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HERTFORD AND WARE URBAN TRANSPORT PLAN
Update from Chris
I attended a series of meetings with this title last winter, in which various local issues were discussed, mainly in the towns, though also including the immediately surrounding countryside. Exhibitions were also staged, which local members may have noticed. The exhibitions seemed to be concerned mainly with bland generalities, and it was difficult to discern exactly what was proposed, but the organisers said they would send me photocopies of all the detailed plans I wanted. They haven’t arrived yet, but Brenda’s deadline is looming... Although it was stated that walkers’ needs would be given priority, many of the matters discussed seemed to favour cyclists over walkers. One idea (seriously suggested) was to ban walkers from half the width of the towpath, compelling us to walk in single file. The towpath is a statutory public footpath, and is used by two long-distance footpaths, the Lea Valley Walk and the Hertfordshire Way. For members wanting to know more see Herts Direct If you don’t want to be involved with websites, it would help if you could write a short letter to the organisers, Hertford and Ware UTP, Hertfordshire Highways, 41 Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 3AX, before the closing date of 30th April. I suggest you point out that: • recreational walking should be planned to be enjoyable and mentally relaxing • footpaths should be at least wide enough to walk side for two people by side in comfort • cyclists should not be using footpaths • and anything else that occurs to you... If you received the official leaflet and are intending to return it, please don’t tick the item ‘Joined up walking and cycling network’. It’s ambiguous. Whichever route you choose please give some feedback on the UTP – and act quickly as the closing date is 30th April 2010. Posted on 24 Apr 2010 by Brenda
BARN DANCE REPORT - Brenda
Our 30th birthday was celebrated in style on 6th of March with a Barn Dance at Little Hadham village hall. We sold over 65 tickets to the event – and when everyone got up to form a circle for the first dance, it really was standing room only!
 Tony Clarke from Hertford was our caller, and under his expert instruction we soon knew our top couples from our right-hand star, our circle left from our promenade. We were also treated to an exhibition of square dancing by 10 of our guests who were members and friends of the Waggoners Square Dancing Group. The bring and share refreshments were complimented by a splendid birthday cake made by Dorothy Pretious, who was also responsible for organising the event. We made an overall profit of £160.24. So we say, thanks Dorothy, when’s the next one? Posted on 24 Apr 2010 by Brenda
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
* Ware Festival – EHR will again be taking a stall at this popular event on 3rd July. Helpers appreciated – contact Brenda or Julie for more information.
* Continuing circumnavigation of the capital. Join our Chairman as he follows the Capital Ring trail – one section per month. Hopefully the challenges posed by the Olympic park and Crossrail construction will now be behind us as we head south of the Thames! * Strawberry tea in Ware – our 30th birthday celebrations continue with an afternoon walk on Saturday 17th July followed by tea at the Christchurch Hall. Cream teas will be available for the bargain price of £2 pp – to cover the cost of the hall. * Group holidays – please give some thought to where you would like to go for the next group holidays in May and September 2011. With a higher number of participants, it becomes more difficult to book suitable accommodation. The more notice we have, the more likely we are to fulfil our requirements. What about booking an HF or Ramblers Holiday somewhere in Europe next year? Ideas to Pam M. Posted on 24 Apr 2010 by Brenda
CRISIS LOOMING?
There was a heated debate in the Christchurch Hall at the last committee meeting when the subject of the next walks programme came to the top of the agenda. Despite contacting all members in the walk leader pool, only three members had come forward to offer walks for the summer – usually the best time for walking and enjoying the countryside.
Your committee has stepped in to ensure that East Herts will offer a walk each weekend but we must not ignore the fact that our number of walk leaders is dwindling. Why is this? We consistently have around 15-20 attendees for the walks that we put on – although our membership is some 200 strong, suggesting that most of you prefer to do something else with your weekends... If the decline in walk leading volunteers continues, we will all have to find something else to do, or walk with our neighbouring groups. Is this what we want to happen? Or do we want to address the problem? We think the latter – so your committee is investigating the option of training in map reading skills to anyone who would like to lead but need a confidence boost. In the meantime most of our regular leaders have agreed to help anyone who would like to have a go at leading. Here are a few ideas you may like to consider: * Start with your favourite walk in your local area and walk it out with the relevant Explorer map * Take a friend with you when planning the walk and do it together for the group * Accompany a leader when he (or she) walks out the route for the first time - to get an idea of what is involved in planning a walk * Choose an established walk from a book, one of the Chain Walks, or part of the local long distance trails in our area, eg Hertfordshire Way, Three Forests Way and collaborate with an established leader Don’t sit back and think, someone else will do it – your Group needs YOU! Posted on 24 Apr 2010 by Brenda
AFTERNOON "TASTER" WALKS - Brenda
As part of our continuing drive to recruit new members to our group and introduce more people to the benefits of rambling, I will be hosting three “taster” or introductory walks in the new programme. Each circular walk will be about 5 miles / 3 hours long. The first two will be from Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford – and I will finish with a countryside walk from Much Hadham.
I am looking for some walking champions to join me on these walks – especially the first one which is part of our contribution to the Ramblers National Get Walking Day. Their role will be to encourage the newcomers and to offer advice and support where needed. Please contact me if you are interested. Dates of these walks are: • National Get Walking Day 23rd May • Sunday 20th June • Sunday 22nd August Posted on 24 Apr 2010 by Brenda
CHAIRMAN'S RAM-BLOG – 16th April 2010
Our 30th anniversary year has got off to a good start with a linear walk led by one of our founder members, Chris Pagan. The weather gods smiled as around 24 of us retraced some of the original walk from 1979, starting from Ware to Standon via Barwick Ford, returning to Ware by bus and cars. Other members joined us after the walk at the Christchurch Hall for a bring-and-share tea, with hot soup and chocolate cake provided by the Group. A good time was had by all.
Our next milestone was a very successful Barn Dance which you may have read about in the local press (Mercury 1st April). We were able to declare a profit from this event (much to the relief of our Treasurer!) which we intend to use to procure a banner for our publicity events such as the Ware Festival on 3rd July. Aiming to build on this success we have planned an afternoon walk, followed by cream teas, on 17th July, again from the Christchurch Hall in Ware. The small charge for this event is to cover the cost of the hall hire. Walking the Capital Ring commenced from Finsbury Park. We have already passed the impressive Olympic Park construction site and reached the Thames.  The next leg will take us under (or over) the river, depending on the swell. So far we have encountered some entertaining situations, some complex rail schedules and route diversions, and some exceptional hospitality. I plan to complete the 80+ mile route this year (see dates in the latest programme) if you would like to join us. Posted on 24 Apr 2010 by Brenda
AGM
The next AGM will take place on Saturday 6th November at Bayford Village Hall - put the date in your diary now!
Posted on 26 Mar 2010 by Brenda
WALK LEADERS APPEAL
If you are willing to lead a walk in the next programme (Sep - Dec) put together specific instructions for the meeting place at the start of the walk and an accurate grid reference.
Also include a telephone and mobile contact number if possible. Please send the details to Brenda (The Walks Coordinator). If you haven't led a walk before and need a "buddy" - let anyone on the Committee know as we have lots of experts willing to help fledging leaders...  EHR walk leaders - sorry they seem to be out of shot - Alpacas seen recently on a walk from Ashwell... Posted on 23 Feb 2010 by Brenda
CHAIRMAN'S RAM-BLOG 11th December 2009
My first year as Chair has now been achieved; it has certainly been an eventful year. The year started with snow and damp conditions, which soon transformed to a period of warm dry weather, almost forgotten now. We have had an excellent programme of varied walks across many counties, enjoyed the changing seasons, floribunda and encountered the unusual and amusing. These walks are the result of the commitment of our walk leaders – a big thanks to you all.
Our recent AGM was very successful, with morning walks and a shared lunch before the AGM. This was followed by an amusing presentation from some of our founder members Pat, Ron, Roy and Sue. In 2010 we are planning to walk the Capital Ring, I am planning to add a section each month to the walks programme. I wish you all Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year and enjoy your walking in 2010 wherever you may be. Dennis Posted on 11 Dec 2009 by Brenda
WHERE WERE YOU...
For those of you not at the AGM on 7th November...
You missed two excellent walks and a very interesting meeting. As well as the normal business we were treated to an illustrated description of some of the local footpath problems that are investigated (and sometimes objected to) by Chris and Mark – and an entertaining talk on the history of EHR (nobody wanting to be on the committee even then…) We have a new elected committee member, David, and Malcolm (a longstanding committee member and former chairman) has retired but will still be out walking with us (and hopefully carrying on leading us through the mud). So you don’t miss it next year make a note in your new diary – Saturday 6 November 2010! Posted on 11 Dec 2009 by Brenda
LOCKED UP AND STARVED OF VICTUALS
Shock horror! Mark nearly misses breakfast. (This is what happened to the most gourmand of our members, when holidaying with our group of 18 in the locality of Southwold over the May Day holiday weekend.)
Pam M had ensconced us in three delightfully diverse lodgings – B&B at Poplar Hall (the site of the breakfast disaster), an inn in Wangford and some in self-catering appartments. We met at The Crown at Snape for lunch on the Friday, followed by a circular walk via Blaxhall Common and Iken Cliff led by Sarah.  Trees on Kessingland Our group was joined by Roy and Sue W of former EHR fame, on all but Sunday's walk. Pam took us to Dunwich Village and Warbelswick; with David we enjoyed sea breezes along the coastal Benacre National Nature Reserve, passing the roofless walls of Covehithe church. Malcolm led us inland to enjoy the wrath of a local landowner, (soon put in his place by Roy), and Ellough church with its brasses and roof braces. Finally Sarah educated us around Minsmere RSPB nature reserve on Tuesday morning, the day of our return. We shared some memorable meals, although Daphne, Mark and Sarah went bat watching one evening; to enjoy bat en croute perhaps? Sarah and Margaret celebrated their birthdays by kind permission of Daphne. who had laboured over a hot stove, or a piece of cleverly designed marzipan, to produce an artistic goat which we soon all destroyed with gusto! We saw a myriad of wildlife and some domesticated, living in detached, corrugated des. res. for Suffolk is pig country. Some other noteworthy delights were: - The lost village of Dunwich with the church bells ringing, metaphorically, in our ears. - Sizewell on the horizon - The view of Southwold across the river Blyth from Walberswick - A plethora of habitats - shingle seashore, sand dunes, freshwater reedmarsh, lagoons, mixed woodland and heath - Widlife spotting from deer to hares and from butterflies to egrets and avocets - Visiting Blythburgh church with its angels roof and seven deadly sins poppyheads, to include Slander, Gluttony, Hypocrisy and Sloth - Retail therapy at Minsmere RSPB shop Many thanks go to those who made this holiday possible.  Walking in all directions To put the story straight, Mark was able to escape with the help of a screwdriver winched to his bedroom window in a bucket. Was this a wise move? Posted on 02 Sep 2009 by Brenda
WALKING GEAR - THEN AND NOW
Talk on walking gear at Nomad, Bishop’s Stortford
On the evening of 6th May several EHR members, along with other like-minded local people, attended an entertaining talk on walking gear, “then and now” by Paul Goodyear of Nomad Travel. We were shown how technology has improved the manufacture of waterproof jackets and walking boots, how traditional merino wool is still the most effective and lightweight material for base-layers, and that waterproof socks could save you money on your next pair of boots. The evening included nibbles and drinks and attendees also received a 20% off voucher - this has enabled a few of us to invest in some high-fashion togs! Many thanks to Nomad for organising this event. Posted on 02 Sep 2009 by Brenda
CHAIRMAN'S RAM-BLOG 2nd September 2009
The year continues to fly - another Newsletter and Walks Programme to write for. The previous programme has been well supported, thank you to all the walk leaders.
This programme includes our 30th Anniversary Walk when we are hoping to recreate the first group walk from 30 years ago. Chris will lead this walk as he led the original walk. Delving into the archives (original documents supplied by Chris) has revealed some interesting data regarding the history and etiquette of the group: - September 1979 - A request from Ramblers HQ to set-up a local group. - 8th December 1979 - Group formation meeting at Place House Ware where 14 people attended. The resulted in the formation of the South East Hertfordshire group. - 16th December 1979 - First group walk from Ware station to Standon led by Chris. - The original walks all started from or near various railways stations in the area. - The subscription was £3.50. Joint membership (husband and wife) £4.40. - 11th February 1980 - First committee meeting held. - Always walk behind the leader. Inform the leader if you intend to leave the party during the day, otherwise everyone could be inconvenienced looking for you. (Note – these recommendations still apply today!) - Carry a first aid kit and torch. Next year I am hoping to include in the programme a series of chain walks (bring your own chains!) around Hertfordshire. This will be a series of 16–17 walks linked together as a series of figure-of-eight walks for everyone to enjoy especially if you are only available for half-day walks. This is also an opportunity for new leaders as most of these walks have already been tried and tested by the East Herts Footpaths Society. Another milestone to note is the demise of the East Herts Ramblers Working Party after 16 years, as a result of re-alignment of the CMS working parties. A big thank you to all those people who have contributed to the numerous tasks over the years, improving our footpaths and bridleways. The East Herts Ramblers road show has been out in July and a good time was had by us all, see below. A date for the diary - we are planning a Barn dance on Saturday 6th March 2010, all members and friends welcome. Finally, if you would like to join the Committee, we are always looking for new members. Posted on 02 Sep 2009 by Brenda
EHR TURNS 30
In December it will be East Herts Ramblers 30th anniversary. In December we are hoping to recreate the first group walk from 30 years ago. Chris will lead this walk as he led the original walk back in 1979.
Delving into the archives (original documents supplied by Chris) has revealed some interesting data regarding the history and etiquette of the group: September 1979 - A request from Ramblers HQ to set-up a local group. 8th December 1979 - Group formation meeting at Place House Ware where 14 people attended. The resulted in the formation of the South East Hertfordshire group. 16th December 1979 - First group walk from Ware station to Standon led by Chris. The original walks all started from or near various railways stations in the area and the annual subscription was £3.50. Joint membership (husband and wife) £4.40. 11th February 1980 - First committee meeting held. Walk instructions included: Always walk behind the leader. Inform the leader if you intend to leave the party during the day, otherwise everyone could be inconvenienced looking for you. (Note – these recommendations still apply today!) Carry a first aid kit and torch. Posted on 21 Aug 2009 by Brenda
BROXBOURNE OPEN DAY
At 11.30 on 4th July and under a blue sky, we installed ourselves beneath a spreading cedar in the grounds of Bishops College, the venue for Broxbourne Open Day.
Our wares of ramblers' materials from head office, included leaflets, balloons and badges. Edward soon had the bright idea of pinning the latter to every passing child as a free walking advert for us. Brenda's treasure hunt on an OS map of East Herts proved popular. It will soon be a case of shop 'til you drop in M and S for one lucky winner. Here we are in our lookalike boys blue polo shirts, thanks to Brenda's brainwave and my VAT saving mentality (from the left Julie, Dennis, Brenda and Edward).  EHR publicity team Dennis used his IT skills (with a little bit of help from the computer club stall), to produce a power point presentation of our recent holidays on my unfamiliar laptop. We all did our proactive bit in going out to meet the public, receiving plenty of protestations and promises about giving ramblers a go. Time will tell! Thanks to the team for an excellently executed publicity campaign. Posted on 08 Jun 2009 by Brenda
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