Footpath Work
Well, having found the soil at Brook so nice and easy last time we went back
to do another kissing gate and a set of steps. Having changed hats from
Ramblers to “workers” we didn’t want to walk through and up to the top of
the field so we decided to drive. After 30 minutes we eventually found the
right field gate and got to the job site (it would have been quicker to
walk!) The kissing gate was on a deep slope and needed setting up level
whilst the steps were up a bank of sand that just wanted to flow downhill. A
challenging task but we finished before sundown! Next was some vegetation
clearance and waymarking on South West Surrey golf course. We then moved on
to some paddling practice and with wellies in hand proceeded to a semi
submerged section of boardwalk near the Moat at Elstead. Here we
successfully extended the boardwalk with the help of two workers from
Farnham who came along to see how to create organised chaos (and we did a
good job of showing them just that!). The only real problem was that the
Gremlins (nasty little blighters!)
had dug an underwater hole just off to one side of where we were
working so when you stepped back …. whoosh straight in the hole and the
water flooded over the top of your wellies. Water was obviously the theme
for the latter part of this session and we finished off
by replacing a stile with steps, a kissing gate and a pile of mud in
torrential rain near Pooks hill in Chiddingfold. Now some people actually
pay to have a fine patina of clay smeared over them, so based on this task
…why not join a work party and get smeared for free!
Jim
Chipchase
Volunteer Footpath Wardens
Surrey County Council has proposed a new scheme to enable members of The
Ramblers to assist with the maintenance of public footpaths. Volunteer
Footpath Wardens can be nominated to undertake minor works such as
waymarking and vegetation clearance. A one day training course is planned
for November at Wotton and after training is complete the pilot scheme will
run for three months and then be reviewed. An optional backpack and tool-kit
will be provided. The maintenance work will be carried out on an individual
basis and not with a working party. The area of work will be up to the
member but could be based on existing footpath secretary’s parishes. This a
major policy change we should encourage to see implemented.
Any members who wish to take part should get in touch with me by phone or email holmes@harlequin1.plus.com. Denis Holmes (Footpath Secretary) Phone: 01252 702285
In early July, I
joined a protest against the closure by West Sussex County Council of a
permissive path that provided a convenient off-road link between Midhurst
and Woolbeding which is now blocked by the construction site for the new
academy school that is replacing the old Midhurst Grammar School, forcing
walkers to use June Lane. This
is narrow, has no continuous footway and carries a considerable volume of
local traffic.
More generally, in July Mike Pope and I went to
a training session preparing us to take over some of the path inspection
responsibilities for parishes along the county boundary. I will be doing
Plaistow and Fernhurst, and Mike will be active in Northchapel. As WSCC work
on a nine month cycle, my first round of inspections will happen towards the
end of this year.
A spur of the moment decision in July to go to
York and walk a clearly marked (on the map) footpath in North Yorkshire,
impressed on me just how good our Surrey and West Sussex footpaths are
compared with many parts of the country. The North Yorks path proved to be
near impossible as it followed field headlands where the fields had been
ploughed and then planted with crops right up to the boundary, leaving no
margin for walkers on the right of way.
Richard Evans