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Ramblers campaign set to secure 534 mile coastal path for East
Landmark bill a “victory for walkers everywhere”, says Britain’s walking charity
XXXX Ramblers are set to be celebrating next week, as the Marine and Coastal Access Bill becomes law, opening up the entire East coastline permanently to the public for the first time.
The historic bill, set to gain Royal Assent on the 12th of November, will create a 534 mile path round the East coast, enabling the public to walk unobstructed from King’s Lynn to Canvey for the first time (1). This follows decades of campaigning by Britain’s walking charity, the Ramblers.
Currently nearly 50% of the English coast has no public right of way, and the public can only walk an average 1.9 miles on the coast on a ‘secure or satisfactory path’ (Natural England 2009). The East will see huge improvements to coastal access and a vital boost to the rural economy thanks to this landmark bill.
Tom Franklin, CEO of the Ramblers, comments: “The passing into law of this historic bill will mark a victory for everyone who walks in this island nation. The Marine and Coastal Access Act will enshrine a very simple principle on the statute books – that everyone, no matter who they are, where they come from or how much money they have has the right to visit all parts of the coast which is so much a part of our heritage.”
He added: “The Government deserves genuine congratulations for having introduced the bill, using research from Natural England. What is now needed now is a continued commitment to deliver access on the ground so people have a chance to enjoy the coast.”
Following likely Royal Assent, the Ramblers campaign will focus on making the secondary legislation needed to turn the act into reality, working with its strong national workforce of volunteers to help Natural England create a National Trail which will be the envy of the world. They have produced a pack that will ‘myth-bust’ and provide answers to many frequently asked questions.
For FAQs, next steps and more info on the bill visit: www.ramblers.org.uk/campaigns/Coastal+Access+latest+news
Visit www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/eastofengland_tcm6-12264.pdf for detailed maps of England’s coast showing gaps in access.
For more information call the Ramblers press office 0207 339 852, press@ramblers.org.uk; XXXXX your contact details
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes to editors: (1) The Marine and Coastal Access Bill will create a continuous English coastal path that, when completed, will join with the Welsh Coastal Path (due to be completed by 2012) and the existing rights of access in Scotland. This will give the public to walk around the entire British coast for the first time.
(2)
‘TEAM WORK’ from Maureen Taylor of Lea Valley Friends. **************************************************************************************************************************************************************** Everybody, Somebody, Anybody & Nobody
Everybody was asked to help. Everybody didn’t want to spare the time. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have helped, but Nobody did it. Somebody was very cross because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn’t. It ended up Everybody blames Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
STILL THINKING OF HOLIDAYS ? Many people are confused about the relationship between Ramblers Holidays and the RA. Ramblers Holidays is a Charitable Trust quite separate from the RA but which contributes about £400,000 a year to the work of the Association. So, by taking a break through Ramblers Holidays, you will not only be getting one of the cheapest walking holiday deals, you will also indirectly be helping the RA. Now that Ramblers Holidays have taken over ‘Countryside’, there are 25 UK based holidays available at extremely competitive prices. If you are holidaying in the UK and wish to walk with local rambling groups, log on to the ramblers website www.ramblers.org.uk/walksfinder and you will find walks programmes of 70% of groups. If you prefer you can ‘phone Head Office who will be pleased to help you locate suitable walks in the area to which you are going.
Hadrian’s Wall National Trail Are you considering walking Hadrian’s Wall ? Kath Dowle of Saughy Rigg Farm, Twice Brwed, Haltwhistle, Northumberland NE49 9PT. Tel: 01434 344120 info@saughyrigg.co.uk or www.saughyrigg.co.uk offers as much or as little support and advice as you might require, from a complete package including transport to and from each section of the trail, evening meals, packed lunches and excellent en-suite accommodation. She can take up to 22 in total.
WEBSITES As well as visiting our own website www.seeramblers.bulldoghome.com/, Essex Area, which will be celebrating its 21st anniversary in June, now has its own, so to keep in touch with what is happening, log onto www.essexarearamblers.co.uk or just put ‘Essex Area Ramblers’ into your search engine and you will be there.
New Walks website John Harris of Hertfordshire provides one of the best resources of walking information that we know of. Last year, he produced the website www.walkinginherts.co.uk which brought together books, publications, walks and useful contacts for anyone walking in his home county. Now he has done the same thing for Essex with www.walkinginessex.co.uk. Not only are these two websites worth visiting for their own sake but John would also welcome any comments you might have concerning missing or any incorrect information at john@standon.plus.com
PROPOSAL FOR THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL COUNTRY PARK. Fred Matthews, the President of Essex Area, explains how a country park for South East England, which would include the Lea and Roding Valleys together with Epping Forest, would tie in with existing proposals for the Thames Gateway and the European initiative aimed at protecting the estuaries. A working party is being set up to investigate this.
“350 MILES, AN ESSEX JOURNEY” This book deals with the Essex coastline which tells it like it is but also evokes what the writer, Norman Lewis, describes as the ‘sour poetry of the landscapes and the settlements where they reared chickens and sold car spare-parts by the stick wilderness of the estuarial wilderness of this country’. You can get a free copy of this book by contacting Elli Constantatou, Tourism & Marketing on 01245 702453 or elli.constantatou @exdra.co.uk.
NAVIGATE THE WAY THROUGH ESSEX Essex County Council has produced a new collection of walks through some of the county’s most beautiful countryside. The colourful booklet features 6 walks on and around the towpath between Chelmsford and the Heybridge Basin ranging from a gentle stroll on the sea wall to the whole length of the towpath totalling 15 miles. The booklets are available from Essex County Council, Public Rights of Way, County Hall, Chelmsford CM1 1QH at £3.50 each. Cheques to be made payable to ‘Essex County Council’. Alternatively, contact www.essexcc.gov.uk ‘Essex eShop’
USE YOUR PATHS CHALLENGE A challenge to get all the public rights of way in England & Wales walked, at least once, between Spring Equinox (20 March) and Autumn Equinox 2007 (22 September). The RA have come up with a brilliant plan to encourage everyone to do a little volunteering. They aim to survey the condition of all paths. They are asking each member to survey a kilometre square of the OS map by walking all the paths in their chosen square and reporting all the faults to the Highway Authority and the local footpath secretary. A specially designed form will be distributed with the summer edition of walk.
WALKING EVENT WITH BBC ESSEX RADIO – ESSEX WALK OF LIFE The BBC, the ECC and Essex Area Ramblers are joining forces on a joint enterprise to promote walking in the county. The basic plan is that Steve Scruton of BBC Essex will walk the Essex Way, from Epping to Harwich, over a 13 day period from 1st – 13th May inclusive providing live broadcasts during his regular radio show. BBC Essex will mount a massive publicity campaign which we hope to support by joining the walks, handing out leaflets to the general public along the way encouraging them to join the RA. Essex Air Ambulance will benefit from any funds raised which is another good reason to support this venture. When full details are known, they will be sent to our Walks Leaders to circulate the information to those of you who would like to take part.
STOP STANSTED EXPANSION “WALK TO WIN” – 10TH June 2006 5, 8 or 10/11 miles circular walk starting from The Old Vicarage, Church End, Broxted GR 577 271. There will be a choreographed photocall at 10.30. If you are willing to be part of 200 people forming a human chain which will create an impressive message for the benefit of the press and TV cameras, be there at 10.15. No maps will be provided as the 5 & 8 mile walks will be clearly signed at average intervals of about 200 metres. A route description and sketch map will be available for the 10/11 mile walk but will not be signposted.
HEARTS OF OAK To commemorate the 200th anniversary of Trafalgar Day, Rochford District Council has planted 200 especially selected English oak trees in Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park alongside those already there to form an avenue. Our Group has sponsored a tree, allocated No. 140, inscribed ‘Our love of walking and the countryside’.
ALL THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY On a Group walk, we were confronted by a metal wicket gate which appeared to be padlocked and nobody could see anyway it opened. The natives had bashed a diversion through the adjacent fencing so we were not the first to be fooled. Well, the gates are not locked; it is a radar padlock for wheelchair users only. There is a latch to open the gate – if one puts one’s hand over the gate above and to the left of this mechanism. So now you know ! The 21st Essex Hundred Mile Walk from 2nd to 10th September will, once again, be linked circular walks, lunchtime pubs, good cheer and company and no need for coach transport. This year, it starts at Great Braxted and ends at Debden. We look forward, with your help, to making this Walk a resounding success, so make a note of the dates.
Dear Ramblers, Northwood Meditation Woodland Many of us will have noticed an area past the bottom of the graveyard of St Peter’s Church, Hockley, at the junction of footpaths 12 & 22 which has been cordoned off. We have been invited to use the facilities there for a coffee stop to enjoy the beautiful views over the Crouch estuary. However, the site has been blessed, dedicated on 22 August 2004, so if there is a group gathering in the shrine area, please pass quietly by.
Make your ‘phone a hero People across the county are being encouraged to make use of a new method of letting emergency services know who to contact on your behalf. The ICE (In Case of Emergency) was the brainchild of one of the region’s ambulance workers. All you have to do is make a new contact called ICE on your mobile ‘phone, then assign it the number of the person you would like contacted in an emergency.
The High Weald Landscape Trail from Horsham to Rye The Trail crosses the counties of West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent providing an opportunity to explore the heart of south-east England. Meandering through the intimate rolling landscape of small fields, hop gardens, orchards, flower rich meadows and ancient woodland, studded with ponds and sandstone outcrops, the 90-mile Trail links the ridge top villages and the historic gardens for which the area is famous. The High Weald is a stunning area to walk as the constantly changing height and terrain gives ever-changing views and variety of walking. Enjoy the wide vistas as you stride along the ridge tops then pass into the seclusion of the wooded ghylls with their cool dappled shade. In May, orchards are blossoming, lambs are new-born and woodlands are carpeted with bluebells. July, the hedgerows are scented with honeysuckle and dog rose and the farmers are busy hay-cutting and harvesting. A walk not to be missed.
Desperately seeking …….LEADERS
Our
Rambles Secretaries are having a hard time trying to fill our programmes with
the walks that we enjoy throughout the year. They are losing more leaders than
gaining new ones and the situation is pretty grim. Wendy has loads of walks
books in our library including ‘15 Walks in S E Essex for all the Family’ and
‘17 more Walks in & around S E Essex’ – 22 easy 5-9 mile walks that many of our
leaders have cut their teeth on ! Please think about it and give them a ring
(see Contact list) Wendy (librarian) 01702 558729,
So that we can spread the word about how good rambling is and increase our membership, when you have finished reading our ‘Walk’ magazine would you kindly take it along to the waiting room of your doctor or dentist ? Thank you.
LYME DISEASE AND TICKS Lyme disease is a rare illness but it has recently started to occur more frequently and the risk of infection cannot be ignored. It is caused by bacteria carried by ticks. People who walk in the countryside through rough vegetation (especially bracken) are most at risk. Ticks are tiny blood-sucking insects that cannot fly but transfer easily to animals such as sheep, deer and cattle – and naturally enough to humans as well – that brushing through the vegetation in which they hide. Not all ticks can infect humans and with a little care and caution those that do can be detected and removed before they have done any harm. The infected ticks need to be attached to the body for at least 24-36 hours in order to transmit the bacteria. The highest risk is from April to October when the tick is most active and feeding. When fully fed they can increase to the size of a grape pipe but the larvae are smaller than a pinhead and often difficult to spot. They are found in any moist, coarse, permanent vegetation in woodland, heath and moorland including deep vegetation, often that which is decaying in mats such as grass, sedges and other plants which grow in deciduous woodland edges in glades and by paths, also in leaf litter. They are NOT found only in bracken, which was previously thought. Lyme Disease is the most serious of the diseases carried by ticks. Although seldom fatal, Lyme Disease can remain in the body for many years and causes long-term problems, especially tingling in the hands and feet, and weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles (Bell’s Palsy). In rare cases it can lead to chronic arthritis and has been known to attack the central nervous system and even affect the heart. Early signs of Lyme Disease often include a red blotch or circular rash several centimetres across in the bite area. This appears between a week and a month after the bite occurred. Flu-like symptoms such a tiredness, aching and fever might occur before the skin rash or about the same time. These would last several weeks if no treatment were given. More serious complications, such as neurological and joint problems can sometimes develop weeks or months after the bite. Infections occur occasionally in people who were unaware of either a tick bite or rash or both. The following precautions can be taken again ticks if you are walking through rough vegetation: wear close weave long trousers and long sleeved shirts and
keep cuffs fastened and trousers tucked into socks; light-coloured garments make spotting ticks easier; What to do if you find a tick attached to your skin: Remove it immediately, preferably with tweezers but long nails will do if necessary – wash your hands and the bite area afterwards; use disinfectant if available; Grasp it firmly as close as possible to the skin and pull firmly and steadily without jerking or twisting until it disengages itself – try not to squash it as it could then squirt the possibly infected blood it has sucked back into you; Although we previously advised using oily or chemical substances to loosen the tick’s grip on the flesh, this is now thought to be ineffective; similarly, do not apply heat such as cigarette ends or matches; If part of the ticks breaks off, or if you think any part of it may be left in your skin, consult your doctor immediately. If possible, take the tick with you, folded in sticky tape, so that it can be sent for analysis. Also if possible, ask the doctor to return it to you after it has been analysed and send it, in the interests of research, to the Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology, Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3SR saying where the infection occurred; Wash your hands as well as the bite area. If you think you have been bitten: Seek medical advice straight away, indicating that you are concerned about the risk of Lyme Disease – Lyme Disease can be identified by blood tests and a course of antibiotics will usually reduce infection and prevent the illness developing any further. |
NEWSLETTER |