The Ramblers' Work Party

The RWP started in August 2003 and we are now working our way through the nineteenth parish.  The group meets fortnightly and uses the database held by West Berkshire Council ( WBC ).  Every path is walked, checked against the database and low level maintenance carried out.  We can usually reduce the number of problems in a parish by more the 50%.  Our most successful parish was Farnborough were we obtained a 76% reduction of problems. A sub group, under the leadership of Colin Honeybone, has been steadily putting in a variety of installations, mainly gates, and by mid December we will be celebrating the ‘50^th’ installation. 

In 2005 Ramblers Association awarded us ‘The Group of the Year’ for our work with ROWs.  The RA was especially interested in our way of organising the group.  Any one who is interested is welcome to come along to a work party and they may come to every session or only two or three each year as their other commitments permit.  This relaxed way of working has proved to be very successful.

A small number of Ramblers continue to work with the men from the sheltered work shop in Newbury.  This group also meets fortnightly and is used by WBC to carry out ROW maintenance, usually in response to a condition report from a member of the public.

West Berkshire Ramblers ( WBR ) responded to the RA Challenge ‘Use Your Paths’ by asking to walk all their grid squares against WBC database.  It was felt this was more productive than just walking grid squares.  Our number of grid squares is 504 and this covered 32 parishes.  So far 21 parishes have been walked with 248 grid squares claimed.  The results have been sent to WBC and it is hoped that the project will be completed by the New Year. 

Fiona Walker

10 November 2006

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