Welcome to our newsletter, key issues in this edition (dated July 17th 2024)include Members' Day update, Preferences, Web Issues, Footpath News, Walk Analysis, Groups
Click HERE for pre-May 23 newsletter; See separate archive HERE for earlier style newsletters)
UPDATE on Member's Day
This will now be held on Sunday 28th January 24 at Broughton & District Club Hall Whittingham Lane, Broughton, Preston. PR3 5DA. Full details in due course.
Please indicate any preferences for a workshop content HERE
Contents
*Preferences*
Summer is here, but we also start organising our Member's Day for next January and there are a couple of things you can offer your thoughts on.
The next Member's Day will be either Sunday 21st or Sunday 28th January 2024 depending on various availabilities.
If you are not familiar with these events, we have a choice of walk or workshop in the morning, buffet lunch, AGM (fairly short) and a speaker.
1. Workshop
We try to provide a workshop on some walk related issue.
Last year it was First Aid, previous years various Mapping apps or navigation.
Possibilities this year include: -
- Outdoor Active App (new)
- OS Maps (again! it has changed a bit in the last year)
- Map Reading & Navigation. (Paper and Mobile)
- Making Full use of our Website functions
- First Aid (repeat last year)
- OR You can suggest another topic and we'll try to oblige.
If you would be interested in any of these, please let us know either by using the form HERE or just reply to this email with your interests.
2. Location
Currently we will be booking either Clayton Brook Village Hall. or Broughton Tennis Club.
If you would find one of these preferable, OR if you know of suitable halls, do let us know soon.
(PS They need to be somewhere in the general area of the M6/M65 junction for reasonable access for all the groups.
You can express your preference or suggestions either via the form HERE or by replying to this email.
*Web Issues*
You probably noticed that the main Rambler website has changed.
You may even have had trouble finding walks or groups on it.
There have been a number of updates to correct some of the issues and there will be further updates.
If there are issues you would like to report, you can do this HERE
Please remember that all the group walks can also be found easily on our Area website HERE
If you are using a mobile phone you may find a suitable walk display HERE
*Footpath News*
David Kelly has provided an update on the status of the coastal path and his experience of walking some of it.
Find his report HERE
*Walks Analysis*
I was taken to task about my comment asking for some longer walks!!
So we did some analysis on the last 7 years of walks.
There is a substantial report on this but a brief summary of the results are: -
- pre covid there was an overall decrease in average walk length. Varies across groups
- post covid there has been some increase in average length.
- groups which have retained enough of their leaders are perfoming much as they were before covid.
- groups which have lost a lot of leaders seem to be providing slightly higher average distance walks, but inconsistently
Anecdotally, it may be that the leaders remaining offer on average slightly longer walks than the leaders who have been lost.
- 1 group has been lost, two are continuing to slowly reduce average walk length and others are inconsistent in offerings.
- Across the whole time period the number of Moderate walks is increasing while Leisurely are reducing.
(might this be more about members getting older and seeing walks as more challenging?)
If you would like to see how your group has changed or want to view the overall effects you can find that HERE or as a PDF HERE Jump to top of Newsletter.
*Group and Area Status*
Note: across the groups there is still a need for new leaders.
Some of the guidance for leaders is going to change later this year.
So if you were considering leading, do at least get yourself registered as a leader soon to avoid extra effort.
Talk to your group or to me (Eric 07740470728)
To Group leaders - Area continues to have a Zoom contract.
Groups are welcome to use this. Check with Eric
Area
Activities are mainly:
- Interface between HQ and Groups
- Planning the Member's Day,
- Footpath reports and issues
- Monthly paper programs
- Website maintenance
- Overseing Area & group finances
We have openings for some members to join as independent members.
We continue to seek some offers of help with Area organisation.
Please consider if you can help.
Membership
Some information from recent membership reports.
The whole Area has decreased in the last year by 2.2% while England has reduced by 1.3%.
The groups invariably go up and down in membership
Chorley
This is Chorley's 50 year anniversary year and we have a number of celebratory walks planned.
Our walk programme is pretty much up to speed.
The Coast to Coast coach walk is now at the halfway point of Keld.
We have used some of our Terry Lewis legacy to pay for and install 6 benches in Chorley's Astley Park in conjunction with The Friends of Astley Park.
Martin Smalley
Fylde
We held a memorial walk on the 7th May for Frank Pearson who was a long standing Mid Lancs member.
Frank was treasurer of Garstang walking group for many years and on the day walkers were invited from all the groups that Frank lead for to attend.
We had walkers from Fylde, Garstang, Preston and Clitheroe attending on the day.
On Sunday 25th June we invited walkers from all Mid Lancs group to attend our Midsummer Meetup day.
This was mainly for people to enjoy meeting up with friends from all the walking groups followed by a two course lunch and it was held at Longridge Golf club.
A moderate walk was available on the day for those who wished to stretch their legs before lunch.
Jeanette Carr
Preston
A good number of walks are being offerred and a new leader has arisen.
The committee are still taking turns at chairing their meetings
More leaders are needed and some help on the committee would be welcome.
Eric pp Barry
South Ribble
Continues to provide the usual Thursday walks.
There has been some discussion about holding some social events.
So do have a chat about that and let Eddy know of any interest.
If we can find a few more leaders we would try building Monday or Friday walks again as we did before covid.
Eric
West Lancs
As the group does not have it's own website, member's often use the main Rambler site.
While this has improved to more easily find walks, finding the relevant page is less easy as it is missing a decent search function.
A simple way for members or guests to find the page is to search (google etc) for
'West Lancashire Ramblers'
then click on the entry
'West Lancashire Group'
this will open a web page that describes our activities.
If they then scroll down they will find our walks listed complete with dates, starting times and distance.
Clicking on the title will give more details of the walk.
These include two walks using Merseyrail.
These include two walks using Merseyrail.
HOL No report but HOL walks are now reaching the websites.
LWW No report
Regards Eric