THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SHEFFIELD GROUP OF THE RAMBLERS JULY 2019! The Sheffield Rambler A New Path Warden System Restarting the scheme The three Sheffield Ramblers Groups are wanting to restart a Path Warden System that the Sheffield Public Rights of Way (PROW) Unit had to abandon a few years ago because of staffing and funding issues. We believe that we can update how it is to be carried out and we will work with Sheffield PROW Unit to find the best way to identify, record and report footpath problems so that they can be resolved before matters deteriorate. We want to spread the work across as many people as possible. Ideally we would have 20+ wardens, so that it only takes 2-3 mornings or afternoons a year to do the surveying. So far we have identified 8 or 9 people in the Sheffield 40s group who are interested. People often team up to do this sort of work, making it a nice social experience, as well as helping to keep our path networks open. Making contact It is still early days so initially we want to find out how many members would like to be involved. That involvement can be as little or as much as you want - just a few neighbourhood paths or a wider area, whatever suits you. If you are interested and would like to register that interest please contact Terry Howard via email ([email protected]) simply stating your name and which area of Shef- field you would like to Warden (a few paths or a wider area). Once we have finalised details with Sheffield PROW Unit we will come back to you. Many thanks in anticipation. Terry Howard and Jeremy Kenyon Example of PROW improvement FOOTPATH OBSTRUCTION AT BRADFIELD - (SK3225.9248 on Explorer 278 - John Hawker De- cember 2018) Before After and THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SHEFFIELD GROUP OF THE RAMBLERS JULY 2019 Sheffield Walking Festival 2019 Bookings are now open for the 2019 Sheffield Walking Festival on Eventbrite via the Outdoor City and Heritage Open Days websites. This year we have 39 walks for all tastes and abilities, about half of which qualify as Heritage Open Days walks. After the droughts of last year, water is this year’s main theme, with walks covering all 13 accessible reservoirs in the newly created Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership, including stages of a new 60-mile path called the Sheffield Lakeland Way. For full information and booking visit www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/sheffwalkfest. If you click on List and A-Z, this is the easiest way to view and book the walks on Eventbrite. Walks on more than one day just have a more detailed link, which then gives you the choice of days. You can also see and book the walks in date order at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sheffield-walking-festival-17267555661 If a walk becomes over subscribed you will receive an auto response email saying you have been put on a waiting list. Should a place subsequently become available due to cancellations you will receive another email giving you 48 hours to make a booking. It is, therefore, very important and helpful to others for you to cancel your booking on Eventbrite or inform me ([email protected]) if you are not able to attend a walk that you have booked. Leaflets should be available from about the beginning of August from the Central Reference Library and branch libraries. Robert Haslam THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SHEFFIELD GROUP OF THE RAMBLERS JULY 2019 Date for your Diary Clarion Call Gig We are also using Eventbrite for booking tickets to the Clarion Call Gig to be held at the Shakespeares Ale and Cider House on Gibraltar Street. The gig is on October 25th and booking is now LIVE. You can use the link below to get to it. Tickets are £5 each. Please publicise the event and do invite friends and fellow ramblers. It should be a great night out with songs inspired by GHB Ward and Alfred Wainwright. Your event URL is: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clarion-call-singers-gig-tickets-61378559925 Please ask anyone who doesn't want to make an online booking to get in touch with me at either "[email protected]" or tel: 0784-253-0128. I will make the booking for them. Malcolm Dixon Secretary THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SHEFFIELD GROUP OF THE RAMBLERS JULY 2019 From Russia with Thanks Some of you may have been out on a couple of walks in June when we had a visitor from Russia join us. Her name was Dilara, but she introduced herself as Di. She was on holiday in the UK and wanted to go walking in the Peak District so she had contacted the Ramblers Central Office who forwarded her enquiry to Malcolm, as secretary of our group. That’s how she came to be with us. She has now sent a picture of one of the walks and a Thank You letter; I’m sure she’d like you all to share them: Hello Malcolm, It's Dilara (Di), that skinny Russian girl who went on the Rivelin walk led by John back in June (see photo). I'm back home now, and just wanted to thank you for such a warm welcome and all the amazing views of the Peak District. I really en- joyed walking and talking with Sheffield Ramblers. As promised, I've aached some photos of that Rivelin walk and also one led by Andrew from CuJhroat to Hathersage. Please pass on my thanks to Andrew, Ka- tya and everyone else who gave me lots of advice about walking in the Peak Dis- trict - I did part of the Monsal Trail from Bakewell on my own, like they recom- mended, and the view from Monsal Head was just beauOful. Once again, thank you for welcoming me to your walks. Warm regards from Ufa, Russia Dilara THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SHEFFIELD GROUP OF THE RAMBLERS JULY 2019 AGM 2019 Monday November 11th LOCATION: Quaker MeeOng Rooms in St James Street TIME: 19:30 (refreshments available from 19:00)Speaker Speaker This year we are hoping to have a speaker from Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. The speaker will be giv- ing a presentation detailing how the company supports the Ramblers nationally and locally through the Walking Partnership. This exciting initiative, supported by RWH Travel, aims to provide direct financial support to the grassroots of the walking community in the UK through local walking groups. Donations are made when members take one of their holiday packages and nominate our Group to receive a pay- ment. Positions vacant We shall, as ususal, be electing a new Executive Committee and all positions will be up for election. Al- though some members are happy to stay on, others have indicated they wish to step down. Additionally, some positions are currently vacant and we need members to come forward to fill them. Chairperson: to chair meetings and to help give some direction to the future activities of the Group. Minutes Secretary: Angela Coles has indicated she wishes to step down. Footpath Officer: to keep an eye on proposed diversions and other issues (possibly jointly with the other Sheffield Ramblers Groups). Publicity Secretary: An interest in and ability to use the various social media tools now available would be a distinct advantage for this post. We need someone to tell people why Sheffield Ramblers are more than just another walking group; to let them know that we work and campaign to improve things for walkers everywhere, for example by repairing stiles & paths; to encourage people of all abilities to get out in the local countryside and enjoy the fresh air, exercise and social interaction that comes with joining us on one of our many led walks. If you are interested in any of these posts, and would like to consider putting your name forward, please get in touch with any member of the present committee for more information or join us at the AGM in November. Malcolm Dixon Secretary THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SHEFFIELD GROUP OF THE RAMBLERS JULY 2019 Another Vacancy: FIXIT Co-ordinator Before I give you a Job Description for this post, a History of Fixit would be interesting, so here is the story of Fixit from its beginnings by the present co-ordinator, Jan Randall. BEGINNINGS Fixit started in February 2013 in Coombes Wood. I was intending to lead a walk which passed through the woods but I had been contacted by Terry a few days before to say that a huge tree had fallen across the path and may be dangerous. Barry suggested going out with his chain saw to make it safe and, during the demolition, we decided that a regular work party would be a good idea. JOBS Since then we have done a variety of jobs in order to improve footpaths and Rights of Way in the Sheffield area: We have done cutbacks which reclaim paths made impassable by brambles, seedlings and bracken. We have widened, leveled and made paths more user friendly by adding steps where necessary. We have made plank bridges to enable walkers to cross brooks safely, adding non-slip surfaces and handrails. We have improved stiles, replacing rotten timber and realigning stonework. While working on the Bradfield Heritage Trail, we exposed an ancient path (possibly an old coffin route), made safe dry stone walling and added handrails to stiles, making them usable for less agile walkers. THE TEAM There were between 6 and 14 volunteers on each job, working on the first Monday of each month.