Footprints Newsletter of the Dales Group of the Ramblers September 2020

Editor: Martin Phillips

Nick’s Natterings Nick Stephens (Chairman) In my previous Natterings, I stated “the next few months would be like nothing we’ve experienced before”. Never a true word more spoken. This will be my penultimate Natterings. At the moment and up to publication date there is much uncertainty as to what will be happening with Ramblers by 1st September and beyond. Please keep an eye on our own DDR website for the latest information. Articles elsewhere in this Footprints will be covering the rules and regulations regarding official Ramblers led walks as they currently stand. It’s an ill wind that ...... During lockdown Pat and I have enjoyed our walks across the fields to the Winster shop, appreciating the sunshine, birdsong, lack of overhead planes (and no chattering ramblers following behind!). Having bought essentials, we would stop and chat (at a distance) to Wendy & Cynthia. With no group rambles and our usual folk festivals being cancelled, I’ve been able to get on with lots of outside jobs and start the mammoth task of clearing out my ‘stuff’, as probably a lot of other folk have been doing. Thanks to Lynne France for the obituary on Howard Martin. Older members will remember him on our walks and at our Friday social events. With both of us having worked for the local electricity board, we had a common link and, whenever I was in Ashover, I would visit him. Thanks to Bo Boon for looking after him, especially during his last years of illness. His obituary is on page 5, along with a short one from Keith and Mary Mellor. Thanks go to Sue Weatherley for her very early morning attendance on 16th May at Monsal Head for a television interview. She did a good job on our behalf. Although we’ve now been allowed to lead walks of 5 people, the walk collectors and the committee thought that the restrictions and regulations were too prohibitive considering the short period of time they might be in force. With the hope that restrictions will be eased more by the start of September it is proposed that the Walk Programme be produced and printed, but may be subject to the rules and regulations mentioned above. →

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Thanks go to Cathy for her creative quizzes and to the other members for their virtual walks. With my love of map reading and 10 years’ orienteering, I thought my map reading ability was fairly good. I managed fine with Ian Weatherley’s walk but I’m afraid I was unable to complete some of the others, leaving me ‘virtually’ lost!

Our Group Walks: Covid-19 Update Martin Phillips On 17th March all Ramblers walks and activities were cancelled up to 31st May, later extended to 30th June. On 23rd June Ramblers announced that group walks could restart (in ) from 1st July, but with no obligation to do so. Walks would, of course, be subject to the familiar social distancing, and with additional, and substantial, requirements for leaders to follow, (see next page). The biggest change is each walk would be limited to six participants, including the leader(s); this would necessitate the new concept of requiring walkers to book in advance. Our Committee has given careful consideration to our strategy, the impact on leaders and the logistics of setting up and running a booking system. Our view is that the effort of running walks for such a small number of participants is not realistic. Thus, it was decided to cancel the remainder of the current programme which runs to the end of August. This is in line with the adopted policies of most other Ramblers groups. We have planned and are issuing our next walks programme, September to December, but will need to defer until nearer the time whether these walks take place. If/when we do resume, there may be significant changes to the way we operate. We know that many of our members are now going out in small groups; please remember that these are informal walks being organised personally and are not part of our official Ramblers walks. Our website has a dedicated page regularly updated with the latest information.

Website Area Get Together www.derbyshiredalesramblers.org.uk This is scheduled for th Our reconstructed website is now Sunday 11 October. complete and fully operational, with Choice of walks. This much information for potential new year will be organised walkers as well as existing members and walks by Derby and South leaders. Full details of walks, links to Ramblers Derbyshire Group, and GWEM, and an archive of past Footprints. There is a likely to be in Calke / mobile friendly version with the same content but Ticknall area. See our formatted for phones. website for full details, and to check whether it will be taking place. Left: Parkhouse from Chrome Hill, Andy Jeffries

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Important Information for Walks Leaders Nick Stephens / Martin Phillips There are two recent directives from Ramblers Central Office, which our leaders need to be aware of and comply with when leading all future group walks.

Covid-19 Restrictions See previous page. There are several additional requirements for when Group walks restart. We realise it may not be feasible for you to lead in the near future. 1. Leaders must complete a risk assessment for each walk, using Ramblers template. It may be asked for later, eg if an incident happens on the walk. 2. Groups must have a process in place to limit group size according to current Government guidelines, at the time of writing that’s a maximum of six including leader(s) - see Ramblers Guide to Booking systems. So far, we, and Ramblers, have not implemented any Group booking system. You need to organise bookings yourself by telephone or email, try to keep it as simple as possible. Any system must be fair, transparent and accessible. 3. Leaders must compile a record of who attends the walk. 4. Leaders must ensure compliance with government guidelines on physical distancing. 5. Recommendation to carry out a(nother) recce just before. Guidance on all the above is available on the Ramblers website. Log in to your account, click on Coronavirus update, then on Information for volunteers. This next page gives you information on walking and leading, with a set of guides (as mentioned above) on the right side. Read the Ramblers Insurance Guide/Policy to ascertain what is involved and what cover you have. This is the situation as at 16th July, but changes are continually taking place. Keep checking the Ramblers website www.ramblers.org.uk and our own website www.derbyshiredalesramblers.org.uk for further updates.

Registration of Leaders It is now a requirement specified by Ramblers’ insurers that all walks leaders are registered (as a volunteer leader). This must be in place before you next lead, otherwise you will not be insured. At the time of printing, we are considering the implications of this and how to process registration. It is likely you will be contacted shortly by us and/or Ramblers. You can also check your volunteer status on the new Ramblers ASSEMBLE website; your existing Ramblers login should work, but we know members have reported various problems. Keep in touch with your Walks Collector who should be able to advise you. https://ramblers.goassemble.com/portal/home. You are insured only for walks listed on our programme and/or website.

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Howard Martin Mary and Keith Mellor Howard Martin, a long-time ramblers walker, died on 27th March following a long illness. Howard is remembered by many of us for his long legs and dry sense of humour. His walks were renowned for often being a little longer than stated on the programme – a query at the end of a “12 mile” walk elicited the remark that it may have been going on 17 miles, but that was before the times of GPS. Howard also had an inside track on the weather having managed the official weather station in his garden in Ashover for many years. Even when Howard stopped walking with the Wednesday group if he was spotted out and about a shout of “Ay Up ‘oward” would erupt from the group. Lynne France Howard’s funeral took place on 14th April 2020, so due to current times this was a small gathering of his son Craig, daughter-in-law Marina, myself and the Ashover church Rector. A memorial service in Ashover will be arranged when social gatherings are permitted. Howard, who lived in Ashover village most of his adult life, moved there when he married Lydia and was to become involved in many village events such as the pantomime, May Day and Morris dancing. He had been a Derbyshire Dales walker for many years, usually Sunday and midweek longer walks. In the early years he walked with his black labrador Bracken. Conversation with him would most definitely have covered the highs and lows of Chesterfield Football Club. Having been a lifelong supporter, even in his last weeks he wanted to know the latest match results. Howard was proud to receive an MBE for his dedicated services to the Met Office. A passion that started at school, he was consumed observing and recording weather data such as cloud formations, sunshine, rain and temperature. He worked for many years with the electricity board as a meter reader so had the enviable job of being out in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside. A kind, gentle man who kept his sense of humour to the end, was a special friend and will be sadly missed by many people. Lynne is a former Treasurer of DDR Group.

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‘A Birthday Walk’ Lucie MacArthur On Sunday 12th July four of us set off on a scenic walk from Gradbach. Martin, our own Footprints editor, in the lead with me, Rob and Pam following and each keeping enough space between us to ensure that social distancing rules were adhered to. It would have been Martin’s official Ramblers walk that day had it not been for the dreadful Covid-19 and the subsequent suspension of group walks. Martin specifically asked to lead on this date as it was his birthday and what a lovely way to spend it other than out walking in the picturesque countryside. We met at 9.00 am. Earlier than our usual starting time but even then the car park was already half full. Not surprisingly though as it turned out to be a beautiful summer’s day. By 10 o’clock we reached Three Shire Heads, a delightful Grade II listed where the three counties of , and Derbyshire Three Shire Heads meet. From there we climbed further to reach the Congleton road but not before we had our morning tea and coffee break accompanied by Pam’s yummy home-made flapjack. After crossing the road we continued our walk to the Cat and Fiddle pub. Standing empty since 2015, it was taken over by The Forest Distillery in 2019. Rob and I had a sneaky peek inside the recently opened shop where as well as take-away refreshments they sell an extensive variety of beers, wines, gins and whiskeys. Although tempted we both agreed that the bottles would be too heavy to carry for the rest of our walk. Perhaps next time! After leaving Cat and Fiddle we descended into the valley on the opposite side of the road. With the Clough brook on our left and the pointed summit of peeping at us on the horizon we reached the half way point of our walk and on the dot of 12 o’clock decided to stop for lunch.

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Rested and with full tummies we continued towards Wildboarclough with Shutlingsloe now in full view. In fact, it was at this point that Rob suggested climbing his favourite mountain. To his disappointment none of us shared his enthusiasm and we carried on without any optional detours. After that we had one last climb ahead of us before descending steeply and reaching the mill at Gradbach. There we were met by crowds of people enjoying the sunshine and ice-lollies purchased from the cafe. Car after car parked along the approach road and everywhere even remotely possible, it’s as well we started at nine! Thank you Martin for a lovely walk, I hope you enjoyed it as much as the three of us did and that you had a nice birthday!

Shutlingsloe Photos Rob Stevenson and Lucie Thanks to Lucie for documenting this memorable day, this was an excellent way to spend my birthday. Martin New Members It is always a pleasure to welcome new members. In this issue we welcome the following to the Derbyshire Dales Group of Ramblers and hope they will enjoy the range of walks we have to offer. Sarah Bond, Tony and Jane Hubbard, Sarah Neville and Ian Thurman

Christmas Day Walk Sue Weatherley I was hoping to sound folks out about a walk on Christmas Day this year while we walked round the Derbyshire Dales this summer. Alas, discussions about future walks went the same way as our walks programme. Copy date approaches and so I have decided to go ahead with plans for a walk on 25th December. Basic details are in the programme, the walk will start at 10.00 am from Monsal Head and will take in Brushfield, Litton Mill, Cressbrook, and Wardlow Hay Cop. About 8 miles, with an option to cut it short to 6 miles. I would like to include as many people as possible and also keep it flexible in case the weather is against us, so nearer the time and maybe even on the day itself I may have to amend the route. If you are interested in coming out on Christmas Day but are not sure if the walk is for you please get in touch, 01629 636350 or [email protected].

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Footpaths Martin Bennett (Footpaths Secretary) I have spent the past several weeks after the announcement of lockdown due to the coronavirus, like many people, walking from home. The daily walk was along many familiar paths, although I did manage to discover some new ones. It’s amazing what can be found by taking a little more time than usual. The countryside around Wirksworth, like so much of Derbyshire, is a maze of Rights of Ways, offering a variety of landscape and views. I feel very lucky to live in such wonderful countryside. It has been fantastic to see so many people out and about walking. We know both the physical and mental health benefits of regular outdoor exercise. For many individuals and families, a local walk has greatly helped the stress of the last few months. Let us hope walking, both for getting to A to B and for leisure, gets the funding it needs to continue the positive changes we’ve recently seen. The Ramblers Walking Neighbourhoods campaign emphasises the urban environment in our towns and cities, making it more accessible and walk-friendly. Ramblers Central Office suspended all activities for all volunteers during lockdown. The Local Authority Public Rights of Way (PRoW) officers continued to work, albeit from home. Emergency RoW issues were still dealt with. The PRoW twice yearly BVPI path surveys have been suspended for 2020. The very few reports of path closures due to ‘Covid-19’ notices being put up, and in some cases physical barriers being erected, have now been resolved. It is illegal for an individual to obstruct a footpath, bridleway or byway and PRoW have promptly contacted the landowner concerned. There was understandable fear and emotion over Covid-19 and some routes that went through gardens or very close to houses may have raised concern. When I am out and about, if I meet farmers and landowners who raise RoW issues with me, I suggest that they can contact PRoW for advice. My view is that, whether we are walkers, dog owners, cyclists, horse riders or landowners, we all treasure the countryside and should endeavour to find common agreement. The parish path wardens are beginning to send in their reports and, so far, the local RoW network appears to be in reasonable shape. The 37 parish path wardens cover 67 parishes in Derbyshire Dales District. It would not be possible to adequately monitor, report and keep the paths open for the district’s nearly 1,700 kilometres of rights of way without the path wardens. The parishes currently vacant are listed below. The parishes vary both in size and in the number of RoWs. The western and especially the southern parishes of the district would benefit from monitoring. Ramblers provide insurance to cover the role’s activities, in the very unlikely event of cover being needed. If you would like to know about the role, please contact me for more information. It is with sadness that I have to report the death of one our parish path wardens, Vic Filer. Vic looked after five parishes in the Peak District. His passion for walking came through with his perceptive and wry reports. I have made responses to twenty DMMO applications and attended two Public Inquiries at Over Haddon and Kirk Ireton. The latter confirmed the addition of a footpath from Moor Lane. My thanks to Dave Williams, a previous Group footpath secretary, who carried out extensive work and was a robust witness testimony on the day. A path in the village of Wensley, South Darley FP 49 has involved considerable time and effort. This has been led

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by two resilient local residents over several years. The Peak and Northern Footpath Society and the Ramblers have worked closely together to offer support in the now successful opening of this very short, though vital path. Yeaveley FP 12 (right) has been blocked for many, many years at its western end and now has houses built where the open part of the path runs through. Both Planning and PRoW have been asked to resolve the issues. This path would offer a safe and convenient alternative to the footway-free village roads. Several objections to 77 planning application responses have been made where a RoW would be affected. These objections are generally reflected in the planning decision. The Area footpath committee quarterly meetings provide a welcome opportunity to exchange ideas and information. The last one was cancelled, though regular communication continued. There is a wealth of expertise amongst committee members that is used to effectively consult and liaise with the local authority. Derbyshire Dales has nearly 1,700 km of RoWs and, whilst the network is generally open and walkable, issues do arise. These come usually under the headings: stiles in disrepair, missing signage, ploughing and cropping obstructions, vegetation growth and path surface. Reports for any RoW issue can be made direct to PRoW via the website link below. I would be happy to receive copies of any reports. Photos are always especially useful. Alternatively, please contact me below over any RoW queries or issues. https://maps.derbyshire.gov.uk/connect/analyst/mobile/#/main?mapcfg=Ordnance_Survey_Maps However, the first and best thing everyone can do is to simply walk the paths. Using lesser walked paths keeps them open and accessible. Tel. 01629 820 142 or 07875 311 910. Please note my new Ramblers generic email: [email protected].

Area Representative for Area Committee Report The Area committee meeting was cancelled during lockdown, although communication has continued throughout. Area is a vital link between Groups and Ramblers Central Office, covering finance, membership and general support. Area committee sends delegates to General Council, again unfortunately cancelled this year. General Council considers motions submitted by Areas, and sets the aims and future direction for the Ramblers as an organisation. Lost Ways continues to be an agenda item, with discussion of how Area and Groups can support path claims before the deadline of 2026. It is estimated that there are 10,000 miles of potential lost ways. See the Ramblers website for more details. The Area footpath committee (RDRoWC) minutes are reported and discussed. The meeting for the Peak District Local Access Forum (PDLAF) was also cancelled. The PDLAF is an advisory, though statutory body, with its aim to advise the PDNP. I hope to increase both my interest and knowledge of Access Land. This right to roam was a wonderful achievement, greatly supported by the Ramblers. It needs to be made more accessible, to a greater number of people. →

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Just before lockdown I attended an inspiring conference in Manchester held by Living Streets, formally known as the Pedestrian Association. The day was introduced by Andy Burnham and Chris Boardman and presented many exciting ideas from across the world on how to improve sustainable travel in our communities, with benefits for both health and well-being and for air quality. The walk from Piccadilly train station to the venue at the Friends Meeting House was very pleasant through attractive pedestrianised streets. Parishes currently without wardens Abney & Abney Grange Hartington Middle Quarter Offcote & Underwood Alkmonton Hartington Nether Quarter Offerton Blackwell in the Peak Hartington Town Quarter Osmaston Boylestone Hazlebadge Sheldon Chelmorton Highlow Snelston Cubley Hungry Bentley Somersal Herbert Doveridge Kniveton Sudbury Eaton and Alsop Little Hucklow Taddington Edlaston and Wyaston Litton Tideswell Fenny Bentley Longford Tissington & Lea Hall Flagg Marston Montgomery Thorpe Foolow Matlock Bath Wardlow Great Hucklow Matlock Town Wheston Grindlow Norbury and Roston Yeldersley Harthill

Some thoughts on walking during Lockdown Sue Weatherley I wrote this at the end of June when the good news was that the prospect of lockdown lifting held the promise of more freedom to travel and meet up with more people. The bad news is that our walks programme will not resume until September at the earliest. Over the past few months we have all had more than enough time to think about our walking addiction. We haven’t been stopped from walking but we have been stopped from walking in a group. Well, OK, we have had to walk locally and, for the first umpteen weeks, not drive to walk. So what was most important - the first walk where we could drive to somewhere new or the first walk where we could drive to somewhere new and meet with a friend. Both red letter days but I think the importance of walking with our mates has become really clear to everyone. Walking and talking gives time for long conversations about all sorts of things, it is therapy in fact as well as being fun and just plain enjoyable. On those occasions when we have met up with members of the group by accident it has been a great, if slightly guilty, pleasure. We have all experienced a spectacular spring and going out and about locally it has been a great pleasure to see ducklings and cygnets and swifts appear and

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watch bluebells bloom, fade and be replaced by cowslips and pansies, but all of that joy is greatly enhanced by sharing the sight with someone else, isn’t it. The stories we tell about things that happen to us are better stories if there are other people involved. So here are a few my lockdown memories to share. Ian and I met up, quite by chance, with Pete and Jackie near Little Bumper Piece. We were on our bikes and they were on foot but we combined and made a socially distant joint ascent to the trig point. Judy and I met up for the first time for a swim in the Derwent at Chatsworth. We were getting ready when it became apparent that a lamb was trapped in some vegetation just on the waterline on the opposite bank. We thought we were the women to mount a rescue but as we were about to enter the water a member of the Chatsworth staff arrived and suggested that we might scare it into the water. We could take a hint so we set off upstream and had a good swim and missed the excitement. The shepherd arrived on the opposite bank and scared the lamb into the water, presumably making a professional job of it, the lamb swam across the river and emerged on the bank, across the river from the rest of the flock. We watched a swan’s nest for several weeks on the Lathkill, eventually we got there one morning to find the proud parents and three tiny cygnets. We were just expressing the view that three cygnets seemed a small family when a head appeared on the female’s back and then another head. Two more cygnets appeared and dropped into the water and the family was complete. I have been suffering from SDS (Summit Deficit Syndrome) and being so desperate that no trig point close to the road on any of our local bike rides was safe. We managed four local summits before lockdown lifted so that we could travel further. NB: SDS is often confused with Tick Fever (REF Footprints December 2015) but the two conditions are very different and the treatment is much more straightforward for SDS. Here’s hoping for plenty of sociable walking in the future. PS ... In writing this I have been watching my language. I have been feeling very sorry for the word ‘unprecedented’. There it was, sitting quietly in the dictionary minding its own business with just the occasional outing for a crossword, when suddenly it has to be everywhere from Downing Street to my emails about holiday cottages on Colonsay. It is very overworked and needs a rest.

Let’s stay in contact! Liz Smith (Membership Secretary) For GDPR reasons, Derbyshire Dales Ramblers Group uses only the membership information and lists held by Ramblers Central Office. It seems that some of that membership information is now out of date, sometimes making it difficult for us to contact all members quickly and efficiently. →

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It would greatly assist us to stay in contact with you all if members could kindly take the time to go on to the Ramblers’ website (www.ramblers.org.uk) to ensure that your personal information and contact preferences are correct. Click on Login at the top of the home page. (If you have not yet created an account with a password, you need to do this by following the instructions). Once logged into My account, you need to click on Update Profile. Please check that your address, telephone number and email address are correct. Then click Update at the bottom. You can also go down to Contact Preferences: To get your walk programme by email, tick Ramblers may contact me by email. AND To get your Footprints newsletter by email, also tick Ramblers may contact me about special offers from their carefully selected partners … by email. Then click Update at the bottom. If you wish to receive your walk programme and newsletter only by email, you will need to have not ticked the by post options. You will still receive the quarterly national Walk magazine by post (unless you have separately advised Ramblers Central Office that you don’t want a paper copy of the Walk magazine). Alternatively, you can ring Ramblers Central Office (020 3961 3232) and advise them of your personal information and contact preferences, and they will ensure that the records are updated. The programme and newsletter can also be viewed on the Group’s website: www.derbyshiredalesramblers.org.uk. Please contact me if you have any difficulties, tel: 0781 648 3227. Many thanks.

Next Edition Last date for copy for the next edition: 15 November 2020; please contact: Martin Phillips (Editor): Tel: 01773 829180 / 07743 370968 [email protected] Nick Stephens (Chairman): Tel: 01629 650092 [email protected] Walking and travel related articles are always welcome; anything from a few lines up to a page or two, A5 size. And preferably with photo’s if appropriate. It would be helpful, although not essential, if pictures are separate from a text file. In addition, you can just send any pictures of walks or our local countryside, with a brief caption of where it is.

You are receiving this communication because we believe that it would be of interest to you as a member. If you would rather not receive similar information in future, please let us know. You can email [email protected], change your preferences online at www.ramblers.org.uk or call 020 3961 3300. Note that requests must be made directly to Ramblers (Central Office), and not to Derbyshire Dales Group.

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