Seasons' greetings from the committee of the Wiltshire LDWA

The kissing gate to commemorate Mark Rendall has been installed on Giant's Grave and it will be officially opened at 1100hrs on Saturday 1st December.

The plan is to park at Clench Common (grid reference SU183644 on OS Explorer map 157) and make our way over to Giant’s Grave (grid reference SU170633) for 1050hrs.

We will have a short ceremony, raise a glass to the memory of Mark, then Dorothy Rendall will untie the ribbons and unveil the plaque and be the first person through the gate.

The ceremony will be followed by lunch in the Royal Oak at Wootton Rivers at 1230hrs. Diners will be contacted directly so they can select their meals ... by midday on Monday 26th November.

From Adrian Crocker:

"21 members enjoyed a wonderful weekend away based at HF's Holnicote House in Selworthy. A walk was arranged on each of the days exploring different parts of Exmoor. The weather was dry and sunny. The northerly wind kept the sea mist away giving us far reaching views of the Exmoor landscape. The food and the house staff was exceptional, coupled with evening entertainment added up to an excellent weekend.

Following the success of last month's Exmoor weekend, I am proposing that we go to Shropshire next year. The details are as follows:

My proposal will be discussed at our forthcoming AGM."

LDWA Local Groups' Weekend

I spent last weekend representing the group at the LDWA Local Groups' Weekend just outside Chatham in Kent. The weekend was thoroughly enjoyable throughout. There were workshops on both evenings to discuss matters such as the grading of walks, using social media, sharing places where groups shop, Strider content and rewarding members. There was a choice of walks on Saturday. I chose the excellent 20-mile route through Capstone Country Park, Chatham, Rochester, alongside the River Medway and along part of the North Downs Way. Our leader, Stephanie, got us back just as darkness fell. Sunday morning was spent in a meeting, where the following were discussed:

• Date protection - Groups will need to appoint a data protection officer. This can be one of the existing committee members;
• Group chairs will assume the additional role of Safeguarding Officer;
• Cost saving measures, including groups being expected to raise funds for important/essential projects that the LDWA has planned;
• Groups will be required to complete a register of those taking part in their walks, which will need to be kept for 3 years;
• Groups will be invited to help carry out footpath repairs on long distance paths that are not national trails;
• How the LDWA can help protect the environment;
• The one-stop shop for organising 100s, which will be published shortly; and
• The new LDWA logo - You are invited to vote for one of the options shown in the latest edition of Strider magazine.

Regarding the proposed new logos, I suggest you watch the following video in which David Morgan explains the rationale behind the choices: https://1drv.ms/v/s!AioTqui0w-dLgTqhJW-34b7i6RT4.

A lot of hard work is going into the running of the LDWA at a national level, with a lot of hard decisions being made to ensure the LDWA is ready for the next 50 years. I was impressed by what I heard, particularly the rationale for the choice of logos, and I look forward to attending next year. Special thanks must go to the event organiser, Julie Cribb and her daughter, Hannah, not least for the delicious food they prepared.

Finally, throughout the weekend I was asked whether the Wiltshire 50 would become a regular event, and a qualifying event for the Hundred. There was strong support from the NEC members and the other group representatives, with neighbouring groups offering to run checkpoints.

Sunday Parking in Wiltshire

Parking will remain free on Sundays across the county, after Wiltshire Council made a last minute U turn and announced it would not introduce the unpopular parking fees. The move comes after criticism of the plans, including a petition against the weekend charges that gained popularity over the weekend. Thousands of residents and local businesses signed the petition to express their concerns that the charges would drive visitors away from high streets.

Also worthy of a mention is the fact that parking is free again at car park next to The George PH, alongside the Kennet & Avon canal at Bathampton. The machines and signage have all been removed.