Arts Trust has published a map of sculpture walks which includes routes of differing length (for further information see the websites of the Gibberd Gallery, Art UK, etc). There are other attractions for walkers in Harlow. Both the Town Park and Parndon Wood have won green flag awards, There are other parks and wildlife centres while weekly working parties of local volunteers help to keep the woods and green spaces attractive, accessible and in good condition. Footpaths and boardwalks through water meadows and marshlands have been created in the area of the Town Park nearest to the River Stort and a five acre wildflower meadow has recently been created, Examples of the walks I and others have planned and developed include a 12- mile 'Green Spaces and Sculptures in Harlow' walk, a six mile 'From an SSSI to Rodin Sculpture walk and a four mile 'Around the Town Centre Sculptures' walk Pictured on the memorial bench to the group's first Chairman, Charles Wake. are (left to right) former chairmen Les The full extent of Harlow's restricted byways, footpaths and cycle ways can be Oliver and Richard Blackford, current Chairman Margaret Lubbock, and former Chairman Ted Roche. viewed on Essex County Council's public rights of way interactive map. Photo: Tony Bristow. Dave Naylor Footpath Officer, Harlow Ramblers 10 South East Walker June 2019 Commendation for ESSEX Clive Gillingham live Gillingham, who retired last year as Chair of Uttlesford Ramblers, has received a Ramblers Volunteer Commendation Cin recognition of the time, knowledge and skill he has given to extras the Ramblers and the huge impact he has had. Sitting alone in a cafe after a long walk, Clive noticed a group of ramblers enjoying a good chat after their walk. Thinking how great it must be to have company on a walk he joined East Herts Ramblers in the mid-1980s and so began his long association with that group. Although not a fan of administrative tasks Clive became Chairman twice and was Water to be the focus of also the group's representative at Area. When he moved to Essex and became a member of Uttlesford Ramblers he brought his love of walking and the outdoors with him. About 11 first Essex Walking Festival years ago he became Chairman when the group was in danger of closing due to a lack of volunteers to fill committee roles and lead walks. With rivers, not just the Thames but the his enthusiasm he soon had a full committee and a small band of regular Chelmer, Stort. Lea, Blackwater, leaders. He started to lead mid-week morning walks of about five miles, Colne, Crouch and Roding, plus usually ending in a pub. These walks often consisted of only three or four some 20 smaller waterways. We mostly retired members, being the only people free during the week. are lucky that the vast majority Over the following years these walks became more popular and now take of these have walking routes place every week throughout the year. During this time he also continued alongside them. Our theme to lead many of our other walks including longer all-day walks on brings together not only the Saturdays, organising and leading on long distance paths walked in stages wildlife and beauty of Essex, but over the summer months and weekends away. The group now has a very its history and commerce. full walks programme. None of this would have been possible without All 18 of our groups have Clive's enthusiasm, hard work and calm leadership style. embraced the festival and will be Mike Cannell providing walks. It is a first for Area Media Officer them and they want to make it a success, have fun, share a glass of Essex brew with friends, new and old. The festival will take place throughout the week beginning Walking at Heybridge Basin, near Maldon. Photo: Sylvia Hayes 26 October. The outline n December's South East a single theme which would programme can be found on Walker we reported that highlight the county would be Essex Area's website (https://www. essexarearamblers.co.uk) with 2018's Festival of Walks , a great idea, and it was agreed I full details to be added over the promoted by Central Office, that 'Water' would do just that. next few months. To attract new had not been a success in Essex may not have mountains people to the joys of walking we Essex, judging by the limited or deep valleys, but it has the will be encouraging all our groups numbers turning up and failure longest coastline in the country to publicise the event locally. to attract non-members. So with many wonderful estuaries We hope too that we can work for 2019 we agreed instead to and islands with miles of marshes with local authorities to spread organise the first Essex Walking and wetland nature reserves with awareness. Festival covering the whole of associated wildfowl watching Alan Goffee Clive was presented with his award by Diane Shepherd, Uttleford's new Chair. the county. We decided that areas. On top of this there are Area Vice-Chair Photo: Sylvia Hayes Barrister addresses Area AGM t the Area AGM held on 9 February, affect services and, according to Network extinguishments and not diversions. we had argued that the Ramblers volunteers, over 40 members heard an Rail, if there are fewer crossings it can be The Ramblers raised concerns at the who were giving evidence on the individual Ainformative and stimulating talk by easier to make enhancements to services) inquiry that Network Rail might be using crossing proposals, were each experienced Merrow Golden, our barrister on the rail The strategy underlying these orders East Anglia as a test case and that it could walkers and hence should be treated as crossings' closure inquiry. foresees that the closure of level crossings set a precedent for other areas of the country experts. Network Rail had originally She began by reminding her audience that across the Anglia network will be carried out if Network Rail were to be successful in estimated that the inquiry would take about Network Rail had applied for three statutory through two main stages. The first stage obtaining these orders. four weeks but it ended up lasting 13, given orders under the Transport and Works Act involved closing those crossings where it was The Transport and works Act 1992 had the objections from local authorities and 1992 to divert over 100 footpaths across East practicable to either extinguish or divert the been designed to help the development of landowners as well as the Ramblers. Anglia, of which 57 were in Essex. Network rights of way affected. But for those crossings 'serious infrastructure' - large works such In her closing written submission, Merrow Rail had cited three strategic reasons in where this was not practicable, Network as new railways and harbours. Our view had said that the Ramblers were not opposed support of this action: Rail would, at a later stage, build bridges or was that it was not appropriate to use this to improvements in rail safety or beneficial • To reduce safety risks underpasses to replace the crossings. These legislation solely for the purpose of closing changes to the footpath network. But • To reduce the costs of maintaining orders only concerned those level crossings level crossings and that to do so would we were asking the inspector to carefully crossings and that would fall into the first stage, so the bypass he carefully constructed statutory consider how the proposed closures would • To improve operational efficiency focus of the inquiry had been on proposed scheme found in the Highways Act 1980 that help Network Rail's three strategic benefits: (incidents at crossings could adversely footpath extinguishments and diversions. affords powers to close and divert footpaths, in particular, had it been shown that safety We had objected to 30 of the proposed including specifically over level crossings. would be improved? We had also raised closures, which varied widely. Some were Network Rail had provided a vast amount concerns about Network Rail's methodology, in open country, while others were in the of documentation, which can be quite including the fact that they had not carried middle of towns or villages and formed difficult for members of the public to go out origin and destination surveys to assist vital connections for communities. Of the through. The Ramblers had also raised with their understanding of how each proposed diversions, some were too long; concerns that there were a number of errors crossing was being used. Finally, we had others involved loss of scenery or were too and inconsistencies in this documentation, asked whether the Transport and Works steep or liable to flooding. Yet others would and that for some of the proposals there was Act was an appropriate mechanism for such divert walkers onto busy roads, which rather insufficient detail on what Network Rail was proposals, highlighting the possibility that contradicted Network Rail's safety argument. proposing for the diversion; for example, in this case could set a precedent. For these reasons we had not taken a one case the company's witnesses had said No decisions have been made so far on the blanket approach but had taken each case that around 120 steps (60 on either side of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk inquiries. If the individually. an embankment) would be required for a Secretary of State were to wait until he had Some of the proposed alternative routes diversion, but this had not been documented. the recommendations from all three inquiries suggested by Network Rail consisted entirely Network Rail had produced expert witnesses, before announcing his decision, there might of the use of existing highways, including but so had the Ramblers in the shape of a not be a decision until the autumn or the existing footpath network. In these highways planner who had given evidence beyond. Merrow Golden addresses the Essex Area AGM. circumstances, the Ramblers had made clear that in his professional opinion some of the Mike Cannell Photo: Mike Cannell that they considered these to be proposed road diversions were not safe. Furthermore, Area Media Officer South East Walker June 2019 11 BERKSHIRE Stand at mountain bites film festival ome Berkshire Area committee members attended two showings of the Banff Mountain Film Festival at the Hexagon Theatre in SReading in March with a Ramblers publicity stand. The aim was to spread the word about the great walking groups we have Best seller in Berkshire and meet potential new members. We spoke to people who hadn't thought about walking with a group before and had fun chatting to lots of people and sharing our experiences as well as providing Ramblers leaflets, badges and pens. We hope our attendance will help to attract new updated members or at least encourage more people to get out and explore their local countryside. Jason Owen ast Berks Group's publisher, Heron Maps, has taken delivery Area Publicity Officer of a new seventh edition of Rambling for Pleasure Along the EThames with 24 circular walks covering over 100 miles of mainly riverside walking between Runnymede and Sonning. Undertaking a thorough check of all the walks was an interesting experience for Steve Gillions, the group's Footpath Secretary, as he's more often to be found finding his way in the wilds of Scotland! This has always been the best selling guidebook in the Rambling for Pleasure series, with a print-run of up to 10,000 copies. However these days many groups and individuals opt to publish their material on the web, leaving walkers to print the details off themselves or view on a small The first edition. screen, as they find it difficult to fund such a high-quality product. With so many Rambling for Pleasure books now in circulation, anyone picking up this book will immediately realise that this is not the edition they already The stand at Reading. Photo: Jason Owen have; almost all the photographs by me are new, with many reflecting the interesting changes that have taken Far and wide The new 7th edition. place in recent years. e've travelled far and wide in our search for interesting Copies of the book walks. In February we visited Farlington Marshes in (ISBN 9781908851277, Hampshire where the nature reserve attracts a variety retail price £7.99) are "The books are selling at an alarming W rate!" The late Peter Nevell in 1987, of wildlife including migratory and overwintering birds. We available from Heron makes ready for more deliveries. At were also fortunate enough to see Langstone Harbour at both Maps (www.heronmaps. that time Peter who was the group's high and low tide as well walking part of the Hayling Billy Trail. com), East Berks Chairman, worked for EMI, whose This was followed by a trip to Dorchester-on-Thames where we had Ramblers, Amazon and record label 'Music for Pleasure' he time to explore the old which was dissolved in 1536 leaving the small local bookshops. neatly adapted to head-up one of the village with a large church. In March we walked from Lyndhurst Dave Ramm most successful series of guidebooks ever designed to encourage more over heath and through woods in the New Forest. Then in April we people to enjoy the countryside. enjoyed a walk which visited the Ardington and Lockinge millennium sundial and solar stone circle in Oxfordshire. The circle consists of 13 pairs of standing stones arranged in a semi-circle. Shafts of light passing between each pair of stones during the day enable visitors to Walking with South tell the time. Our local walks have continued apace and we look forward to summer coach walks which are planned for Cirencester, Gloucester and Great Malvern. These are always very popular and you have to be East Berks Ramblers very quick to reserve a seat. Richard Trimmer round 50 members Blackwater on a sunny day in nearby made sure that we all West Berks Ramblers attended our annual February. A walk through the had an appetite. The weather Alunch at Meade Hall in MoD permitted access land contrasted sharply with a walk in Windsor Great Park three weeks earlier when snow covered the park but provided us with glorious views of Windsor Castle from the Copper Horse. On the social side, a well- attended skittles and pizza evening organised by our Social Secretary, Doug Buchanan, provided much merriment. Future planned social events include a day at the Cotswold Water Park. We continue to offer a full and varied walks programme thanks to our dedicated leaders who deserve much praise for the time and effort they contribute to the group.

Brian Poulton I'll go no further!. Photo: Richard Trimmer On the way to the annual lunch. Photo: Brian Poulton South East Berks Ramblers 12 South East Walker June 2019 OXFORDSHIRE Working for Oxfordshire on-line Ramblers e have 10 Ramblers groups in Oxfordshire. You can find out more about them by clicking on the links on the right hand Wside of each page on our website (www.ramblers-oxon.org. A snowy Area AGM uk). Volunteers within the groups organise walks, social activities and publicity. They also work to improve public access to the countryside by being he forecasts were dire - ice footpath officers, parish path wardens and/or do path maintenance and snow, impassable roads - work. Each of the groups has a representative, selected by each group, on Tbut 29 Oxfordshire members Oxfordshire Ramblers Area Council which meets quarterly to identify, made it to Wytham Village Hall on disseminate and help groups to implement good practice in respect of their 2 February for the Oxfordshire Area offering to members and their work to improve countryside access. Area AGM, hosted by our group. Council also comprises executive officers with specific roles. They are elected My car was stuck in the entrance at an AGM, which this year was held on 2 February. They work very hard so most people used the pub car park! doing tasks that underpin what the groups do. Jim Parke was elected Chair, The morning walk through a magical as I had stepped down after three years in that post. winter woodscape explored Wytham Your elected executive officers are: Chair:Jim Parke; Vice-Chair: Alie Woods, the longest scientifically Hagedoorn; Footpath Secretary: David Godfrey; General Secretary: Rosemary studied wood in the world where the Williams; Membership Secretary: Peter Stone; Treasurer: Richard Birch; nesting habits of blue tits and a long- Walking Environment & Access Officer: Terry Pollard; Walks Coordinator: term badger survey feed into current Richard Birch; Website Officer: Pat Lonergan; Without Portfolio: Robin climate change monitoring. The sun Harrison; Independent Examiner of Financial Accounts: Stuart Kenner. shone, the snow crystals glistened and Dave Cavanagh we enjoyed the warm hospitality of the pub. In the afternoon at the AGM Aynsley Jardin, a member of the Ramblers Board of Trustees, gave us a lively Footpath presentation with our Area President, Professor Sir Muir Gray, presenting the opportunity for people at home to matters partake in virtual walks using walking apps, such as verywellfit. The meeting County council: James Blockley (Principal Officer Trees and Public Rights ended with tea and homemade cakes. of Way) has left the council; his replacement has not started yet. Elaine Steane Diversions, claims etc: Diversions have been confirmed at Brightwell-cum- Chair, Oxford City Group On the pre-AGM walk in pristine conditions. Photo: John Gordon Sotwell (near a new estate on the edge of Wallingford), South Newington (a complex of paths at Paradise Farm), Deddington (avoiding a new house at Clifton) and Idbury (joining a dead-end to the network). New diversions have been applied for at Milton-under-Wychwood Bob Clement 1926 - 2019 (another housing estate; a proposal to stop up a claimed path at the edge of the estate was received after the Footpaths Sub-Committee meeting), North ob Clement, who was Chairman of our group for 10 successful Leigh (also for housing), Wallingford (a revival of the 2007 order round years, has passed away at the grand old age of 93. the boathouse), Great Tew (one to avoid a house, and another to resolve B the dead-end through the eyesore of Soho Farms) and over the main road His 90th birthday was celebrated in style with a huge party for family, at Crowmarsh, parallel to Grim's Ditch). The claims to upgrade restricted friends and ramblers. He had a lovely sense of humour and when asked byways to byways open to all traffic (BOATs) have all failed; the one the secret of his long life and 'good looks' he replied that he had enjoyed 53 outstanding is still being considered as it may result in the road to the ford years of being waited on hand and foot in a very happy marriage and had at Drayton St Leonard being downgraded to restricted byway. The claims to walked with the Ramblers every Sunday, usually doing at least 10 miles. He upgrade footpaths and bridleways to byways open to all traffic are still being walked all over the place, not just with our group, including the Pennine looked at. The number of outstanding claims is now 79, down from 108. Way, Coast to Coast, Cotswold Way, West Highland Way, the Peak District Other matters: There is new information on the Oxford Flood Scheme. and even New England in the Fall. He was a much travelled and well- The application now has 427 documents attached. It now seems that the respected man. scheme will go to public inquiry, as there are objections to the compulsory In addition to being a popular rambler he had also been Chair of the purchase orders. There have been meetings both for and against the Oxford Expressway. Having seen several fallen trees since the big storms I went on a Banbury Cross Players and appeared in over 70 productions, specialising route march to photograph them so that I could report them to the relevant in comedy roles. He often entertained us in our group meetings with his councils. All those on the Wormsley Estate had disappeared (presumably humorous comments. He was a cheerful soul who enjoyed a good laugh removed by their foresters on search-and-destroy missions), leaving only and will be missed by all who knew him. RIP Bob - God bless you. a couple of leaning trees below Shirburn Hill and a tangle in the wooded Roy Clements section of Lewknor FP17 below Bald Hill to report. Publicity Officer, Banbury & North Oxfordshire Ramblers Bob Clement at his 90th birthday party. David Godfrey (and ano relation to Bob) Photo: Roy Clements Area Footpath Secretary Confident to lead? o you walk with and navigation, it covers in central Abingdon with a your local Ramblers planning an interesting route practical session outdoors Dgroup? Have you and leading a group of people on Saturday 12. Although thought of leading a walk? where you wish them to go. the course is funded by If not, what is stopping you? Even if you don't plan to lead Oxfordshire Area, members If it is a lack of confidence organised walks you will find from other Areas are welcome. then take a look at the course the skills useful when planning So, to start ;leading walks, that Oxfordshire Ramblers your own walks. plan your own walks, or just offers. This October we will again to gain confidence reading It is called 'Walks: be running this course to a map, come along. For Navigation, Planning and encourage the walk leaders enquiries or to book a place Leadership'. It is aimed at of the future or just to give (no charge), phone or text me giving people the skills to existing ones a quick refresher. on 07968 710869 or email me lead a Ramblers walk. As It will take place on the at [email protected]. well as basic map reading evenings of 9 and 10 October John Gordon On one of the evening sessions last year. Photo: John Gordon South East Walker June 2019 13 Parish Path Warden workshop

xfordshire Area held infrastructure projects such as HS2. Guidelines, followed by an online asked to put themselves in the place percentage includes those parishes its 11th Parish Path He also illustrated the wide variety demonstration of the use of the of a field officer and estimate the where path representatives of the OWarden workshop of maintenance tasks which the CAMSweb path problem reporting priority order in which they would Chiltern Society and the Cotswold on 22 March at Wootton and county's team undertake to keep system. The discussion concluded be dealt with. Wardens act in that capacity. Dry Sandford Community the path network in good shape. with a practical exercise: the Currently almost 80% of the Jim Parke Centre, in partnership with the After a coffee break came the wardens were presented with a list county's 320 parishes now have a Area Chair and Parish Path county council's Countryside practical session to demonstrate of 18 typical path problems and Parish Path Warden in place. This Warden Network Coordinator Access Service and the Oxford the varied tasks that might befall Fieldpaths Society. a Parish Path Warden. Arthur Sixteen wardens attended, drawn and I led the group along some from the various rambler groups in of the footpaths in the parish of the county. Liz Adams, Chairman Wootton, looking for opportunities of Oxford Fieldpaths Society, to observe and comment on and I welcomed everyone to the aspects of the quality of the path workshop. Arthur McEwan-James, infrastructure - stiles, bridges and County Rights of Way Officer for gates, for example. Other issues South West Oxfordshire, then gave which came to light were path an illustrated talk outlining the deviations from the definitive route. role of the Rights of Way Officer Secateurs were much to the fore and explained how the large as attendees cut back vegetation. caseload of path problem reports Even a wallpaper scraper proved are analysed and put in priority its worth in removing soil deposits order. County officers deal with from the steps of a footpath. the impact on public rights of way Waymarks and finger post direction of many planning applications, signs were also cleaned. whether minor ones, large scale After lunch I led a discussion residential developments, or on the Parish Path Warden Attendees at the workshop. Photo: Jim Parke Help with OxClean Clubs and osanne Bostock wrote in litter could not be seen under the much casual litter as well as some the March 2019 South East snow brought by the Beast from corners which had been used for RWalker about OxClean, the East. So on Friday 1 March, fly-tipping. In around two hours, the annual litter-pick conducted seven Oxford City Ramblers, we filled nine orange bags (non- Societies Day by various volunteer groups in path wardens and friends went to recyclable rubbish) and five clear Oxford. This year the weather clear a footpath in Littlemore in ones (recyclables), and collected a he Mayor of Abingdon's Clubs and Societies Day on was kinder than last, when we south east Oxford. car seat and various other bits and Saturday 16 March was held in the newly refurbished had to postpone it because the The path was in a bad state with pieces. The larger items of fly- Trooms of the Guildhall and Abbey Hall. During the day tipping that were beyond us were Vale of White Horse Ramblers mounted a display stand on behalf reported to the city council. of Oxfordshire Area. We finished with tea and cake The stand also hosted material from the Abingdon Walking for out of the boot of a car. To Health group provided by its coordinator, Viv Boorman. Throughout make a very satisfying end to the the day the stand was visited by about 50 people who had the afternoon's work, a city council opportunity of entering our popular 'Guess the Distance' competition employee arrived and quickly and hearing about the virtues of rambling in the county. Thanks loaded our collections into the back are due to Andrew and Jane Glenday who staffed the stand in the of a truck for disposal. morning and Bob Evans, Peter Skuse and Pat Lonergan who took over Keith Frayn and Siobhan the afternoon shift. Stead-Ellis Jim Parke The litter-pick team. Photo: Siobhan Stead-Ellis. Oxford City Ramblers Area Chair

Speedy action The dangerously sagging tree over a popular path. Photo: Dave Cavanagh

redit where credit's due. When our Vale Path Volunteers team was cutting back vegetation on the much-used Wantage to Letcombe Regis path recently, we couldn't fail to notice a tree seriously Csagging over the path. It had already compressed the wire fence - with several more days of high winds to come. We reported it to Oxfordshire County Council who phoned the landowner - who cut off the overhanging part before the week was out. A pile of sawdust was all that remained. So, congratulations all round. Talking with visitors at the Clubs and Societies Day. Photo: Jim Parke Dave Cavanagh 14 South East Walker June 2019 Transforming KENT access calling

Which way to the tea room?

artford and Gravesham Ramblers enjoyed the five-mile Weardale Walk, which links Chartwell, the former home of Sir Winston Churchill, with the beautiful Emmetts Garden in west Kent, Dboth properties owned by the National Trust. The walk passes through the woodland areas of Toys Hill and Hosey Common as well as the pretty hamlet of French Street and the ruins of Weardale Manor. Although a bit of effort is required on several steep slopes, we took full advantage of the well-stocked tea room at the halfway break. Details of the Weardale Walk can be found at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ chartwell/trails/weardale-walk Ted Roche (far right) and Gill Roche (third right) by one of the gates, with John Beverley Johnston Polden and Steve Brice (centre and second right), members of the working party which installed the gate, plus fellow White Cliffs Ramblers Margaret Lubbock, Olive Polden and Graham Smith. Photo: Averil Brice. olunteers from White Cliffs Ramblers working party installed 16 self-closing metal gates, two metal kissing gates and two Vtimber stile kits between January and March. One of the main areas to benefit is Swingfield Street, between Folkestone and Dover, where 11 stiles were removed and replaced with self-closing gates, transforming countryside access for walkers. This has created a large footpath network in the vicinity that is completely free of stiles. A donation from Ted and Jill Roche, longstanding members of White Cliffs Ramblers, helped to fund two metal gates in the Swingfield area. Their gates are sited in an area with glorious views across open countryside and bear plaques with their names. Other areas which benefited from the working party's efforts included Guston, Lower Hardres, Waltham and Bridge. Three landowners contributed to the cost of eight gates and four other landowners were extremely grateful to accept assistance from donor funding. A generous donation from Canterbury Ramblers part funded two of the self-closing metal gates and purchased one stile, and the East Kent Rambling Club (affiliated to the Ramblers) part funded one gate. Averil Brice, Kent Ramblers Area Footpath Maintenance Officer, said: "None of this work would have been possible without generous subsidies towards the costs of the gates from Kent Country Council plus the use of their off-road truck for carrying gates, materials and tools through difficult That stop for tea can't come soon enough! terrain to the location of the work. These access improvements will be enjoyed by walkers for years to come." Averil was invited by Swingfield Parish Council to be guest speaker at a coffee morning on 9 March. After hearing about the charitable work of Ramblers, parish councillors expressed their gratitude to those who worked New Area Chairman so hard to improve their paths. Many were unaware that Ramblers has a obert Campbell took over from Alison make sure everyone can have their say. Sometimes the network of volunteers keeping an eye on their paths. Hargreaves, who had been the Chair for best ideas come from individuals whose voice gets lost Rseven years, at the Kent AGM, held at in a crowd - I try to make sure individuals can all be Paddock Wood on 3 February. heard and there are channels open for people to talk to Robert started walking with the Ramblers from 2007, each other. Kent Rambler groups have been around Lost Ways when he lived in Sonning in Berkshire and started going for 50 - 60 years and I'm sure they will continue. on walks with the Berkshire Walkers while working Hopefully we can carry on working together and give ore volunteers are needed to help on the project to find on a mathematics MA degree as a mature student. He the right support to different ideas at grass roots level or and preserve Kent's lost paths. Lost Ways is Kent's later moved to Dartford and in 2010 joined the West at Ramblers National Council level." response to legislation which, broadly, means that if a Kent Walking Group, where he has served as Walks M path has not been recorded or is not in the process of being put Coordinator, Webmaster and Chairman. He has on the definitive map by 2026, it will be lost. The project is part attended Kent Area meetings for over two years. of Don't Lose Our Ways, the national response by Ramblers GB Robert, 48, is a 'Kentish Man', having been born to the legislation. and brought up in Bexley and Dartford. He works in Coordinator Neville Machin has set up an IT system to manage the the technical business and innovation department for project by establishing a distributed database containing the mapping the Nursing & Midwifery Council, based in Portland data, photographic evidence, anecdotal evidence and any other Place, London, where he is "pretty good at anything relevant data. to do with data, numbers and analysis." His love of The definitive maps for the whole of Ramblers Kent Area, walking began when he went hiking with the cubs and comprising the highways authorities of Kent County Council, scouts. He says he "wandered around the Isle of Wight! Bromley, Medway and Bexley, have been reviewed, with more than in his 20s and "wandered around South America" in his 200 'route anomalies' identified have been entered into the database. 30s. His partner, Penny Dommett, is also a Ramblers Neville told the Kent Ramblers AGM on 3 February, that 43 'route member. anomalies' had been surveyed. These will now go to the highways He is an environmentalist and is keen to reduce his authorities and the information reviewed before further action can be own and Ramblers' carbon footprint. Robert feels decided. volunteers are the key to the future of the Ramblers Neville told the meeting that more volunteers were needed for - exactly as they are now, He says: "In one sense, the the project. He said: "We are vulnerable to a failure in continuity if future is going to be the same as the past, as we can anything happens whereby I am unable to service the system. We are only continue with us all doing our bit as volunteers: looking for someone to volunteer to act as backup support, to become leading walks, path clearing, organising projects like knowledgeable about how the management system works and to hold Lost Ways and being part of local committees to keep the back up security files." our great walking groups going." Anyone wishing to help is asked to telephone Neville on 01322 As Kent Chairman, Robert promises to help in any Robert leading a walk at Crockhamhill Common near 864277 or email him at nevillelostwayskentramblers@btinternet,com. way he can. He says: "I always try to be inclusive and Westerham, with West Kent Walking Group. South East Walker June 2019 15 Promoting Kent's named walks ent boasts a profusion possible litigation work that has not County Council) has 142 guides available for download from Explorekent.org, ranging from easy of named 'long distance' been needed and is now available access to more challenging walks, Kwalking routes across for the project and we hope to and also promotes long distance delightful rural landscapes, supplement this with profits from walking routes through its website which we would like to encourage publications - the two guides and social media pages. more people to use. To enable mentioned have so far generated a Meanwhile Kent County this, we would like to see more surplus of £3,500 between them. Council would like to remind printed and online guides, clearer It is important that all work readers that whilst enjoying waymarking and more access is done in consultation with the the great outdoors you can also to information about walking relevant local authorities and we help improve the countryside by routes in Kent. have just established what we hope reporting issues such as fly tipping Following the success of our will continue to be a constructive and vandalism in a really easy guides to the Coast Path and Three dialogue with Kent County way either through the Country River Valley Walks in West Kent Council. Some of the routes cross Eye app (https://countryeye. (www.kentramblers.org.uk/books), county boundaries so we will need co.uk/) or Kent County Council Kent Ramblers has initiated a liaise with other Ramblers' Areas. Public Rights of Way online Fault project to improve the promotion, We are putting together a small Reporting Tool (https://webapps. waymarking and condition of team to tackle the work over several kent.gov.uk/countrysideaccesscams/ all Kent's named routes. This years and would be pleased to hear standardmap.aspx) or (https://www. will include more guides and from anyone else who would like gov.uk/report-flytipping) to report interpretation boards and clearer to be involved (info@kentramblers. fly-tipping. waymarking. We have designated org.uk). The Darent Valley Path, is one of the 'Three River Valley Walks in West Kent' Robert Peel funding originally set aside for Explore Kent (part of Kent published by Kent Ramblers. Area Secretary Illuminated River egular readers of South East Walker will remember reference to INNER LONDON the Illuminated River project. The installation, incorporating 15 Rbridges across the Thames from Tower Bridge in the east to Albert Bridge in the west (taking the Golden Jubilee footbridges and Hungerford Bridge as one), is intended to connect, celebrate and capture the spirit of the Thames and its diverse communities. Once completed, at 2.5 miles insights long, it will be the longest public art commission in the world, taking in 4.5 nautical miles of the River Thames. Based on a single lighting concept, the artwork on each bridge will capture its unique history and identity and will respond to its distinct area of the Thames. At the time of going to print work on the first four bridges - London, Cannon Street, Southwark and Millennium - will be nearly complete. To Capital Ring rangers and help celebrate this ambitious project I'll be leading some three mile walks along the route in July, August and September. All the walks will begin at the Embankment Gardens entrance on Villiers Street (near Embankment station) and finish at the Founder's Arms (near Blackfriars station). London Loop leaders The July walk will be on Monday 22, starting at 8pm and will be a National ollowing the appeal in the have so many willing volunteers. themselves forward over the coming Park City Festival event. August's walk will be on Tuesday 13, starting at 7pm. March issue of South East The coordinators and I will be months to get the schemes up and September's walk will be on Wednesday 4, starting at 7pm and will be a Totally Walker (and the email to working with those who have put running - starting with meetings Thames Festival event. F Wildlife, sustainability and energy efficiency have been at the heart of London members) I'm pleased to to start to get to know each other announce that we've had a huge and share ideas about how this decision-making in the project, which will address both light pollution response from people putting can work. This will be followed and energy efficiency. Working closely with environmental organisations, Illuminated River is aiming to improve natural habitats for flora and wildlife themselves forward to volunteer by some fact-finding about each and to ensure the project leaves a positive environment legacy for London. on the London Loop and Capital section, and then likely moving on Reducing excessive light levels and using more subtle LEDs, will provide a better Ring. Thank you very much to to audits of signage and condition. environment for wildlife and reduce both energy consumption and maintenance everyone who has volunteered, We are planning to launch the costs. As the artwork will be digitally controlled, it will be possible to dim and to those involved in the schemes formally in National Park it - for spawning, shoaling and migration for example - and these times can be previous warden scheme who City Festival in July. We intend to publicised, making the invisible wildlife of the Thames visible to Londoners. have offered their experience and raise the profile of the routes within Why not come along to one (or all) of the walks and see how successfully the expertise. At the latest count, local communities, the boroughs project has achieved this. In the meantime visit www.https://illuminatedriver. an amazing 120 people have and Transport for London - and london/ to learn more about the project, and to read Inner London Area Chair, expressed an interest in getting then to work towards improving Clare Wadd's blog about the Thames Path. involved in the two routes. Given them over time, starting with Des Garrahan we often hear how difficult it can simple things like litter-picks. 07592 759981 be to find volunteers, it's been A Capital Ring signpost in Richmond Clare Wadd both exciting and reassuring to Park. Photo: Clare Wadd Chair, Inner London Area Two London areas up for London National Park City is coming! a Britain's Best Walking ondon will officially become with nature. All Ramblers walks for the the world's first National The Ramblers in Inner London National Park City Festival will be Neighbourhood award LPark City on 22 July. and more widely has long been a aimed at the public, in addition e're excited to share that two Inner London neighbourhoods London National Park City is a supporter of the campaign to make to our own members. We will were selected to be among the ten finalists for our Britain's movement aimed at improving London a National Park City. Last be looking at special initiatives Best Walking Neighbourhood award 2019. The Ramblers' life in London, by working with year, we organised a programme of to ensure the walks are widely W expert panel met in March to narrow down the shortlist and put both residents, visitors and partners more than 30 walks during National publicised. Many thanks to those Greater Brockley and Bow & Three Mills through to the public vote to enjoy London's great outdoors Park City Week, as well as having a who have volunteered to lead walks (see walk magazine for details of how to vote). more, make the city greener, stand at the fair in Conway Hall. during the week, and to those Britain's Best Walking Neighbourhood is the Ramblers' annual award healthier and wilder, and promote We are hoping to do even better groups that have supported the celebrating those places which encourage people to go about their everyday London's identity as a National this year, by offering a wide range scheme. lives on foot. The award showcases the innovative approaches that have Park City. of walks across the full range of the If you would be willing to lead made their neighbourhoods better for walking and will shine a light on good To celebrate the launch, a capital. The walks will aim to help a walk for the festival (and haven't practice across the country. National Park City Festival will be people in London to explore the already sent details to your local A walkable neighbourhood is a safe and welcoming place to be a held from Saturday 20 to Sunday capital's great outdoors, especially group contact), please contact me at pedestrian. Residents have easy access to streets with plantings and a variety 28 July inclusive. There will be lots its less well-known green spaces, [email protected] by 15 June. of green spaces - from community gardens and allotments, to pocket parks of events and fun activities across footpaths and waterways. They Details of all the festival events will and city farms. Networks of green walking routes connect people from their the whole of London, ranging from will also aim to support Londoners be available shortly at http://www. doorsteps to the places they want to go. culture and health and fitness to with limited access to green space, nationalparkcity.london/the-2019- Please take a few moments to vote for a London neighbourhood to win wildlife, the environment and more. or those who have less opportunity launch this year. In particular, Londoners will be to visit the natural environment, to Helen Abbott Clare Wadd encouraged to discover new spaces discover outdoor spaces in or near Secretary, Inner London Area and Chair, Inner London Area and find fresh ways to get in touch their neighbourhood. London Strollers Group 16 South East Walker June 2019

SATURDAY Wish you were here? AUGUST

towards Punta del Pacino than the Spanish side and is interesting Napoleonic and civil Pyrenees (1965m). Each group had mainly granite as compared war fortifications and even a ast June, Loddon Valley different distances and ascents with limestone and sandstone dolman. That evening in Jaca Ramblers departed depending on individual in Spain. Phil gave us a tour of the old from Stansted Airport preferences. Food at the hotel The area around Rincon del town and we finished in a tapas L was good and the breakfasts Verde was the venue for day bar. for a week's holiday in the Spanish Pyrenees to include ample as were the packed three. The walking was through On Friday it was back to lunches which we assembled woodland, high meadows and walking in the Ordesa Valley. 15 five days walking in the Valle de Tena and Ordesa ourselves. We had a mix of further peaks which revealed a The hard option started with a National Park. We flew to evening meals at the hotel and profusion of wild flowers - it is steep 600m climb and then a Zaragoza where we were met at local restaurants in Biescas possible to see seven different long gallery walk and a sloping valley bottom return past by our holiday company Hike plus a tapas meal in the old varieties of wild orchid on a several impressive waterfalls. Pyrenees (www.hikepyrenees. capital of the region, Jaca. single walk. Diary Dates Walkers on the easier options co.uk). We then transferred to Our second day's walking Next day was a rest day and were left to look up and Hotel Tierra de Biescas in the was in the French Pyrenees at Phil took us to nearby Sante Lacs d'Ayous and Pic d'Ayous Elena church which perches on imagine what the longer walkers pre-Pyrenees. The weather were tackling. Wild Surrey Art & Photography was glorious and Biescas is (2288m). The French side the side of the valley above a of the Pyrenees is more sheer grotto and spring. Nearby were For our last walking day, the Until Sunday 16 June: set amongst steep, fir covered short walkers went alongside Free exhibition of competition entries of hills. The four-star hotel had the Rio Aguas Limpas, the a swimming pool which was nature-inspired artwork as part of events medium walkers tackled the to mark the 60th anniversary of the Surrey perfect for a post-walk dip. Ibones de Anayat (2227m) Our party was 28 in number and the hard walkers climbed Wildlife Trust. so Phil, the owner of Hike the Pico Musales - the Peak of Guildford House, 155 High Street, Pyrenees, allocated three guides Muscles (2653m). The week Guildford, Surrey GU1 3AJ. to each day's programme passed all too quickly and we 01483 444751 of short, medium and hard had to say farewell to Phil and options. He briefed us each his team who went out of their evening with a clear description way to make this a memorable Secret Rivers of each option so that everyone holiday for us all. Until Sunday 27 October: could select the walk that suited Ian Murray, Marianne Free exhibition mixing archaeology and art them. Murray and Derek Smith to uncover the lesser-known histories of the The first day's walk was High in the Pyrenees. Photo: Derek Smith Loddon Valley Ramblers Thames, Effra, Fleet, Neckinger, Lea, Tyburn, and lived up to expectations. A short car Common with views over Cheltenham and Walbrook, Wandle and Westbourne. Winchcombe, ride took some of the hill out and gave round to the Malverns. I have to mention Museum of London Docklands Gloucestershire us time to detour to a Roman mosaic, the very strong headwinds, but our pretty West India Quay, London E14 4AL before resuming to the Neolithic Belas walk back down a twisting valley and www.museumoflondon.org.uk, hilst researching the Knapp barrow and the spectacular Cleeve sunny picnic stop by a lake gave us shelter. 020 7001 9844. Gloucestershire Steam Sudeley Castle was as grand as I remember WRailway, my attention was with much to see. caught by the line 'Winchcombe Sunday was a gentler day spent walking Open Garden Squares Weekend welcomes walkers'. The town is on the through the Slaughters with the Windrush Saturday 8 - Sunday 9 June: Cotswold Way but below the escarpment, rolling by. The wind was still strong Discover some of London's private and down on the valley floor. A few moments but the day was dry. Rounding out the more browsing on the internet produced normally hidden green spaces. weekend was a Monday homeward-bound a number of enticing walks and the scene www.opensquares.org was set for our weekend in March! My stop at Adelstrop and Chastleton Barrow. grateful thanks to guest walk leader Alan, More history, beautiful scenery, unusual sheep and ponies and the sunny Iron Age Sevenoaks Heritage Anne for visit payments and Liz for meal Wednesday 19 June - Saturday 6 July. choices. fort to sit on for the lunch stop. On the Friday we had a slightly muddy Highlights included a great group of Display of photographs and artwork telling introduction up onto the escarpment people, the scenery, the sense of history, the history of the town and its open spaces. before lunch in sight of Hailes Abbey. Our the quietness, the Friday night meal at the Sevenoaks Library. Part of the Sevenoaks visit was to Stanway House, a beautiful Corner Cupboard and the pizza evening. Summer Festival which also includes six walks Maybe I shouldn't mention the other pub Jacobean manor house where our guide provided by Sevenoaks Ramblers. John gave a tour. Just one highlight was meal! the world's highest gravity-fed fountain. Jon Hilton www.sevenoaksfestival.org.uk. Saturday was billed as a memorable walk A happy group weekend trip. Photo: Anne Moore Chiltern Weekend Walkers London is a Forest of year was the range of spring flowers, days, just right for walking. Whilst breezy Minorca including a variety of orchids. at times we had no rain until on the coach Thursday 20 June, 7pm - 8.15pm. group of 51 of our members flew At the end of the holiday we thanked back from Gatwick. Oh well, we were Author Paul Wood talks about his new book to Minorca for a week's holiday our leaders for brilliantly putting together back in England! London is a Forest at Stanfords, in March, organised for us by a tailor-made programme for such a large John Juchau 7 Mercer Walk, London WC2H 9FA. A and diverse group. We had mild sunny West Essex Ramblers the private group section of Ramblers £4 includes drink, must be booked. Walking Holidays. Mahon, the island's www.stanfords.co.uk capital was our destination where we stayed at the four-star Port Mahon Hotel, which overlooks the harbour, the largest National Young Ramblers Weekend and deepest in the Mediterranean. Friday 28 - Sunday 30 June. Our leaders provided us with a full pro- Ramblers members in their 20s, 30s and gramme of walks and sightseeing. There 40s gather in Cambridge for a weekend of was much to see in Mahon itself where there are reminders of a century of British walking and socialising. rule, including examples of Georgian Details and bookings: architecture. In contrast, later in the week www.nyrweekend.org.uk we travelled to Ciutadella at the other end of the island, a town very much Spanish London National Park City Fair in character, it being the original capital. Saturday 21 July. Each day we had the option of a short or longer walk, usually with a chance to visit On the day before the National Park City is a place of interest, including Monte Toro, officially launched at City Hall, this fair with the highest point of the island at 358m. talks and stands takes place in Conway Hall Our coastal walks often followed and Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. sections of the Cami de Cavalls, or Horse www.nationalparkcity.london/fair Trail, a route created 300 years ago for defence purposes. A delight at this time An impressive cathedral-like cave explored near Barranca Binigaus. Photo: David Brewster