Group News

bromley ramblers a group of the Ramblers Association

Mid-week walks

A big thank you to Barbara Phelps who has kindly volunteered to co-ordinate mid-week walks on days other than a Wednesday. As a result, you will see from the walks programme that we have about a dozen walks (mainly on Tuesdays) of varying lengths and times of day to enjoy this summer.

Dogs & ground nesting birds

There has recently been comment in the media about dogs and the problems they may cause to ground nesting birds during the breeding season. The advice from the Ramblers is that dogs can be prohibited from areas where birds are ground nesting, and that walk leaders should explain this in advance in the walks programme by stating that a particular walk is “Not suitable for dogs” or “Dogs on leads please”. In fact, the Ramblers recommends that dogs are kept under close control at all times, and kept on a lead on roads, near livestock or sensitive wildlife, where the terrain requires careful footwork and wherever the law or other official regulations require it. If walk leaders discover that ground nesting birds may be an issue after the programme has been printed, please ensure that dog owners are aware at the start of the walk and that they take the necessary action. And, please clean up after your dog.

HF Holidays Taster Weekends

HF Holidays are offering free "taster weekends" for members of walking groups who are considering organising holidays with HF. Their offer is detailed below:

"HF holidays introduces Group Taster Weekends

Does your walking club go on group holidays?

During 2009 over 350 groups enjoyed a holiday with HF Holidays

HF Holidays is a well established walking and activity holiday company based in the UK with over 95 years' operating experience

We own and operate 17 Country Houses across the UK in National Parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty. We offer full board accommodation with outstanding food and a very sociable atmosphere

At HF Holidays we have seen an increase in group bookings, and with this in mind we have decided to invite walking clubs to register their interest in our taster weekends

These weekends are designed to give you the full HF Holidays experience. During the weekend we will be offering you the opportunity to join us, and many other walking clubs on a number of guided walks. The first of our taster weekends will take place in April 2010 and will be held at our Country Houses in Conwy and Bourton on the Water.

Places for the taster weekends will be limited to 2 per club sharing a twin or double room, you will be invited to arrive at your leisure on the Friday and walks will take place on the Saturday and Sunday.

As a walking group you’re not limited to the UK, we also offer fantastic group discounts on our European and Worldwide holidays too.

For more information on HF Holidays please visit our website www.hfholidays.co.uk "

If you would like to register your interest in attending a free taster weekend as a representative of Bromley Ramblers please send an email to enquiries@bromleyramblers.org.uk We would like applicants to be actively considering organising ann HF holiday for Bromley Ramblers. Please do not contact HF holidays directly as Bromley Ramblers will only be able to have two places on the taster weekends.

Help with the London Loop

Dear walkers,

Having walked some of the Strategic Walk Network for London, either on your own or as part of one of our guided walking weekends, you may just be interested in adopting a section to walk more often (three times a year) and keep us informed of any issues along the way. With 350 miles and 7 routes to look after our route managers have a lot to do and benefit enormously from eyes and ears on the ground to keep them abreast of issues that have arisen since their last survey. We are currently recruiting for keen people to adopt one of the 24 sections on the LOOP, having a successful scheme in place for the Capital Ring already.

To see what's involved, please visit the Walk London website
(http://www.walklondon.org.uk/latest_news_detail.asp?News=140) to read the Role Description and Application Form. If you want more details then please email or ring the project director, Alexandra Rook on
Alexandra.rook@walklondon.org.uk or T 07811 465880.

We look forward to hearing from at least 24 of you!

Alexandra Rook
Project Director
07811 465880

Walking holidays & Ramblers Insurance

As mentioned in the last programme, the Ramblers has now made it a requirement that for any walking holiday (or any walk involving an overnight stay) to be covered by its civil liability insurance policy it has to be considered an official Ramblers walk, and therefore

• be approved by Group Committee (or Area if being organised by the Area);
• have an overall organiser who ideally is confident in the ability of Walk Leaders to lead each walk and who will vary the programme of walks if circumstances (e.g. weather) demand;
• have a designated Walk Leader for each walk, and ideally a backmarker who are both members; and
• be publicised in advance.

t would therefore be helpful if anyone considering such an activity could contact Mike Bruce (our Walks Secretary) at an early stage of the planning at (preferably) enquiries., and he will ensure the committee deals with the request as quickly as possible. See http://www.ramblers.org.uk/volunteer/insurance for details of The Ramblers Insurance.

Social Secretary

We still have a vacancy for a Social Secretary to help plan & coordinate our social events and activities. We are not looking for a person to organise everything themselves, but someone who can get a group of people together to help arrange a quiz night or Group dinner, etc. Interested? Please contact Lawrie Smith smith.l@ntlworld.com or 0208 777 8206 for further information.

Bayham Abbey Appeal

To: Members of Area Council

As those of you who were at the last Area Council will be aware, the Ramblers - thanks in particular to the sterling work of Tunbridge Wells Group - have persuaded the Secretary of State to instruct Kent County Council and East Sussex County Council to place two claimed paths across the Bayham Abbey Estate on the definitive map. The landowners are expected to appeal, leading to a public enquiry and a costly legal process for the Ramblers. Central Office are therefore launching an appeal for funds for this work and I hope that everyone in Kent Area will be keen to support the appeal. We have therefore had some appeal leaflets printed to hand out at events, put in libraries, send to other walking organisations etc, etc. I attach a copy of the leaflet which we will be handing out at the event at Wye National Nature Reserve this Saturday. Our hope is that it will generate not just money for the appeal but also new members when people see what we are doing to improve the footpath network.

We have had 3000 leaflets (requires Adobe pdf reader) printed and I am happy to let Groups have whatever number they feel that they can put to good use. It is probably not worth sending one to your own members with their walking programmes because I intend to cover the appeal quite prominently in the Annual Review. But if you think differently, please say so and I will let you have the leaflets you need.

Freedom Passes

Those of us who are over 60 will be pleased to hear that Freedom Passes can be used on all "Transport for London" services twenty four hours a day with effect from 2nd January. Before you get too elated it appears that National Rail services are not included. Those of us in South London will not be able to travel to London early in the morning. Those in other parts of London will be able to use the underground to get to London twenty four hours a day.

Details are to be found here

Happy Birthday Bromley Ramblers

We have recently celebrated our 20th birthday and if you would like to know more about the origins of Bromley Ramblers Annie has researched it and produced a short history history

Walker friendly pubs

Royal Oak, Crockham Hill

A couple of years ago it was suggested to walk leaders that they should consider not using the Royal Oak at Crockham Hill for lunch as it was not particularly friendly towards ramblers.

The pub has since been bought from Shepherd Neame by The Westerham Brewery. The new owners have confirmed that .... "as Crockham Hill is home to one of the foremost writers of walking books we hope to restore the venue to its rightful place as a welcoming place for walkers and ramblers".

The Harrow in Knockholt.

Mike H tells us that he thought that our members would wish to know that there are new and friendly landlords at "The Harrow" who very much welcome walkers.

Discounts at Outdoor Clothing Stores

Ramblers have nationally negotiated a 10% discount with Cotwold Outdoor. To obtain this you need to show your Ramblers membership card. This applies to members of all Ramblers groups.

Bromley Ramblers however have negotiated a 15% discount. To obtain this, you need to show your Ramblers membership card showing that you are a member of Bromley group and quote our account number which is B 2190. We were concerned that our 15% discount may in due course be replaced by the new Ramblers national 10% discount but apparently our extra discount will remain.

Not to be outdone Millets, Blacks and Trespass (there's one in the Glades in Bromley) also given 10 % discount on production of your Membership card and so do Rohan (Covent Garden)..

Boot Covers

Several members have asked about boot covers (or overboots) for use when going into pubs, teashops, etc. We have found that we have had a good service from Jackie Somers who makes these items herself under the name of the Houghwood Manufacturing Company. She also makes other items such as gaiters etc. Items are manufactured and dispatched as a result of a phone call and you are trusted to send her a cheque. Jackie can be contacted on 01744 894 435 or emailed at houghwood@fsmail.net. You may like to mention Bromley Ramblers when you contact her. We offer this information as a service to members as a result of the good service received in the past. They don't have a website so I have included a link to their brochure here and here.

I know that Jackie is running down (her stocks) with a view to retirement but she was still delivering in June 2010. If anyone finds out that she has finally wound her last bobbin please tell me at enquiries@bromleyramblers.org.uk) so we can remove this entry and leave her in peace.

Register of Walk Leaders

The Ramblers Association have asked that all walk leaders and walk coordinators complete an online form at www.ramblers.org.uk/volunteer/ledwalkform, details are on page 18 of the current "Walk" magazine. They wish to use this information to send all walk leaders a "Led Walks" newsletter covering issues which are relevant to walk leaders. You are encouraged to register with the Ramblers Association but there is of course no compulsion to do so. In parallel with this exercise Mike Bruce (Walk Secretary) is compiling a register of email addresses and telephone numbers for all Bromley Group walk leaders. It would be helpful if walk leaders could send this information to Mike at enquiries when they complete the RA online form

Volunteers for Short Sunday Walks

Do you have a favourite walk that you could share with fellow ramblers ? Could you commit – perhaps just once a year – to leading a short local walk, perhaps with a friend or with another leader ? Volunteers are urgently sought to help with short Sunday walks; no previous experience necessary, just a desire to “give back a little” and of course, to walk. Any assistance that you require will be gladly given. Jean P can be contacted on enquiries – and is looking forward to your email.

Walk Leaders

It would be very helpful, please, if all walk leaders, when submitting walk details to coordinators for the programme, could include a short description of the start point or directions to the car park, for those without O/S maps. Could you also please provide the number of miles from Bromley North Station to the start of the walk (so that the voluntary passenger contribution can be calculated). This will save coordinators a lot of time and ensure we get details correct in the programme. There is a list of many of the car parks we use, their distance and passenger contribution here that should help. Many thanks.

Footpaths Officer

Philip Wall (one of our regular Wednesday walkers) has very kindly agreed to take on the role of Footpath Officer. Many thanks Philip. His contact details are on the inside front cover of this programme. His role will be to protect public rights of way in the borough on behalf of the Ramblers' Association and to liaise with Bromley Council and landowners. A team of ward based 'wardens' are already in place to help Philip and to ensure the footpaths of Bromley are available for everyone. Contact Philip at enquiries

Email Address List

Mike B sends regular emails to many people who walk with Bromley Ramblers. It would be good to have the email addresses of more of our members, thus we would be grateful if you could send your email address to Mike at enquiries . Your email address will not be revealed to other members or used for any purpose other than sending you information from Bromley Ramblers. It is also helpful if we can contact members at short notice.

The AGM

Another AGM has been and gone.

(If you're one of those strange people that likes to read reports of AGM's and committee meetings you are in for a treat because you can look at them all here).
AGM 2008
Committee minutes 20.11.08
Committee minutes 24.02.09
Committee minutes 02.06.09
Committee minutes 14.09.09
Committee minutes 17.11.09

Please Note

Lawrie has included a guide on how best to use a compass and map for you navigators as well as explaining what 'right of way' really means. It really works, especially the "Using Map & Compass Together" part.

This page was last updated 18-07-10