Group News

Group Walks restarted from 29th March 2021

We really look forward to seeing you out on a group walk before too long.

There is now no national restriction on the numbers who can walk together so no need for advance booking.

If you would be prepared to lead a group walk, whether or not you have done so before, we would love to hear fron you. Plenty of help is available if you are new to leading or just want hand-holding first time around. Contact one of the walk coordinators or email enquiries@bromleyramblers.org.uk .

Walk Sunday Afternoon – a WhatsApp Group for Bromley’s Sunday afternoon walkers!

If you have WhatsApp on your smartphone (it is easy to download from your App Store) then you too can join the Walk Sunday Afternoon group. You’ll receive reminders about the next walk, together with any changes to times or meeting places. If you want to know more about a particular walk, you can ask your question in WhatsApp and we will then try and answer your query. If you would like to join, just send your name and mobile number to me, via enquiries@bromleyramblers.org.uk so that I can add you to the group. By sending me your details, you are giving me permission to add you to my contacts list for the purpose of administering this WhatsApp group. You do not have to be a Sunday afternoon walker/Rambler member to join and this is a new initiative that we are trialling, so all feedback is welcome.  Non members are welcome to join us on up to three walks to try us out.  After that we do hope you will see the benefits of joining the Ramblers.  Looking forward to welcoming you to the group.        

Hazel Taylor

Footpath Matters

Would you like to become a Footpath Observer?

This entails walking all the footpaths in a designated Area over the course of each year and reporting any problems to our Footpaths Officer and/or Bromley Council. Each Area equates roughly to a Ward in the Borough except Darwin which is split into three. If you would like to become a Footpath Observer for one of the Areas listed below or would like to know more about what is involved please contact us at enquiries

 We currently have vacancies for the following Areas:

Farnborough and Crofton

Chelsfield and Pratts Bottom

Cray valley West

Cray Valley East

 Footpath Clearing.

From time to time we organise days for clearing overgrown or blocked footpaths. If you would like to be put on our email list for future dates please contact us at  enquiries

To report a problem on a footpath

You can reporrt problems with footpaths stiles etc via the Ramblers app or directly to the relevant local authority in whose area the footpath is in.  Below are links to our nearest ones. On some websites, Kent for example, you zoom in on a map and click on where the problem is. This generates an exact location for the Rights of Way team. On others it is helpful to know the footpath number and grid reference. Photographs can also be useful. If you have problems with using the links you can contact us at enquiries and we will pass the information on.

London Borough of Bromley  https://fix.bromley.gov.uk/

Surrey http://surreymaps.surreycc.gov.uk/gisapps/rowdefect1.asp

Kent http://www.kent.gov.uk/waste-planning-and-land/public-rights-of-way/report-a-problem-on-a-right-of-way

East Sussex http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/countryside/rightsofway/default.htm

West Sussex
http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/leisure/getting_around_west_sussex/footpaths_and_bridleways/public_rights_of_way_feedback.aspx

Please also let our footpaths officer, Peter Bowden, know so he can keep an eye on the matter. 

 

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. 

Walk Coordinator required for Short Sunday Walks

We are looking for someone to volunteer to coordinate these walks. If you feel you could spare the time then Linda Harland would be pleased to hear from you.

 

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.

 

Email Address List

We do urge you to look at the website before you set off for a walk in case there have been any last minute changes due to weather, ill health, roadworks etc.
We do also ocassionally send emails to Bromley Ramblers who have given us their email address. Note this is quite seperate from the email address the Ramblers hold for you. If you wish to receive these emails please you would go to the Mailing List Page and follow the simple instructions to add yourself to the list. You can also remove yourself there at any time as well if you wish.

Páramo discount

Members of Bromley Ramblers can now get an exclusive discount of 15% at the Páramo Brand Store in Wadhurst or 20% if you buy two or more Analogy jackets. This discount can only be used on Páramo and Nikwax items. There are also various short-term offers on specific products, available in-store or by mail-order. As well as Páramo, the store stocks various other brands.

You will need to show your membership card and mention that you are from Bromley Group.

Store details are:

Páramo Wadhurst Store

1 Central Parade
High Street
Wadhurst
TN5 6AL

Tel: 01892 785634

Email: wadhurst.shop@paramo.co.uk

Web: https://www.paramo-clothing.com/en-gb/landing/brandstores/wadhurst/

Trekking in Nepal

Two or three people from Sevenoaks Ramblers Group are planning to go to Nepal in April, with a view to doing the trek to Kangchenjunga N & S base camps. It’s a roughly 28-day camping excursion and claimed to be one of the finest treks in Nepal, without the crowds encountered on the Annapurna and Everest treks. They would like to find a few more people to join them, so if it appeals, they’d love to hear from you. Note that this is not a Ramblers trip! To find out more email Charles Hebert on charles@hebert.co.uk or call him on 0770 4343 128. Charles has done several treks in Nepal, and even – many years ago – actually lived there.