ISSUE 6 NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2017 The natural world: at the Heart of the Matter Welcome to the Summer edition of our Thames Path National Trail news‐ letter. Access and connection to the countryside is of growing importance for our personal health and well‐being and for that of our News for all who communities. Falling in love with the natural world is a good way of en‐ suring its future health is cared for too and in this newsletter we take a enjoy the look at various ways we can make this happen. Thames Path In May the first ever Chilterns Walking Festival took place. The Chilterns INSIDE THIS Conservation Board offered a great programme of hikes, guided tours and ISSUE: special events across The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In partnership with Hobbs of Henley, Thames Path Trail manager Natural World 1 Chilterns Walk- ing Festival 2 Health Walks 3 Trail Overview 4 Volunteer Task 5 Diary Outdoor Class- 6 room Steven Tabbitt and Trails Volunteer Richard Mayon‐ Circular Walk 8 White, offered a boat trip along the river and a walk along the Thames Path. End notes 8 Richard Mayon‐White reports: Twenty people turned up to take the boat trip along the River Chilterns Walking Thames to Hambleden lock and then walk back Fesval 18 September – 01 October 2017 along the Thames Path ‐ a lovely way of combining Explore new areas of The a gentle 2 mile walk with a leisurely viewing of the Chilterns—family‐ river. Preparations for the Henley Royal Regatta friendly, accessible and were in progress and we had a close look at Temple inclusive walks in the Island where the races start. The yellow flag irises autumn Walking Fesval along the water’s edge, a nesting swan, great crest‐ ed grebes and Egyptian geese added interest. follow @nhames It was a good way to introduce people to the joys of walking the Thames Path. Thames Path Naonal Trail Office, Speedwell House, Oxford, OX1 1NE Informaon: [email protected] T:01865 810224 Volunteers [email protected] T: 01865 810211 W www.naonaltrail.co.uk/thames‐path/ PAGE 2 Health Walks by the Thames Most people enjoy walking by water—the open space and fresh air encourage exercise, while reflected light and the movement of water smulate the mind. The Thames Path offers a relavely accessible way to walk by the river, especially where the surface is firm and public transport is good. The volunteers who monitor the Thames Path assessed its suitability for people with Walking the Trail the Walking We asked restricted mobility, and found that the urban secons are excellent. A link has been made with Walking for Health, a naonal scheme for trails Volun‐ teer and author Dick Mayon ‐White to tell us about the Health Walks that he leads in Oxford ... Walking for Health in Oxford Photo credit: Dick Mayon_White River Thames, Christ Church Meadow, Oxford In Oxford, as in many towns and villages there is an active Walking for health walks run by the Ramblers Associaon and MacMillan Cancer Sup‐ Health group and events port. The Health Walks are free and everyone is welcome. Their purpose run weekly. There is a regu‐ is to provide beneficial outdoor exercise in the company of others. The lar health walk every Tues‐ usual health walks are about 2 – 2.5 miles long and take about one hour. day morning, starng at Every walk has a trained leader who decides on the route considering the Oxford Town Hall, St Al‐ dates, OX1 1BX. The walks condions and the wishes of the members of the group. People learn oen go along the Thames about Health Walks by word of mouth, by referrals from health profes‐ Path. They are designed for sionals and through paent support groups. people who want to take some exercise by walking As a Naonal Trails volunteer, I have been keen to make the Thames Path for about 2 ‐ 3 miles in accessible to all, especially along the secons that have lots of interest. In about an hour. Every one December 2016, I was trained as a leader for the Walking for Health group is welcome and there is no that meets once a week in Oxford. charge. Thames Path Naonal Trail Office, Speedwell House, Oxford, OX1 1NE Informaon: [email protected] T:01865 810224 Volunteers [email protected] T: 01865 810211 W www.naonaltrail.co.uk/thames‐path/ ISSUE 6 PAGE 3 More informaon is on hps://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/walkfinder/south‐east/ oxford‐health‐walks‐0. The weekly walks oen use the Thames Path and are popular – somemes as many as 15 people come. With these numbers, a second leader is useful to Trail the Walking guide those who want to go at a slower pace or for a shorter distance than the majority. This supports people who are uncertain if they could keep up with others, whilst allowing for those whose fitness is improving to go further and faster. There is a Walking for Health Group in Goring that uses the Thames Path and parts of the Ridgeway. Given the promising start of the Thames Path‐Walking for Health collaboraon, we look to expand the number of volunteers who can lead groups for walks beside the Thames. Circular walks are always popular and we are designing more that use the Thames Path. There are walks of 5 or more miles that link nature reserves in “Exploring the Thames Wilderness”. One of my favourites is to start at the Head of the River pub by Folly Bridge in Oxford, and walk along the river bank in Christ Church meadows. Go on beside the Cher‐ well to Magdalen Bridge, and along the Iffley Road to Jackdaw Lane. This takes you to Aston’s Eyot with paths beside the river and into The Kidneys and Meadow Lane, reaching Donnington Bridge Road. Either return by crossing Donnington Bridge to the Thames Path and back to Folly Bridge; or connue along Meadow Lane to Iffley village (good pubs) and cross the river at the lock to get to the Thames Path. Dick Mayon‐White Exploring the Thames Wilderness – a guide to the natural Thames WARNING! There are hidden beauties revealed in this book which might surprise even the much – travelled walker! The River Thames is an oen undiscovered haven of stunning scenery, wonderful wildlife and brilliant natural beauty. As well as the famous stretches passing through our biggest cies and towns, there is a hidden side to the river ‐ wild and natural, but surprisingly accessible. This guidebook, compiled by the two ma‐ jor Thames charies, contains a wealth of informaon on over 150 of the best places to explore the real Thames wilderness. An essenal source of ideas for days out and handy for on the go, ‘Exploring the Thames Wilderness ‐a guide to the natural Thames’ opens up the beauty of the Thames to everyone. Copies are available for Wrien by Richard Mayon‐White, Naonal Trails volunteer who £10 + postage from Dick has loved the river for 50 years and Wendy Yorke, Projects Man‐ M‐W. Contact him on [email protected] ager for the Thames Rivers Trust who has been involved in com‐ munity engagement and river restoraon for more than 13 years, in the UK and Australia. Thames Path Naonal Trail Office, Speedwell House, Oxford, OX1 1NE Informaon: [email protected] T:01865 810224 Volunteers [email protected] T: 01865 810211 W www.naonaltrail.co.uk/thames‐path/ ISSUE 6 PAGE 4 Created for the public to enjoy the beauful landscape with its rich wildlife, flora and fauna, the 184mile long Thames Path Naonal Trail is unique. It is the only long distance path to fol‐ low a river for most of its length and it's the iconic River Thames which gives the Trail its char‐ acter and creates the countryside through which you walk. Starng in the Cotswolds as a track across water meadows and fields beside the infant River Thames, the Trail passes through vil‐ Trail Over view lages in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, on surfaced pavements through historic cies …unl finally it passes through the capital, London, to the Thames Barrier in Greenwich. The Thames Path provides a walk alongside the ‘liquid history’ of a wonderful River. The Thames Path Partnership is responsible for the management, development and promo‐ on of The Thames Path Naonal Trail to ensure a great trail experience for all. It involves a wide range of organisaons and dedicated Trail volunteers help to maintain the route and keep it to a good standard for all who use it. Plan your day visit or holiday to The Thames Path using our interacve online map: www.naonaltrail.co.uk/thamespath. Why rush? Pace yourself to the meandering river ‐ if you like you can plan to walk the Trail a secon at a me (there are 15 secons ranging from 9‐15 miles, see map above)—and take days, weeks or even years to complete it! The Thames Path Companion guide lists details of campsites, B&Bs, hotels, self‐catering coages and inns around the area. Other useful contacts, such as taxis, hospitals, vets, are pro‐ vided as well as car park locaons. It costs £4.95 plus postage and is available from our online shop: www.shop.naonaltrail.co.uk Thames Path Naonal Trail Office, Speedwell House, Oxford, OX1 1NE Informaon: [email protected] T:01865 810224 Volunteers [email protected] T: 01865 810211 W www.naonaltrail.co.uk/thames‐path/ Volunteer Task Diary PAGE 5 Practical work is carried out along The Thames Path and The Ridgeway to ensure walkers enjoy using it.