South Cotswold Ramblers - Message Board

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Home News Items Led Walks Programme Contact us Leaders Page Our led walks are as described in the programme. Thank you for checking. NB Press F5 to be sure to see the latest messages. Visit again soon as we update several times weekly. . recent hits on the Message Board. You are visitor number to our website.		=== OLIVIA'S WALK ON SAT 26 MAY Please note Olivia's walk "East of Tetbury" is 12 miles rather than 14, but the Terrain is now L/M rather than L. === DURSLEY LONG STAY PARKING CONSULTATION Message received from Alison Fisk, Head of Asset Management at Stroud District Council: Having considered all the submissions to the consultation process, I can confirm that we will not be pursuing the proposal to turn this car park (in Long Street) into permit holders only. It is clear that it is more widely used than our previous surveys have shown, particularly by walkers/rambling groups such as yours and as there is no suitable alternative at the moment it will continue as it is. I would be grateful if you could let your walk leaders and members know. Thanks again to all members (at least 45) who wrote to SDC. South Cotswold Ramblers will be organising at least 4 walks on the next programme from this car park in Dursley. Mike PS At their meeting on 3 April 2012, Dursley Town Council passed a resolution, "That Council would write separately to Stroud District Council to propose that permanent long stay parking be included in the new vision for the Littlecombe site." === ALL LED WALK OFFERS NOW IN Thank you for all the record 61 offers. See the chart here. We shall need all your details by 25 May at the latest. === MESSAGE FROM SANDRA Hello Mike, I haven't been at the walks for a while with everyone, usually because of shift clashes/ night duty. I am though doing my own hikes albeit only about 5 miles. I am going to do the Itex walk on 9th June in Guernsey which is 40 miles including the first half on cliffs. Any other walkers fancy a hike? Tips for training appreciated. I shall otherwise do my usual get up breakfast and hike! This is my fourth go, so far I have completed it once, a halfway once and two thirds last time , a decade ago!! Keep HIKING, keep smiling, Sandra, busy midwife Stroud AND WELL DONE WITH DURSLEY /PARKING. Please send any responses here Contact Us* and I will forward them to Sandra* === SHORT SOCIABLE MONDAY START THE WEEK WALKS OUR NEXT ONE is a Fromebridge (A38) gently paced 4 mile walk with possible pub lunch afterwards being led by Bernard (01453 884013) on Monday 21 May (10:20 for 10:30 am) - see all our led walks here. ALL WELCOME Membership not necessary for your first three trial walks. Ring us for more information if you need it - ring Mike on 01453 873625 for general information or ring the walk leader about the walk itself. This series of short (no more than 4 miles), easy paced sociable walks is suitable for:- 1/ Those who are new to Ramblers and wish to build up their confidence and fitness. 2/ Those who have been on Health Walks who want to move on to slightly longer walks. 3/ Existing members for whom our normal walks programme is becoming too strenuous. 4/ Anyone who wants an amble rather than a ramble, stopping to admire the countryside, walking and talking, and possibly finishing up with a half of shandy or perhaps even a light lunch. === LONG STAY PARKING CHANGES PROPOSED FOR DURSLEY No fewer than 45 people contacted us to say that they had individually written to Stroud District Council to express their concerns in the consultation which if the proposal became operative would mean the Long Street long stay car park would be permit only, leaving groups of walkers and cyclists with a problem. Richard and Mike then sent a constructive letter on behalf of the Group READ HERE to Stroud DC wth a copy to Dursley Town Council, who discussed the matter last Tuesday 3 April at their meeting. There are details of the meeting on their website here and here (item 9.4). Richard and Mike went along to the meeting and took part in the discussion. There did not seem to be any support from Town Councillors for the permits for traders proposal which would close the the Long Stay CP to walkers, cyclists and other visitors. We await to see Stroud District Council's next move. (See update above) === ONE COAST FOR ALL With the 850 miles Wales Coast Path due to fully open this year on 5th May, we appear to have a harder Campaign for the English Coastal Path. In 2009 the public theoretically won the right to walk along the entire coast of England. Work on the Path has started in six parts of the country, but the Ramblers are concerned that the Government is set to delay on the wider project. READ MORE SIGN THE PETITION === NEWS ABOUT FORMER MEMBER LINDA BOLTON Christine has heard from Linda Bolton, the walker that became ill. She joined us on the Sidmouth and Malham walking holidays in 2006. "I am doing quite well at present since having the Bone Marrow Transplant in August. I recently had another Bone Marrow Biopsy and it confirmed that I am still in remission and I have 100% donor cells.I hope to build up my strength slowly and try to get some exercise each day towards getting back to walking again. Linda." She has moved house in Shipley, West Yorkshire. I have the address if anyone wishes to get in touch. Mike. === WILD BOAR AND YOUNG FAMILY Filmed in the Forest of Dean last week.HERE === TONY DRAKE MBE UPDATE Two more articles about Tony, whose funeral took place at Cheltenham yesterday 21 March. The Crematorium was packed with some people having to stand. Visitors travelled from far and wide including Wales and London. At the humanist ceremony Mavis Rear detailed many of the highlights and achievements of his life and they are reported HERE Walk Magazine carries a feature on Tony's amazing creation the Cambrian Way HERE Cambrian Way website HERE === TONY DRAKE MBE HAS DIED ..................................... Gloucestershire's long term Area Footpath Secretary died on Wednesday 7 March 2012. . Eugene Suggett has written an excellent obituary detailing the many facets of his life which is on the Guardian website. One large part of Tony's contribution to help all walkers not mentioned in the article was his "White Roads" Campaign, where after a pilot map was published in North Wales he managed to persuade Ordnance Survey to mark all "white roads" on maps with circles (green on Explorer maps) if they were a public right of way - just look at any maps and there they are! Before that we had to guess if they were open to the public or just a farm track. === PACERPOLES FREE TRIAL - We've tried them, and aren't we glad we did! If you come on a Group Walk these days you will nearly always see one or more members with Pacerpoles - why? Well just ask the enthusiastic users including Andrew, Heather, Mike, Jacqui, Diane, Margaret, Sheila, Ian, Roy. Group member Pam Browne writes, "Pacerpoles have been referred to as the thinking man's walking pole, designed by health professional Heather Rhodes, and focusing on how to encourage better body posture. Better posture means that lungs can function better and this in turn leads to increased distance for less effort, and also delivers long term health benefits. The hand position in the unique handle design controls the 'armstride' keeping the shoulders down and back." Pacerpoles can be tried without any obligation - Pam keeps a supply for this, and she can be contacted on 01453 832907. Website here. Interview with Heather Rhodes here. === A MESSAGE FROM JANE I worked for 15 years as a stress manager and I am now returning to work from home more informally. My website has been updated www.janehobdell.co.uk I offer an hour long free assessment session. I would love to hear from you or anyone you know if you feel I could be of value. === LANDOWNERS' PLANS WOULD HIT ACCESS FOR WALKERS Outdoor campaigners have accused the country landowners’ organisation of reneging on a two-year-old agreement to work together on rights of way. Benedict Southworth, new chief executive of Ramblers, speaks out. Read more... === HAPPY NEW YEAR Happy New Year to South Cotswolds Ramblers. I have just been enjoying looking at your most recent walks photos; luncheon at Minchinhampton GC and walking in the snow! WOW I have certainly adapted to the microclimate here in East Devon with lots of walking in the sunshine - but without the snow. Wishing you all good walking in 2012. Jacqui Bent, Sidmouth (still a South Cots member!) === GLOUCESTERSHIRE AREA AGM NEW The Area AGM was held at Chedworth Village Hall on Sat 3 December and you will have noticed from the papers relating to the meeting (circulated to all members beforehand) that the whole future of the Area was in doubt. I am happy to report that the meeting was very successful and we managed to fill not only the vital roles of Secretary and Treasurer but also most of the other positions. I know that it is not fully appreciated that Area forms an important constitutional and administrative part of Ramblers and I am really pleased that we will be able to continue with our own Area and not have to face the prospect of our Groups being transferred to surrounding Areas. If any of you would like to find our more about Area activities we do have vacancies for South Cotswold members to attend Area Council meetings as representatives of the Group. If you would like to come along sometime to see what goes on please contact me. Richard Davis === PACERPOLES Ever wondered about Pacerpoles? Wonder what the fuss is all about? Seen some of our members with them? Have a look at page 84 of the new Walk magazine. Some people find them extremely helpful in maintaining a good posture over any distance or terrain at any speed. Can be tested for 4 weeks without obligation. And no, I am not on commission, just a very pleased user. Walking for Health website Mike === WHAT HAPPENED AT OUR GROUP AGM On Saturday 19 November our Group AGM went off very successfully, with nearly 40 members present. Read a full report HERE. We are still in need of one or two volunteers for our Footpath Committee, an important area of our work, so if anyone is hearing the call, please get in touch and perhaps come along to a meeting to see what goes on. === STILES - DID YOU KNOW? Who is responsible for gates, stiles, bridges and any injury caused on Public Rights of Way? Following Bernard's correspondence with Ramblers Central Office and Gloucestershire Public Rights of Way Department, he has clarified that the responsibility for footpath stiles, gates etc. are the responsibility of the landowner. The Highway Authority is responsible for bridges over water courses and the surface of Public Rights of Way. Stiles etc. are the property of the landowner. It is the landowner (or more probably, one of his predecessors long ago) who put up the fence or planted the hedge that makes the stile necessary, so the stile is the landowners just as the hedge is. It follows that if it is defective and a user is injured, the landowner will be liable for the injury, just as if it were some other feature of the land which caused the damage. ---- Richard Davis, our chairman, adds, "Obviously we as ramblers can only report these things to Glos PROW (see our recent newsletter) and their ability to react will, I assume, be getting increasingly restricted. I think we will have to rely on the fact that they note all reported problems on their website and there it stays until sorted - which could be at a much later date when economics allow us to achieve the Utopia we are looking for. In the meantime, where appropriate, it doesn't hurt to use terminology like 'extremely dangerous' or 'could cause serious injury' or 'I am bringing a party of up to 40 ramblers on this footpath next month' when reporting the problem." ---- PS Easier Reporting Online - Go to www.gloucestershire.gov.uk Centre screen look for Do it online, click REPORT IT, then click Report a Problem with a Public Right of Way. That's it! === REPAIRING YOUR KIT David Derrett reports, "Stroud Saddlery, Cainscross Road, Cainscross (near Marling School), can repair straps on rucksacks. However, do not be fooled by the presence of a person wearing a leather apron, as work is sub contracted. I recently required a new hip belt to be stitched to a rucksack, a task which cobblers could not carry out as their needles were not strong enough, so decided to try Stroud Saddlery who carried out the task in 3 weeks, via a sub contractor." Richard Davis adds, "I have known the proprietor of Stroud Saddlery for many years. He is a Master Saddler and held in high esteem throughout the area. I am sure he would only 'contract out' to people he knew could do the job and in the unlikely event of there being any problems would soon get them sorted." === WELCOME TO WALKING WEEKEND Richard and Mike were pleased to welcome many new (and old) faces to their walks on 23/24 July 2011, held jointly with members of Stroud Rambling Club. The weather was perfect and the walks went really well. We gave out lots of membership forms and hope to see some of the new people again. See the photos here. === ALNMOUTH HOLIDAY MESSAGE FROM LEADER PETER 8 July 2011 - As I am visiting the Cotswolds tomorrow I've finally got round to looking at your Alnmouth photos. They are excellent and give a lovely pictorial record. Please pass on my regards to anyone who was there. By the way, definitely water avens. Hope to see your group again. Peter HFHolidays === NORTHUMBERLAND HOLIDAY - A MESSAGE FROM ONE OF OUR MEMBERS Homesick! Fantastic holiday photos but you have made me feel homesick. The Wooler countryside is just like Peebles area and the Northumberland coast like East Lothian where I went every week. Never visited Alnwick which looks fab-better get back home :-) Jacqui B 20 group members are back from a very enjoyable holiday at HF Alnmouth, where they made friends with others from all over the country. Lots of photos to show you the great walks and weather they had. See them here. === START PLACE IDEAS FOR LEADERS TRY THIS Stuck for walks ideas? On the Leaders Page is a list of car parks and pubs we have used recently (over 100!). This may inspire you to invent a new walk, or remember one we did long ago. There are clickable map links, and remember the zoom controls (+ and -) to see different scale maps. If you have any comments about the places or indeed this feature, please get in touch with Mike. === MORE BARGAINS John Clayton writes, "I offer another source for discounts: - Regatta outlet shop, Gloucester Quays. 10% off label prices, which are well below r.r.p anyway. T K Maxx (Cribbs Causeway and Cheltenham) etc is an unpredictable source of bargains - but no further discount." Thank you John. === ZWARTBLES SHEEP IN LEONARD STANLEY Bernard has sighted some large Dutch sheep locally. Read more === MORE KISSING GATES John and Bernard have been out and about fixing labels on more kissing gates financed by the Group from sales of the Group's Favourite Walks Books. === JOHN RECEIVES HIS AWARD LATEST Regular walking members with the Group were delighted to read in the latest Walk magazine page 38 that South Cotswold Rambler John Geoghegan has been awarded the Ramblers' Making Newcomers Welcome Award. Click HERE and scroll down to the bottom to read the full story. Last Saturday he attended the Ramblers' General Council at Oxford, and chairman Richard has sent us a photo of John taken shortly after he received his award which comprised a framed certificate signed by Julia Bradbury and an OS map of Gloucestershire with details of the award printed on it. Click the image for a larger version. .................................................. === COTSWOLD WATER PARK THREATENED FOOTPATHS PETITION URGENT Below is a link to the online petition to safeguard all the threatened footpaths in the Cotswold Water Park. Over 1,600 people have signed already. We would ask everyone to support this petition as the Water Park is an area where we regularly walk. To make an impression on the authorities, lots of signatures are needed. Please tell your friends! http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/footpaths The reasoning behind the petition is explained here. "Full marks for instigating this petition. One should resist all attempts by those in authority to permanently close public access to footpaths" "The freedom to walk in the countryside is one of the great pleasures in life. We must fight to continue this tradition." === MEDICAL ALERT CARD + REMINDER Concern has always been expressed about the possibility of someone being taken ill on a Group walk and no information being available of medical conditions or emergency contacts. Gloucester Group has come up with the idea of medical cards being supplied to all members, which they can fill in and carry with them inside their rucksacks near the top. Mike has refined the idea and has come up with a card and a plastic wallet, which he will be making available to all members on led group walks. I may have some too if he is not there. The cards are free and the protective wallets, if needed, cost 30p. If you would like one or both sent by post, please send a SAE to Mike as detailed in the February 2010 Newsletter with an extra unused 2nd class stamp as payment if you want a plastic wallet. You can also print out your own card(s). Click here ........ Carrying a card will be entirely voluntary; making things compulsory with ramblers never seems to work, but the more you think about it the better the idea becomes. In fact I can’t think why we didn’t introduce these cards years ago! Richard Davis, Group Chairman === DOWNLOADABLE COTSWOLD WAY CIRCULAR WALKS James Blockley, the National Trails Officer for the Cotswold Way gave a very interesting talk on the history of the Cotswold Way and the latest developments at the Area AGM. These included a series of circular walks based on the Cotswold Way, which can be downloaded from their website and the provision of a mobility scooter scheme for the disabled. === MORE FAVOURITE WALKS RECENT A series of diversions at Valley Farm, Edgeworth has made the walk from Sudgrove to Miserden 600 metres shorter and much simpler to follow. See Update page (Walk 4) === OUR KISSING GATES We have now bought 10 kissing gates with profits from our walking book sales. To see their locations click here for John Corry's photos and maps. === LOSING YOUR GRIP? John reports that Timpson's in Stroud have resoled his Brasher boots with Vibram for £48. You have to take the boots (any brand) in and they will need to order the correct size, which can take 14 days or so. Cotswold Outdoor do this too but charge £69. === OH DEAR! ... Click for larger pictures The photos show the deer which has taken up with a herd of cattle on Westley Farm near Frampton Mansell. It was taken on the 20th Sept when Di and I did a walk over for our walk on the 22nd Sept. The following week it was on BBC Points West who sent a film crew along and it has now appeared in the Stroud News & Journal. I probably missed an opportunity here but at least we know we were there first. Richard === SOUTH WEST COAST PATH RECENT Our photo (CLICK HERE for a large one) shows four members of South Cotswold Ramblers and Stroud Rambling Club who recently finished the South West Coast Path, Helen, Alex, Vennae and George. There were 14 walkers on the final stage although only Alex, who organised and provided the inspiration for the four and a half year marathon, and George were present for every stage. Well done to all involved === BERNARD'S WALK Bernard and John pictured on Saturday 7 August at the end of the canal at Inglesham after completing the Severn to Thames canal walk. They were the only ones to do the whole walk. . === NEW GLOUCESTERSHIRE AREA RAMBLERS WEBSITE OPEN Have you visited the new Gloucestershire Area Ramblers website yet? There's lots of good stuff. Try the WALKS page where you will find all the walks of all the Gloucestershire Groups, and a way to download GRWalks there and then (second item down). It even gets a mention on the Ramblers' volunteer page on the main website. === KISSING GATE OPENING WALK We're in the News (and Journal) === NEWLY ADDED HISTORICAL PHOTOS - MORE thanks again to Margaret McArdell. She has now sent holiday photos from 1997 and 1998 - didn't we look young? And some more in our area. === GREAT WEBSITE TO IDENTIFY WILD FLOWERS RECENT Pam reports that there is a great website www.floralimages.co.uk which you can use to identify wild flowers, funghi etc. They are not trying to sell you anything and the photography is superb. If all you know is "it was a pink flower" you can search under "pink"! Have a look, it's addictive. === walk - THE MAGAZINE OF THE RAMBLERS - WEBSITE This is updated daily, and is a good source of interesting reading === STROKE RECOGNITION Remind yourself how to spot a possible stroke === SMALL ADS - Contact us with your wording to sell that clothing or boots! TOP				MEMBERS' MONEY OFF NEWS Updated 18 March 2012 . GLOUCESTERSHIRE WAY PLANS See them HERE so please note the dates if you are interested. Mike and Richard PAPERFREE NEWSLETTERS 63% of members already are receiving them. Please Contact Us to join the scheme. . SIMON KING ON GRID REFERENCES . . STROUD WALKING FESTIVAL Welcoming new walkers in Stroud on Sat 3 September as part of the Stroud Walking Festival. Pictured (L to R) are John G, Megan (our youngest member!) and Di - Richard is hiding behind the lens. If YOU were one of the people who visited the stall, we look forward to seeing you on some of the South Cotswold Ramblers' walks in the Festival, or indeed of our group's walks.