Our Group Footpath Working Party meets about twice a month in the evening during the Summer months and about once a month on a Saturday or Sunday morning during Winter.
Our practical work is all done with the blessing of the Suffolk County Council Rights of Way Office and is not all heavy by any means. Many of our meetings consist of surveying routes in order to note and report problems. We might routinely carry out light repairs on these outings, for example, trimming back vegetation, placing waymarker discs and litter-picking. When the ground is softer, we may tackle sleeper bridge building/repairs, step building and installing waymarker posts.
The sessions last for 2 to 21/2 hours and we refresh ourselves afterwards in a nearby pub.
The members of the working party form the Group’s Footpaths sub-committee. As such, they decide, in conjunction with the Local Footpaths Secretary, the Local Access Officer or the Local Countryside Officer what the Ramblers’ will say as a statutory consultee in relation to proposals for changes to the rights of way network, to open access land and matters affecting the countryside.
We have a planning meeting twice a year to formulate our programme. The Group walks programme is also discussed.
All Group members are welcome to our meetings.
FORTHCOMING MEETINGS:
Saturday 7th January: PLEASE NOTE - CHANGE OF PROGRAMME
(As the planned repairs to works done in Cookley several years ago are now going to be done by a SCC contractor who has been given an order to improve several sleeper bridges in the same area)
INSTEAD: Clearing small sections of paths through Dodd’s Wood in Benhall, and resetting some waymarker posts. Meet at east end of path to the woods, on Deadmans Lane, south off B1119 Rendham Road. Small lay-by and wide verge at MR 367 632, next top start of footpath. 9.30 start Afterwards probably Rendham White Horse or Kelsale Poachers Pocket ?
Saturday 5th February – Suffolk Area Ramblers AGM - at Sizewell sports & social club, Leiston
Sunday 19th February: Survey around Blaxhall Common area. 9.30 start
Meet in the Sandgalls Plantation car park. MR 381 559 Blaxhall Ship afterwards
Saturday 17th March 2011 Survey round the southern side of Campsey Ashe. 9.30 start Meet on Ash Road, just off B1078 in Lower Hacheston MR 308 565 Glemham Lion afterwards
Saturday 17th March 2011: ‘Summer’ Planning meeting, at Glemham Lion again,
meet at 12 noon, for a 12.15 meeting please. Lunch available afterwards as usual.
Please note: If you have any problems finding the meeting place etc. Nigel will have his mobile switched on from about 1 hour before the meeting time: 07795 952703
WORK CARRIED OVER THE LAST YEAR:
2010
On Saturday 27 March - Jim, Richard, Dot, Graham, Maurice Geoff and Neil (7) checked the recent diversion package route north east of Framlingham. Some arrows were added and a few missing waymarkers were identified in the North Green area for an Autumn working party.
On Sunday 11 April - Nigel, Jim, Richard, Neil and David (5) did some light clearing and surveying north-east of Hacheston, towards Marlesford.
On Tuesday 27 April - Nigel, Richard, Graham and Neil (4) returned to the Benhall area and erected 9 waymarkers we found missing in the winter - 2 on FP6, 3 on FP7 and 4 on FP9A, at junctions with other paths and edge of crossfield paths
On Monday 17 May - Nigel, Geoff, Maurice, Dot, Jim and Neil (6) rebuilt and netted a sleeper bridge at Earl Soham (commencement of FP 25) and reset 2 existing and erected 2 new waymarker posts to show route through wood on Earl Soham FP 27
Wednesday 9 June - Nigel, Maurice, David, Dot, Jim, Neil and Geoff (7) met at Knodishall Green and erected 2 new waymarker posts on Knodishall Footpath 11 and reset 2 existing and erected 2 new waymarker posts on Knodishall Footpath 12. Also we cleared sleeper bridges there
Saturday 19 June - Jim, Richard, Geoff, Jeanette and David (5) finished off the circular walk survey of paths from Middleton Moor left over from winter because of bad weather.
Sunday 4 July - Nigel, David, Jim, Dot Neil, Geoff, Jeanette and Richard (8) did a thorough survey around the Brandeston area. We found a few poor stiles , some missing waymarks and a few overgrown hedges but otherwise things were remarkably good, no signs missing and no ploughing or cropping problems.
Thursday 22 July - Nigel, Jim, David, Neil, Richard and Maurice (6) turned up at Rendham to do some surveying, light clearing and possible waymarking but postponed the session because of the onset of rain.
Thursday 5th August: Nigel, Neil, Richard, David and Maurice (5) met at Sweffling Village Hall. The proposed task was to clear the slopes down to the stream on Sweffling Footpath 8 western arm, and build a flight of steps. We cleared the banks, but decided that the task of step building was too big for us, and have reported back to SCC that the route needs a new pedestrian bridge to replace the washed away sleeper bridge, and a proper contractor-constructed flight of steps. We then cleared the slope on Footpath 8, eastern arm, which is the main currently used route, and re-cut an earth step by the tree which people use to hang onto, half way up the bank. Next we went to Footpath 1, and cleared round the overgrown sleeper bridge. We then used some of the timber that we had taken, to construct 3 steps on the northern back of the stream to improve the access to the sleeper bridge. We also put 2 new waymarker posts on Footpath 1, at the junctions with 2 and 1A. Finally we looked at the overgrowth at the sides of Footpath 2, but decided that the job was again too big for volunteers, and we have reported back to SCC that the 2 adjacent occupiers of the narrow west end part of Footpath 2 will need to be sent hedge notices.
Wednesday 25 August: We again experienced heavy rain. Only Nigel and Graham made it to Cratfield for the survey and clearing work so this task was also postponed to the next programme.
On Thursday 16th September; Maurice, Nigel, Jim, Neil and Richard (5) completed the last of this years evening sessions by doing a survey of the Grange Farm area west of Rendham. We managed to do quite bit of clearing and waymarking in between the showers as well, with 2 new posts put in, 3 others re-erected, and quite a few new arrows.
On Sunday 10th October; Graham, Geoff, Jeanette, Richard and Nigel (5) enjoyed a sunny morning rebuilding a set of steps by a footbridge in Marlesford. The ground being soft and damp, we also were able to put in 8 new waymarker posts in the area, connecting footpaths up to the many 'defra' permissive paths round Marlesford.
On Saturday 6 November, Nigel, David, Jim, Graham and Richard (5) re-built a set of steps up to an old railway embankment at Gorams Hill Lane in Laxfield. We also managed a bit of clearing through the wood by removing some dead branches and we removed the remains of two redundant stiles, using the wood to help shore up the side of the path where it slopes towards the stream. We finished a bright Autumn morning's work with a stroll back along the "white" lane to the Low House pub.On Sunday 5 December we had to abandon the working party due to heavy snow. The waymarking and light clearing planned around the North Green area in Parham will be done on one of our Spring evening working parties.
2011
On Saturday 15 January, Richard, Nigel, Jim, Maurice David, Neil and Graham (7) did a thorough survey of Cratfield Parish, south towards Huntingfield. Generally, although we found the conditions very wet and muddy, we found the state of paths in the area to be better than anticipated. A previous survey in 2003 had found many routes unmarked and impassable. This time everything was signed, bridges were in place and all but one cross-field route marked out. We did find a number of items to report, but probably insufficient to warrant another working party here for now.
On Monday 18th April - Nigel, Neil, Richard, Jim, Maurice and David (6) erected 6 new waymarker posts, re-set 4 others and did some light clearing between Parham and Framlingham (Parham BR18, Parham FP10).
On Monday 9th May - Nigel, Geoff, David, Neil, Maurice and Albert (6) installed new hand railing and did some path levelling on the brook side path in Peasenhall (Peasenhall FP17).
On Monday 6th June - Nigel, Jim, Mike, Neil, Albert, Maurice and Richard, joined by Ed Wilson and Anastasia French from Ramblers' Central Office (9) did waymarking and gorse clearing around Thorpeness Car Park. This is because SCC are proposing to sell off the car park and we were concerned that the routes of the footpaths in the area were unclear. We therefore cut back the side-growth from footpath Aldringham 71 (10 metres or so of the definitive line having been completely blocked) which runs diagonally across the car park, and installed 4 new waymarker posts to make the route obvious. We also installed extra waymarker posts and did quite a lot of clearing on the two paths 80 and 81 which lead from the car park onto the beach.
On Sunday 19th June - Nigel, Maurice, Richard, Jim and Neil (5) set off to do a survey of Sutton towards Deben, around Methersgate and Nettle Hill. We found the paths generally quite good, just a couple of missing waymarks and a possible site for step installation (Sutton FP18A) . We did however spend some time clearing the two sets of steps near nettle hill and clearing quite a lot of overhead on the riverside path Sutton 18A. We have also reported that SCC need to sort out the definitive route beyond the cut path up to Methersgate Quay where there are several different unofficial paths in use (Sutton FP19A).
On Wednesday 29 June - Jim, David and Neil (3) did some substantial overhead clearing work on Aldringham Footpath 43 and added a number of waymarker discs around the North Warren open access area.
On Thursday 21st July - Graham, Maurice, Jim, Neil, Richard and Nigel (6) installed a handrail, repaired a short set of steps with new risers, added 3 waymarker posts and cleared overhead growth in the wooded area on paths close to Laxfield village.
On Saturday 30th July - Nigel, Jim, David, Richard, Maurice and Neil (6) did a survey of the area north of Campsea Ashe. This included 2 conservation walks areas, which were well maintained, but needed notices replacing, and Defra have been written to. Most paths were quite good, but some crossfield paths were not well marked, and two were on the wrong line, and we also found a few waymarker posts wrong or missing. Some substantial gap clearing was done on the way round in a few locations, but there were no real obstructions found. We also looked at a diversion proposal for BR17 off ash Road in Lower Hacheston.
The winter planning meeting followed over lunchtime in Glemham LION
On Thursday 18th August Nigel, Richard, Maurice and John (4) met to refresh waymarking, do some light clearing, and install 3 replacement posts around Kelsale and north of Saxmundham. Unfortunately we were rained off, and so the work will now be finished off by SCC volunteers.
On Wednesday 7th September Graham, David, Neil and Nigel (4) met for the last summer evening session to re-survey problems around Badingham 12 & 13, and add 3 new waymarker posts. Regrettably we found some things to be even worse with new electric fences in abundance, and a detailed complaint has been made to SCC.
On Saturday 24th September Maurice, Richard and Nigel (3) did a thorough survey around the Sudbourne wood area. We were pleasantly surprised to find that there had been a substantial amount of clearance done on some of the wooded paths, and although one was still not cleared on the correct line, most paths were waymarked and relatively easy to use.
On a sunny Sunday morning 23rd October, despite a disappointing turnout, Jim and Nigel (2) did a survey of Knodishall common area and the recently completed diversion package around Knodishall. We identified a number of locations that would benefit from additional waymarking, which we have logged for a possible spring evening working party.
On Sunday 19th November Nigel, Maurice, Richard, Jim, Neil & Mike (6) did a detailed survey of the area around Walberswick river walls following all the recent Environment Agency works. We were generally pleased with the path improvements, and a new section of SCC boardwalk. We added and corrected a number of waymarker and open access indicators whilst on site. It was also noted that there are a number of discrepancies where the actual path on the ground is not exactly on the definitive line as shown on the map. These are not considered to be a major problem as paths are clear and available, but the details have been reported back to SCC
Suggestions for surveys or work to be done are always welcome
Changes to the content of this page of the website were last made on 24 November 2011.
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