We often get asked what to do if there is a problem with the path network, if it’s blocked, overgrown or there are crops on the footpath. Ian Mitchell, our area footpaths officer, has written this guide on what to do.
Reporting problems about Paths to Norfolk County Council
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There was an excellent turnout for the marathon length walk which was organised by Jim from the Norwich group. Members from various groups across the county took part in the walk which went through beautiful scenery and coast.
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Villages and towns visited on the walk included Paston, Edingthorpe, Bacton, Happisburgh, Eccles-on-Sea, Lessingham and Ridlington.
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Despite being a Bank Holiday, the weather was fortunately favourable to the twenty walkers taking part in the walk.
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More longer walks are being planned over the next few months to the already extensive walking programme offered by the Ramblers. There are short walks of two miles through to these longer 18+ mile walks, offering great variety to members.
Congratulations to those who completed the walk – including some who hadn’t tried a walking challenge of this length before. Also special mention to Andy Coghlan who was walking as part of a charity challenge – more information at:
https://mymarathon.everydayhero.com/uk/AndyCoghlanmarathon
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Norfolk Ramblers have in recent years given money to the local council to assist with clearing footpaths, along with cutting back some overgrown areas ourselves.
This year we’re planning to do even more work to help keep paths in the county open and to do this we’re looking to buy new equipment to help us. We’re trialling a new cutting machine which is larger than we’ve used before and we started our trials this week in Dereham.
Peter, who has led much of the work building up to this trial, is seen in the above photo ploughing through some of the overgrown footpath. The path has become quite muddy as members of the public were forced to walk in a smaller area so widening it makes it easier for future walkers.
Even holly and brambles were no match for Peter!
Peter led the way as our other volunteers also helped clear the path using more traditional gardening implements.
The before and after photos below show the change which the volunteer team made to the path:
Before….
After…..
The trial went well and it is hoped that other Ramblers groups in the county will want to use the equipment throughout the year. Anyone interested in getting involved with the project can contact Peter at pdjames.ramb@ntlworld.com.
There is a short walk taking place on Sunday 25 October 2015 which will mark the opening of a new bridge on a well used footpath in the Fritton / Shelton area (FP5). The bridge has been financed and constructed by Rod Webster, a member of the Wensum Group Ramblers, in memory of his daughter Sharon, who sadly passed away three years ago after a long battle with breast cancer. Sharon encouraged her dad Rod and her mum Janet to join the Ramblers several years ago.
Rod mentions that he was encouraged to start work on the project following a recce with five members of the Wensum Group who were forced to throw wood into a muddy puddle to get across. He also discovered that his new winter walking boots were not as waterproof as he had hoped!
The Wensum Group, part of Norfolk Area Ramblers, offered to help fund the new bridge but Rod has, through some trials and tribulations, has been able to complete the work himself. Local land-owners were helpful and the parish council also offered assistance.
The walk starts at 2pm from Morningthorpe Church (Grid Ref E237 / L134 218925) and the post-code is NR15 2QL. Everyone is very welcome. There is around a one mile walk to the site where a memorial plaque naming the bridge “Sharon’s bridge” will be unveiled. This is then followed by a short three mile optional walk afterwards.