WWW Walkers Web Words News Flash 92

Editor and Publisher: Basil Merry November 2015

A new beginning? We are pleased to report that the first Group Committee meeting, after the recent AGM, attracted a large number of members prepared to help take the Group forwards. The AGM saw the re-election of two officers, David Moore, Chairman, and Gavin Johns, Treasurer, together with existing committee members Mel Hardy, Footpath & Countryside Secretary, Mike Sims, Footpath Volunteer Co- ordinator, Ros Jackson, Minutes Secretary, Jill Stokes, Margaret Metcalfe, and John Newrick. They will be joined by John Graham, Geoff Birkinshaw, Val and Michael Fenton, Faith and Anthony Parke-Davis, and Barry Whipp. John Graham will become Secretary, the third officer required by our constitution. It is anticipated that Geoff Birkinshaw will become Membership Secretary, and Val Fenton as Programme Co-ordinator. Where necessary there will be a hand over period from the existing encumbents. All the new volunteers will be formally co-opted to the committee. It is hoped this influx of new volunteers will perhaps enable a review of some committee roles. Ideally the Group needs a Publicity Secretary, Area Council delegates (up to 2), and a Social Secretary. Possibly someone will volunteer to become a regular Newsletter contributor or Editor. Time will tell but we take heart from the meeting and look forward to a new beginning in 2016. Full contact details of the new members will follow in due course. Parish Wardens We have been trying to recruit some more Parish Wardens for a while to join our existing activists. At the meeting there were expressions of interest in covering Shirland, , and Brimington with the expectation that Holmesfield, Eckington, and Barlow will be covered by other volunteers. The role of Parish Warden is to walk the paths in the parish at least once a year and to report any issues arising. If anyone has contact with the local Parish Council, or Councillors, this would be ideal as footpath maintenance is one area where Parish Councils can make a material difference (they have access to DCC grants). However, this is not essential. All the parishes of North East , District, and Chesterfield Borough have been surveyed in the last 3 years. This was a major task for several individuals and we would not need to repeat the exercise if Wardens monitor the local situation. The base line is known and we wish to move forward with improvements. Can you help? If you walk your local paths, perhaps as a dog-walker all that is necessary is a bit of organisation and record keeping to cover all the parish paths. In large parishes the job could be shared. Full guidance as to what to look out for would be given. Please contact [email protected] or Mike Sims. A schedule of parishes and wardens will be issued soon. Something old, something new Despite being called ramblers, which suggests roaming without a set plan, most organised walks do follow established routes. Derbyshire is blessed with many and these need maintenance whilst new ones are sometimes developed. The Centenary Way from to Ashbourne was set up in 1994 to commemorate the centenary of the Derbyshire Footpaths Preservation Society. This society, like the Sheffield Clarion mentioned elsewhere, suffered declining membership and was wound up a couple of years ago. All the remaining funds (in excess of £10k) were transferred to Derbyshire Area of the Ramblers to continue the preservation of Derbyshire footpaths. Accordingly, it is only right that the Ramblers maintain and improve this 23 mile route which is on the OS maps and the only route that was set up by the organisation. The route has been surveyed, assessed, costed, and plans are being made to make improvements along the way with new way marks and signage and publicity (maps/ leaflets). Volunteers from , , and Erewash groups will all be involved. Meanwhile, the Friends of the Peak are making progress in devising and implementing a 192 mile route around the Peak Park. The, provisionally called, Boundary Walk paths used never stray more than 1.5km from the park boundaries. Whilst the route only briefly enters our territory around Millthorpe we have offered our assistance. They are looking for a snappy title to launch the route. Any suggestions can be sent to Julie@friendsofthe peak.org.uk Both of these walks can be done in sections and the latter includes sub-sections that are accessible to all walking abilities. It should be published on their web site in due course, possibly supported by a book. Nomads, a Ramblers Affiliate group, tried unsuccessfully to get the Nomad Way onto OS maps to preserve and publicise the route. OS wanted this ‘certified’ by DCC who declined to do so. Negotiations are continuing but it indicates a change in attitudes at OS and DCC. Knowledge of this has meant we have not tried to get the Chesterfield Round Walk on OS maps as yet. For more information on Centenary Way please contact [email protected] Clarion calls it a day The Sheffield Clarion Ramblers was founded in 1900 with G.H.B.Ward as its leader. It was a prominent organisation in seeking public access to the moorlands in the area. After 115 years of operating walks in Derbyshire and the Peak District, supplemented by informative Club Handbooks, the club has recently wound up due to a membership decline. Sheffield Ramblers will hold an annual Clarion Ramblers walk to ensure the achievements of the club are not forgotten. SYNED Area and Reflections Magazine. The Roaches – Appeal Staffordshire Wildlife Trust (SWT) now manages the Roaches estate which includes Gradbach and they are currently improving the car park.

SWT wants to improve footpaths on & around the Roaches & has launched an appeal to raise £175,000

You may consider this a worthy cause for local Ramblers groups and individuals to make a contribution to

See http://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/roaches

We all walk for our health ….

Although there is a national scheme called 'Walking for Health', run by the Ramblers with MacMillan Cancer Support, we all in effect walk for our health.

Reports say it's good for you and only recently a report from the London School of Economics (LSE) says that regular brisk walking is the best exercise for keeping weight down – better than vigorous activity like going to the gym.

From 6 to 26 miles (or even 34 if we include the annual Chesterfield Round Walk) our group of the Ramblers is out there enjoying the countryside, helping keep footpaths open, socialising, and keeping fit.

We're told there is an obesity epidemic in the land but it's not a feature of our group. Getting through a Derbyshire squeeze stile is probably a good indicator of whether you're overweight or not.

6 miles however is perhaps too far for those with growing age or infirmity and there is a need forshorter walks of, say 3 to 5 miles, for those members who feel more comfortable with this distance. They could even attract non- members lacking the fitness to do more.

Anyone who feels they may be moving into the short walks category is invited to lead a walk in our summer 2016 programme - which begins to be assembled after Christmas.

There will be no pre-defined rules for these walks, although it's likely they will be more local and at slower pace than some of our programme.

No defined day – it doesn't have to be a Wednesday. No regularity – it doesn't have to be every week. No caffeine or alcohol abstinence. Routes built around local tea shops or pubs should attract walkers.

Even if it's only one walk, please let us know and we'll put it into the programme. It will fill an important gap in what we provide, and help some of the membership keep walking. Walks and dates can be sent to [email protected]

David Moore Chairman On request The following is available on request to [email protected]:- Derbyshire Area News – Annual Report 2015 PDGLA October 2015 Newsletter

Forthcoming events and meetings 7 December 2015: Group Footpath Committee Meeting at the Fairplay Centre, Chesterfield. 6 January 2016: Derbyshire Area meeting at 16 January 2016: Derbyshire Area AGM at Darley Dale preceded by a morning walk option. The guest speaker will be Sarah Fowler from the Peak District National Park Authority. 23 January 2016: SYNED Area AGM at Methodist Hall, Tickhill hosted by Doncaster Group. 8 February 2016: ACRoW & SYNED Area meetings in Sheffield 7 – 15 May 2016: Chesterfield Area 10th annual Walking Festival 16 May 2016: 750th Anniversary of the Battle of Chesterfield – 1266 6 June 2016: ACRoW & SYNED Area meetings in Sheffield 5 September 2016: ACRoW & SYNED Area meetings in Sheffield 21 November 2016: ACRoW & SYNED Area meetings in Sheffield 11 May 2017: 50th Anniversary of the formation of the Group. All events are open to all members.

The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in and Wales. Company registration number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England and Wales number: 1093577. Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.