group news
"The footpaths need you"
Reg Sheppard would love to hear from you if you can spare any time, no matter how modest, to keep an eye on the paths around your home. Contact Reg on Tel: 01208 832136E-mail: bram2shep@btinternet.com
If you would like to become involved as a walks leader Ray Curtis-Clarke would be delighted to hear from you. It's an important role and the pleasure to be had from a day or even a few hours out walking in this beautiful part of the county can't be underestimated - it really does lift the spirits. Find out more and contact Ray on 01208 812483. Or online at: camelramblers@tiscali.co.uk
Newsletter
Not such a great summer for walkers was it? I, and even Libby, had to cancel walks due to the poor conditions. Still a lot of really good things did happen this summer. Some of the walking highlights were - the ‘Around Bodmin Moor’ series of walks, very well attended and hopefully we can persuade Chris to do it again some time in the future – lots of you enjoyed the summer evening walks and Susie and Al’s BBQ was a tremendous success. I think the highlight highpoint (literally) has to be the Camel Group conquering of Ben Nevis. A group of hardy walkers from the group hired a minibus and took on the best Scotland could muster. Well done all those who took part, a real achievement.The year did have some very sad news. Many of you will know that Daphne Windle had been very ill for some time. Daphne died in July and a very well attended service was held to celebrate her life at St Petroc’s in Padstow. Daphne was our group chair then secretary and led walks for many years and will be greatly missed.
Meet the Committee I rather unfairly picked on Reg in the last newsletter with all his Rights of Way work for the group so I thought I had better pick on somebody my own size this issue, namely me! Half of our work is Rights of Way and the legal side of keeping our footpaths open, the other half is membership and organising the walks for our members. Membership involves providing information and encouraging people who may want to join and, hopefully, providing existing members with information on what is going on in the group. For a few years I have worked with Jenny Ridgeley, our publicity officer, in encouraging new members. However Jenny has had to stop this valuable work. So if anyone has some time and an interest in publicising the group contact me. My second job is encouraging leaders new and old to put in the walks that appear in the walks book you receive. I am pleased with the way this has progressed, having a number of new leaders join. The team is getting bigger but we are always looking for new recruits. If you would like to consider being a leader contact me and have a chat about what is involved. I offer a mentoring scheme for new recruits and those who are now seasoned leaders really enjoy this work.
Of course the Ramblers would not be the same if we were not involved in some of the larger issues of the world. The area committee of Cornwall Ramblers sent in a letter of objection to the windfarm proposals at Davidstow. Also this year we have been keeping a very close eye on the Railtrail proposals from the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. They wish to build a railway along the Camel Trail from Bodmin to Wadebridge.
Davidstow Parish
Has it's own website which contains information about local environmental issues including a section about the proposed windfarm, information about transport links and a very useful section about walking in the area.