Welcome to our newsletter, key issues in this edition (dated May 6th 2023) include Micro-Volunteering, Longer/Different Walks, Walk Manager system, Footpath Report, Area News.
Click HERE for pre-May 23 newsletter; See separate archive HERE for earlier style newsletters)
Contents (clicking on any of these jumps to that topic on the website)
1.Micro-Volunteering
2. Longer/Different Walks
3. Walk Manager system
4. Footpath Report
5. Area News
6. Group News. Chorley Fylde Garstang Preston Ribble West Lancs HO LWW M96!
Micro-Volunteering
We are well aware that lots of members are not inclined, or don't have the time, to be in big active committees. The reality in Mid Lancs Area and its Groups, is that we generally don't have committees consuming lots of effort.
What we do have, are individual members that take on tasks, often quite small, sometimes one-off, or infrequent tasks.
Yes most groups have some form of get together with key volunteers, typically 3 monthly, often in a pub and hardly formal.
Without those efforts you would not have walk programmes, footpath activities or social events.
Obviously the message here is two fold:-
- Most of the tasks taken on in running a group, DO NOT require large amounts of time,
are often infrequent and not very formal. - Most of the groups are seriously in need of your help.
If you are willing to even consider helping, I have included some perspective and examples of most of the common tasks each group handles. For details Click HERE
Longer/Different Walks.
The average age of Mid Lancs members is around 67.
But the average walks we offer have slowly become shorter and easier over the last decade.
Newer and potential new members are typically at the younger end of age and capable of longer, more challenging walks.
Some groups still do significantly longer, harder walks, but not so many now.
a. Some groups have asked their leader to try and include some longer walks.
b. I f YOU would like to lead longer, or more difficult, different walks or different days (than fits with your group)
You can do them under the Mid Lancs Area label. Interested? Get in touch with Eric.
Walk Manager
You may not be aware that we are changing, from the previous method of adding walks to the Ramblers system, to a new approach called Walk Manager. Once it's stable, it will not affect general members, But at the changeover on the 16th May, there may be some hiccups. So patience may be needed.
As a contingency, I will try to email out all the walks on our systems about 15th May.
BUT WALK LEADERS:-
- It is seriously important that you log onto Walk Manager and set your "contact permissions", preferably soon.
Without that, your contact details will not readily show. You can do that HERE and there's a guide HERE - Your group will decide exactly how walks are loaded, but the system is intended to let walk leaders load their walks, for subsequent approval by their group.
You can experiment loading a walk when you set your permissions. For help click HERE
Footpaths
As Jo Howard has stood down from Area Footpath Secretary, David Kelly has taken on that role.
David has provided two reports on footpath related issues.
The Mario system was updated last year. David has explained it's use HEREDavid has also produce his quarterly report HERE
Group and Area News
Area (1119 members i.e. sum of groups)
The Member's Day was held in January and was well attended, nearly back to pre-covid state.
The First-Aid course had one of the highest feedback scores so it and the walk were both valued.
Some useful issues were discussed at the AGM and followed by a good talk from Aid Ambulance.
Area continues to arrange for monthly distribution of a paper programme to anyone without sufficient IT access, and maintains three of our local websites.
David Kelly has taken over the footpath secretary role and continues to be the interface for a number of footpath related committees and groups.
We continue to seek a new secretary, a chairperson and a member of the team producing paper programmes. See HERE for some information on volunteering and vacancies.
Mary Nolan has joined the Area Council and we are open to further members to join that as personal representatives.
Chorley (364 members)
Chorley Ramblers have successfully updated our website and transitioned all the previous information across plus lots of new photographs and links. This format now fits in with the other Rambler websites, the only difference being that the Chorley site has a .co.uk suffix rather than a .org suffix (anything to be different!).
The first half of our Cheshire Circuit walk has now been completed as we arrived in Whitchurch and the Coast to Coast coach walk has been resumed from Patterdale over to Burnbanks and will now run through to October this year. Places are still available on the coach at £18 for anyone that may be interested in joining us.
Our footpath checking is a bit hit and miss at the moment as we do not currently have a dedicated footpath co-ordinator but hopefully this will be resolved this year.
Walk leaders are also in short supply with our walk programme suffering as a result, we are probably only running about 80% of what we would normally run.
Martin Smalley
Fylde (180 members)
We at Fylde Ramblers are doing another mid summer meetup event on Sunday the 25th June 2023. The day will consist of 2 walks of around 4 and 7 miles and then a two course meal. The idea is for any members to come along for the walks and meal or just the meal. The event is pre order and non refundable payment prior to the day. It is held at Longridge Golf club. Anyone interested need to book with myself on
Jeanette
Garstang (37 members)
Continues to be inactive, members using other group walks.
Preston (140 members)
The group continues to provide a good range of walks but mainly from a very few leaders.
So new walk leaders would be very welcome.
A new chairman is still being sought with the committee rotation chairing.
South Ribble (112 members)
We continue to dependably provide Thursday walks though snow caused two cancellations.
As with all groups, additional leaders would be welcome.
We hope to include some longer walks this summer.
West Lancashire (140 members)
1. On the first Tuesday of the month, every two months, we offer a leisurely
3-3½ mile walk. These are proving to be popular. Members from other groups are most welcome to join these walks.
2. We are seeing more metal gates replacing stiles. Recently observed are gates in Mere Brow, Bretherton (4) and Longton.
3. We have three walks using Merseyrail on our summer programme. On Bank Holiday Monday, May 29th we travel to South Parkway Station for a walk through some Liverpool parks including Calderstones and Allerton. On Sunday July 30th we are following a Liverpool City Trail that includes walking along the Mersey Promenade. On the late August Bank Holiday, August 28th, we shall follow the Wirral Way between Hooton and Parkgate. All meet at Maghull Station and all use a Day Saver ticket. See our website for details.
4. On the weekend of July22nd – 23rd we shall once again be running a stand at Beacon Park Green Fayre, jointly with West Lancashire Footpath Group. If you are visiting the Green Fayre you are most welcome to visit us. We shall be in the main marquee.
Geoff Wright
9th April 2023
HOL (74 members)
No report this time
LWW (32 members)
No report this time
M96 ! (40 members not associated to any group)