News and Future
Events: December 2005 to March 2006
Mendip Area AGM: and Skittles Evening
The Poacher’s Pocket was the venue for the AGM and skittles evening
held on 22nd October. The event was well attended with around 40 Ramblers
present. Officers and committee members were elected a shown above. The
minutes of the 2004 AGM were passed as correct. The immense contribution
to Rambling made by the late Jackie Gilday was acknowledged by all present.
The departing treasurer reported that the group was solvent and a budget
had been prepared to assist the incoming treasurer.
The new post of webmaster was created and Owen Star reported that the
new website is fully functional. Bob Berry reported that there is continuing
good attendance at walks and the work party is maintaining momentum. The
skittles knockout competition was won by Trevor Hillman with Rose Rogers
runner up.
January Meal
Friday 20th January 2006 at City Arms, 69 High Street, Wells. 7:00 for
7:30. Price £12. Book through Michael Calverley. 01749 870169
Somerset Area AGM
Saturday 18th February: Pre AGM walk 10:15 Binegar village hall car park.
ST620493. 4.5 miles rolling countryside. Picnic or pub lunch. 13:30 AGM
with guest speakers: Andrew Chadwick, RA.., and Sheila Petherbridge, RoW
officer Mendip DC and Mendip Group FP working party leader.
Bideford Weekend
Pre-Easter weekend, 24th to 26th March 2006. The organisation of the Mendip
Ramblers spring weekend is nearly complete. With the numbers exceeding
even those of this year’s weekend away, space is limited, but cancellations
do occur. Details of walks and starting points will be sent to participants
as usual.
Lending Library for Mendip Ramblers
A lending library of maps, books and other walking information is being
established so that walk leaders and potential leaders can have access
to a wide range of ideas for walks. Please contact Richard Plant should
you wish to donate or borrow maps, books etc.
Social Events: Ten Pin Bowling
At £17 per person in Yeovil, this is considered poor value and is
not included in this programme. Ideas are requested by Michael and the
Committee for better value activities. Suggestions are: pub skittles evening,
American horse racing, quiz night etc.
Princes Road Car Park Pickup
Now that fuel is approaching £1 per litre (at time of writing),
I am continuing to print PRCP pickup times in the programme in order to
encourage car sharing. I therefore ask anyone living in or passing through
Wells to call in at PRCP and recommend those who might need a lift to
phone potential lift givers beforehand.
Walking with Families:
The family group provides programmes, (phone 01823 333369 for details)
specially chosen to be of appeal to families with young children. All
members of the family, including grandparents are welcome as are older
people who enjoy shorter walks taken at the childrens’ pace.
Channel to Channel Walk
Bob & Rosemary led 17 of us on the final 16.5 mile stage of this 50
mile rural route from Seaton to Watchet on 11th September. After recuperating
ourselves with numerous cups of tea, we took the West Somerset Railway
back to Bishop’s Lydeard for a well earned pub meal.
Sunday Lunch Pub Walk
Building upon the success of the summer Friday evening pub walks, Bob
has offered to try out an 8 miles Sunday walk, ending at a pub in time
for a well earned and enjoyable meal. Watch out for this in the programme
for Sunday 19th February as it entails an earlier start!
Mendip Group New Web Site:
Although Owen has a respite from being walks programme secretary, he updates
the web site regularly and the starting page has recently been revamped.
It contains copies of everything in this programme and a lot more besides!
For example there are pictures from walks and work parties and a list
of where to write to report footpath problems. Comments and contributions
and/or information for inclusion would be most welcome. The new website
is in operation now, but the current address will remain active for at
least another year.
Working Party:
The working party is now fixed permanently as the second TUESDAY of every
month. In addition it is worth mentioning that the "solid core"
of Bob, Colin M, Dave O, Owen and Richard are out almost EVERY Tuesday
and anyone who wants to help on ANY Tuesday would be welcome to join them.
Just ring Bob on 01749-346023 (or any committee member).
Paths Surveys:
In addition to the work around Shepton Mallet for next summer’s
Walking Festival, we want to continue to check the state of the rights
of way network in Mendip District. Derek Baker, the group’s Footpath
Secretary would welcome volunteers who would be willing to walk all the
paths in either a parish or grid square and report back on how many are
easy to use or obstructed. Please contact him on 01373 303077 if you are
available to assist. Walk leaders are requested to report any footpath
obstructions encountered to Derek.
Coleridge Way
The Coleridge Way, a new 36mile route from Nether Stowey to Porlock will
be included in the next programme starting April 2006. Information on
the walk is on page 35 of Walk magazine, issue 8.
Disabled Rambling:
Last August, Janet and a group of Mendip Ramblers joined up with the Disabled
Ramblers for two Exmoor rambles. Wednesday 25th started out rather wet
when we set off from Porlock and ascended Hawk Combe nearly as far as
Whit Stones. Fortunately, the sun cheered us with views across to Bossington
Hill and Selworthy Beacon as we descended through Porlockford and Allerpark
Combes.Thursday 25th was a bright and breezy day when we started from
Moor Wood to the west of Minehead and enjoyed a circular ramble on the
coast path to Selworthy Beacon where we were rewarded with clear views
across to Wales and the Mendips. All ramblers enjoyed the event which
will be repeated next year.
Mendip Group Summer Walking Festival: August Bank Holiday
2005: Batcombe
The magnificent effort of Bob and his team of volunteers, in opening up
paths and building footbridges, combined with a weekend of fine weather
allowed the participants to enjoy the ten walks offered at the festival,
with stunning views across Somerset and Wiltshire and a variety of livestock.
136 walkers attended from as far away as Norfolk! and on Bank Holiday
Monday, we were able to participate in cream teas at Batcombe Fete. Well
done Bob! Next year, the work party will be concentrating their endeavour
on the Shepton Mallet area.
New Forest Weekend: Saturday 1st to Monday 3rd October.
Paula and Owen’s New Forest weekend was a great success. The weather
was much kinder than forecast by the Met. Office. On the Saturday, we
walked a 9 mile circular route from Win Green via Tollard Royal and Berwick
St. John. The fresh wind blew away any haze and after a few showers, we
enjoyed clear views across Cranborne Chase and the New Forest to the Isle
of Wight. We also enjoyed not meeting the fierce 3 legged dog which startled
Owen, Paula and Luke on practice walks! A splendid pub meal at the Crown
in Fordingbridge completed an excellent day. Sunday saw us soaking up
the sunshine on a 10 mile circuit around Lyndhurst with lunch at Boulter’s
Bridge. Two 5 mile circular walks from Linford Bottom kept us occupied
on Monday. The morning walk took us to the western edge of the New Forest
where we watched waterfowl and leaping fish on the gravel extraction lakes.
In the afternoon, we walked to the east around Greenford Bottom and Appleslade
Bottom and ending across Rockford Common. Thank you Paula and Owen.
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