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CHAIRMAN’S SCRIBBLINGS Ron Goodenough

As I produced my last scribblings we were entering the winter months, and I concluded with the hope that we would enjoy some crisp, sunny days with not too much mud. Now, as I look back, my hopes were somewhat optimistic! We have certainly had more than our fair share of rain, mud and grey skies. We actually had one walk cancelled – of the ten who turned up, I understand eight opted for an early visit to a coffee shop, and the other two went home! I don’t remember that happening since my wife and I joined MSR six years ago, but a sensible decision.

As I scribble, today is designated ‘Blue Monday’ (20 January 2020) and that’s not referring to the colour of the sky! One sure way of avoiding SAD syndrome is to head for the sun somewhere abroad – that’s expensive, the other way of course is to still get out into the fresh air and keep walking even though there’s more cleaning, washing and drying to do.

I’m grateful to all who have led walks over the last three or four months but we are always looking for more leaders, particularly at weekends. You will receive the new walks programme with this newsletter so how about thinking over the next couple of months about some favourite walks that you could lead on

the next programme? You can use the email address on the MSR website to make contact. You will see on the programme the first seven walks of the ‘Sussex Wine Trail’ put together by Paul which should prove very interesting – there will be more walks to come - did you know that there were that many vineyards in Sussex?

Many of you will have been receiving our monthly bulletin which is sent by email. Firstly my thanks to the publicity group for producing this, it’s been really helpful in highlighting what is coming up in the following month or so – we all need reminding. If you are not receiving the monthly bulletin by email you can do so by altering your ‘contact preferences’ either through the Ramblers main website or phoning Head Office (020 3961 3000).

Our new website is up and running, we are grateful for the team that has been working on this. I do hope you appreciate the new look and have found your way around it. It would be good to develop our gallery so do submit photos of our walks for us to upload. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee to use all of them as we need to limit numbers and also comply with our GDPR policy.

We are also conscious of the need for ensuring the safety of all members while walking and would ask that everyone carries in their rucksack an ICE (In Case of Emergency) Card so that in the event of an incident the leader has the necessary information to help him or her to take any appropriate action. These can be requested from a walk leader. You will also find later in this newsletter some helpful information about equipment that it is advisable to have.

By the time you read this we will be almost into Spring, when the mud will be forgotten as we observe the early flowers, perhaps some bluebells, the trees budding and longer days – enjoy!

DIARY OF AN HF LEADER PART IV – FIRST WEEK AS A QUALIFIED HF LEADER Paul Jenkins

The in-field assessment was signed off but I wouldn’t get the formal Head Office sign off for another few weeks. In the meantime, I remained a probationary leader for a second week at Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight. I was joined by two more walk leaders so, having had the previous week there, I felt like the old hand and sufficiently confident to make suggestions and advise on what had worked well the previous week. Another advantage was being able to advise my colleagues on what flora and fauna they could come across. Not all of the walks follow the previous week’s itinerary, but some of the more popular ones are repeated.

Newsletter of the Mid Sussex Ramblers

Number 164, April to July 2020

Mid-Sussex Rambler

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One great benefit of being an HF leader is the discounts you get if you take a spouse or friend with you and they share a room with you. This in turn has the advantage of moving you from one of the “leader” rooms to that of one used by guests. I had felt that by my second week in Freshwater Bay I should be sufficiently up to speed with all the activities and processes that the leader had to perform, so I had agreed to my wife, Margaret, coming and staying with me. However, it’s not all fun and games being on holiday with an HF leader. When other guests are out exploring the highlights of the area on their free day, it is highly probable that you will be dragged out for yet another walk! On our “free” day I wanted to re-visit an area where, during the previous week, I had found a number of interesting orchids, including a rare white one. As I wasn’t

leading the walk in that area, I wanted Margaret to be able to show the orchids to the leader and guests. This almost had disastrous consequences. Having found and enjoyed looking at the orchids, the leader decided the group would take a break there. When he got up to move on, he very nearly stepped back onto the rare orchid, only narrowly missing it whilst being shouted at!

During a walk from the pretty village of Godshill, I had my first and, so far, only experience of having to use my first aid training. I have to admit that this was something I was dreading. When I did my two day training course, I had found it exhausting and quite a task trying to remember it all. Fortunately I had been given an excellent course book on first aid, so I had been reading this again before each appointment. As we descended some steps from Godshill Church I noticed that they were slippery, so I stopped and called out this information to the guests behind me. Unfortunately one lady still slipped and grazed her arm. At first she told me that she was fine and wouldn’t show me her injury. I think she was embarrassed at having gone over since she had just been warned that it was slippery. A short distance further on I noticed that she was looking at it, so I stopped and got my First Aid kit out to clean the wound and attach a makeshift covering, so that her clothes wouldn’t rub against it.

A couple of miles further into the walk I saw some movement on the footpath ahead. There was a large rat attacking a toad by biting at its neck. By the time I got to within a metre of them, the rat shot off, leaving the toad petrified by shock in the middle of the path. The guests wanted to know if they were going to see my First Aid kit again. I decided that the

best I could do was to pick up the toad and relocate it to some long grass a little distance away.

Hopefully, then it would have seclusion and time to recover and make its escape!

It wasn’t just because Margaret was able to spend the week with me that I enjoyed the assignment so much. It also helped that the weather was clement and that June is the perfect time to witness the island’s botany and wildlife at its best. It was a pleasure to share it all with such a wonderful group of guests.

MID SUSSEX RAMBLERS 47TH AGM – 20 NOVEMBER 2019 – CHAIRMAN’S REPORT Ron Goodenough

It’s been another busy year for MSR and it seems to have slipped by very rapidly. I’m sure I speak on behalf of all members in thanking everyone who has contributed to making MSR what it is. Some have been very busy, particularly committee members and walk leaders.

Our membership now stands at 463. During the course of a year, a number of members do not renew their membership for a variety of reasons, but then we gain new members. This year we had a total of almost 70 new members giving the net increase of 9 from this time last year, very encouraging. I’m aware that many do not walk regularly and may now not be able to, but your ongoing membership is valued as is your previous active involvement with MSR.

We took stands at two local events during 2019: The Lindfield Village Day and the Hurstpierpoint Festival. Interest in MSR and rambling generally is encouraging and this helps to maintain our profile and membership figures. It would be great if someone felt able to organise these stands in the future. However, as always, the best means of promotion will always be through personal invitations from members.

In addition to the local events, our Publicity team, working as a sub-group to the Committee and convened by Sue our Secretary, has been very busy. We introduced a monthly bulletin earlier in the

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year which goes out by email. Jo Mitchell produces this and it’s been well received. If you do not receive it you can do so by amending your contact preferences on the Ramblers website or telephoning their Central Office. A lot of time has been spent in discussing and putting together a new look website. I’m grateful to Phil Casemore, David Nunn and Graham Allen for all their work and expertise in getting it launched. It will need to be maintained and information added as and when appropriate. We plan to up-load photos, limiting the numbers each month. Please take a look at it if you haven’t done so already.

We have organised and led 187 walks this year which is actually up on last year. With a total of 2,640 walkers, the average number on each walk was just over 14. My thanks to Paul Jenkins, not just for these statistics, but for the mammoth task of producing the Walks Programme throughout the year. A lot of time goes into it. We are always looking for more walk leaders so if this is something you would consider please contact Paul for more details. You can email him using the contact address on the website.

In addition to our Walks Programme, we again supported the High Weald Walking Festival and the Hurstpierpoint Festival. We are grateful to Judith Bowron for serving on the HWWF 2019 organising team as well as on our own Committee as Membership Secretary and overseeing our GDPR compliance.

We have had very few incidents over the years on our walks and we are grateful for that. However accidents and medical emergencies can happen so Ramblers do recommend carrying ICE Cards in rucksacks. These are available from walk leaders, best to use a permanent pen to fill them in as they can get wet – and I don’t mean from leaking water bottles! Please also make sure they are kept up-to-date. We will be outlining some basic recommendations and guidance when out walking in our next newsletter which leads me seamlessly on to my next point.

Ray and Alison Heath have produced three excellent editions this year, all to a very high standard. We should not take this for granted – again, a lot of work; reading through articles and editing before publication, creatively juggling with the layout to fit everything in and organising the printing. Please keep the articles coming, plus a note of thanks from time to time.

We were not able to organise an annual holiday this year for MSR but are grateful to Sue Berry and Sue Warner for organising one for 2020. The location is Lulworth Cove and has proved as popular as ever, being fully booked.

Sadly the Christmas lunch had to be cancelled this year as we were unable to find someone to replace Stella Law who had organised it previously. In view of this the committee feel that it would be good to appoint a ‘Social Secretary’ as there are a

number of other functions that could be organised – if anyone feels willing to either take on the role, or be involved in a small group, please mention this to a committee member or email through the website.

Stella has served faithfully on the committee for many years and has decided it is time to retire. As she is not able to be with us this evening the committee has expressed thanks on your behalf with, as she described it – a ‘home visit’ and a small gift.

A date for your diary; 01 February 2020. We are hosting the Sussex Area AGM in Scaynes Hill Millennium Village Centre. There will be a walk in the morning, a picnic lunchtime and, after the official business has been conducted in the afternoon, an illustrated talk by Peter Lovett. Look out for more details later.

There are others who serve behind the scenes; Giano and Janis, for example, have faithfully served teas and coffees on many occasions, including the Winter Wednesday evening meetings. They have decided it is time to retire so, again, we express our thanks to them. If anyone would like to offer their services in the future please speak to a committee member.

From time to time, Ramblers award a member who has made, quote, an ‘Outstanding Contribution to Walking’. We nominated Tony Osmand, one of our long-serving members for such an award. The citation reads; ‘Tony has been an active member of Mid Sussex Ramblers for many years, taking on various roles with great enthusiasm and dedication. As a walk leader he led themed walks such as the Annual Remembrance Walk to the Airmen’s Grave on Ashdown Forest and the private access walk in Pippingford Park. His support over the years for other leaders through mapping, historical details and pub selection has been greatly appreciated. In the role of Publicity, he was responsible for the set up and maintenance of the website and promoted Mid Sussex Ramblers further through email and press contacts. Promotions were also organised through the year at local events and shows by setting up a

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Group tent to promote the Ramblers and the benefits of walking. Tony was also responsible for putting together the popular ‘Mid Sussex Walk Book’. We congratulate and thank Tony.

Finally, can I again thank Sue Blandford, our Secretary, for organising so much and enabling things to run smoothly.

I trust that you will all continue to enjoy the benefits of walking in this beautiful area over the coming year.

WALK LEADER TRAINING Paul Jenkins, Ray Heath

At the recent Sussex Area AGM there was mention that Central Office of Ramblers were going to offer one-day training for Walk Leaders. This is both for existing Leaders and for those who would like to become leaders. The three training days for Sussex are: (venues are tbc):

Wednesday 20th May, Brighton Saturday 11th July, Haywards Heath Thursday 27th August, Chichester

If you are interested, please register your interest by sending the following details (ultimately, you will need to register for a specific course via the online Eventbrite tool):

First Name, Surname: Email address: RA Group: Course interested in:

to Kate Davis, Delivery Officer, The Ramblers, Phone: 020 3961 3199, Mobile: 077 7530 2229, Email: Kate.Davis@ramblers.org.uk.

Now I appreciate that for quite a number of you (particularly those of you who have taught me all I know about walk leading), this might feel too late or no longer necessary. If that is the case, then you may be interested to know that Ramblers are also planning to roll out training for experienced leaders so that they could lead the training for our future leaders. We will probably find out more about these 'train the trainer' sessions in due course.

RAMBLERS APP Monique Stevens (MSR Publicity Team)

Everything you need to know about the Ramblers at the touch of a screen! The Ramblers Member app is your walking companion; it features thousands of independent routes and group walks across Britain. In addition you can read the latest gear reviews, articles, news and exclusive member offers which are also featured in the newsletter.

It is so easy. Open the app for an instant link to our group’s next walk or social event. This includes all the information to be found on the programme and in addition features a map and links to the leader’s contact number and to Google maps. Gone are the days of keying in phone numbers and postcodes.

The tool bar allows for easy navigation around the app; Home takes you to our next walk and to featured articles and offers from Walk magazine. Choose Walking for options of countrywide routes, led walks and events for our group and in our area. The Membership option opens your digital membership card – finally, I shall leave you to explore the latest offers, discounts, reviews and a host of other articles in the Message section.

As I said, it is easy to navigate, but should you experience problems, just tap the “more” option on the toolbar and I am sure you will find the answers to any questions you might have.

In summary, the Ramblers app is a must for every enthusiastic walker. It is still in its infancy and there will be more features added during the course of 2020. Do try it.

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY – SUNDAY 07 JUNE 2020 Jill Brown, and Ray Heath

On Sunday 07 June, meet Jill and John for a choice of two circular walks with The London Blind Ramblers Club, from Lewes Railway Station Forecourt where the Taxi Ranks are located. Having a choice of walks was suggested by Val from the LBRC. We will meet them at the station at 11:00 am for a shorter and essentially linear walk (5.5 miles) or a longer walk (7 miles) which is circular. Both walks follow the same route to the hamlet of Hamsey and, while the shorter walk returns the way they came,

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the longer circular walk strikes west and returns to Lewes railway station by a different route. There is no significant ascent in either of the walks.

Jill and John will lead the outward walk to the River Ouse, and then on to the hamlet and Church of Hamsey, where we will eat our picnic lunches. After lunch, we will leave Hamsey together and John will lead the Shorter walk along the reverse of the outward route back to Lewes Railway Station. As a bonus for those on this walk there will be an opportunity for a refreshment stop in Lewes! Jill will lead the Longer walk which will peel away from the River Ouse, leaving those on the shorter walk, and follow the Drove Way, Landport Housing Estate and The Pells, then through Lewes to the Railway Station.

We will need guides for the visually impaired visitors, two back markers and a few reserve helpers, so please do put this date in your diary and we look forward to you joining us on the day.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY – ICE Alison and Ray Heath

Mention has been made already in this Newsletter about the need for ICE contact details to be carried with you when out on walks. This applies, of course, whether you are out with a group such as the Ramblers, out on your own, or with just out with one or two friends.

It is recommended that you carry details of any significant health problems you may have, the contact details of your next-of-kin, and your home address and telephone number. There is a special form you can obtain from a walk leader for this purpose, called an ICE Card, or you can just write the information on a sturdy piece of card and protect it in a water-proof covering. Keep the card safely inside your rucksack but preferably in a place that is easy to get to if something does happen and someone needs to find the information quickly. Also, please remember to review it, as and when necessary, and keep it up

to date.

When we are walking in an organised group such as on Ramblers led walks, we all need to be aware of other people around us, probably more than we currently are. We should always be conscious of people behind and in front of us so that we, and they, do not get cut off from the rest of the group. This is especially important when going around corners, when changing direction at junctions, and when walking through dense woodland where visibility may be reduced. It is also advisable for the walk leader and back marker to know each other’s mobile phone numbers so that they can contact each other if they lose sight of the other end of the group. Of course, mobile phones do not always work in open countryside or dense woodland but we can only hope for the best!

It is advisable for all of us to carry some basic First Aid equipment when out on a walk. Any prescribed medication that you need to take, some Paracetamol or other over-the-counter pain killers, and a few plasters may come in handy. We should all carry plenty of water, some food, and also wear appropriate clothing, particularly good walking boots or shoes. Where appropriate, leaders and back markers should wear fluorescent vests.

YOU MAY HAVE MISSED Ray Heath

Lyme disease – Good News! Metro ‘Lyme disease’ and ‘good news’ rarely fit in the same sentence but, in a report published by the University Press in journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, apparently a vaccine could become a reality, although no timescale is given. In the US it is estimated that there are some 300,000 diagnosed cases a year, and 100,000 in Europe, so it won’t come a day too soon! In the meantime the only way to guard against the disease is still to remove the tick swiftly and clean the wound. Sorry! Dead Man’s Fingers – and others Daily Mail The RHS reported that our soggy autumn led to a visual feast of toadstools and mushrooms across the country. Flourishing varieties included giant puffballs, Fly Agaric, Devil’s Fingers, and Dead Man’s Fingers – along with many highly unusual species, even in our gardens. Birkshead Gardens and Nursery in Newcastle reported ‘puffballs bigger than footballs’ and a suggestively shaped Stinkhorn that ‘looked so rude it offended a visitor’ and was pulled up! Hedgehog Highways The Week In an industry first, Bovis has pledged to incorporate ‘hedgehog highways’ in its existing and future housing developments. Hedgehogs walk more than a mile each night as they forage for food, so Bovis will

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make sure that there are holes in its fences to allow the creatures to move in and out of gardens. Since 2000, there is an estimated drop of 50% in the number of hedgehogs in rural areas and 30% in urban areas – mainly due to use of pesticides and habitat loss. Britain’s Woodland The Week According to the Forestry Commission, Britain’s woodland cover has returned to medieval levels. Thanks to the trend for rewilding and both public and private tree planting initiatives, about 13% of GB (10% of England) is now forested. In 1919 when the Forestry Commission was established, just 5% of Britain was covered in trees.

SUSSEX AREA AGM, 01 FEBRUARY 2020 Alison Heath

This year it was the turn of Mid Sussex Ramblers to host the annual Sussex Area AGM and so the meeting was arranged in the Millennium Village Centre at Scaynes Hill. Thank you to all those who came, and also all those who volunteered to help on the day. It is surprising how many jobs there are!

There was an optional three mile walk led by William Coleman in the morning which was attended by 32 walkers and two dogs. Several of these people did not attend the afternoon meeting but we were pleased to see them all the same. The walk was very

muddy in places in spite of William telling us he had avoided the worst section which was truly underwater! The weather was mild and sunny, the views were good and the walk was enjoyed by everyone.

There was an interlude for lunch, either your own picnic in the hall or the annual Sussex Area Lunch for Area Council members at a local hostelry, this time The Farmers Inn nearby. The formal meeting then got underway at 2:30pm and was attended by around 70 people. Roger Abel, the Sussex Area Chairman, opened the meeting, welcoming everyone including members from other groups who may have travelled some distance to attend. He commiserated

with those who live near new housing developments but accepted that the country needs more houses so we, as Ramblers, must have a measured response to such developments in our area. He was delighted to point out that a high proportion of Ramblers members are active volunteers, this being unusual for member organisations. He described the plans of Central Office who will be organising three training sessions for walk leaders during 2020, to take place in Chichester, Brighton and Haywards Heath. Further details below. Roger also talked about the England Coastal Path and how the section between Eastbourne and Camber is the current focus.

Justin Norman, the new East Sussex Footpath Officer, and Philip Buckle, taking on Publicity and Communications, were welcomed as new members of the Area Council. Both will attend the General Council meeting of Ramblers to be held in Bristol in early April.

Jill Brown asked about how to report faulty stiles etc to East Sussex Council. There is a Problem Form one can use and a new mapping system under development by the Council.

Les Campbell reported to the meeting that the Monday Group is 50 years old this year and has recently had a relaunch with an increase in members. They are active in parts of Mid Sussex clearing paths and maintaining bridges and stiles.

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After the business meeting, Richard May, a Trustee from Central Office, addressed the meeting giving us an update on subjects including the status of the chief exec, a new First Aid initiative, initiatives to increase membership, an initiative to make the amount of path maintenance carried out by Ramblers members more visible to the general public, Healthy Walks, DLYW and the Coast Path, before outlining changes in the use of information technology by the Ramblers including a demonstration of the new Ramblers app which is described elsewhere in this newsletter.

After a welcome break for tea and delicious home-made cakes, the meeting resumed for an informative and educational talk by Peter Lovett entitled “The bloody history of the Adur Valley and seven 1,000 year old churches”. The talk was interspersed with Peter’s witty humour and some excellent photographs for which he is well known.

HASSNESS HOUSE – A FUTURE HOLIDAY VENUE FOR MSR? Sue Berry Some of you will remember that Paco Gonzalez from Ramblers Holidays spoke at our group AGM in 2018 when he told us that the Ramblers Holidays house at Hassness in the northern Lake District had recently been refurbished and was available for group bookings.

In October 2019 I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a group organiser’s taster break at Hassness House. We stayed for three nights at the eleven bedroomed house which is set in idyllic surroundings on the shores of Lake Buttermere with fantastic views of the mountains on the other side of the lake. The house, which is about a mile from Buttermere village, is run by the very friendly House Manager, her husband who is the chef, and one other part time member of staff, who helps out at meal times. The meals were hearty and plentiful and any dietary issues appeared to be well catered for. I was in a small double, en-suite room on the ground floor (a recent addition I believe) but most of the bedrooms are on the first floor and have views of the lake. Most rooms are double or twin and there are three that share bath and shower rooms.

As it was the end of October, the weather was a little mixed but we walked on both days with two extremely capable and knowledgeable leaders. The walks on offer from this house are between grades 4 and 7, and I understand that, for a private group booking, the leaders would, as far as possible, offer walks to suit the group. Without too much effort we reached the summit of Haystacks and were rewarded with some amazing views over Buttermere and Crummock Water.

We were not given the ‘hard sell’, the Ramblers Holidays staff who were on the holiday (including our friend, Paco) were obviously enjoying their time at the house, which had been so painstakingly renovated, and they joined us on all the walks. However, the house is available for group bookings and if anyone would be interested in making up a group to go to Hassness House in 2021 I’d be happy to enquire about availability. As it is such a long journey, I would suggest that it would be better to go for a week rather than our usual long weekend. I travelled there by train and bus but it was quite a tedious journey with a number of changes so my suggestion would be that, if we got a group together, we could

share cars. This would also help with getting to and from walks as Ramblers Holidays do not provide any transport.

At this stage, I can’t give you any idea of pricing but if you want to know more about this you could check the website https://www.ramblersholidays.co.uk/europe/united-kingdom/england/hassness-country-house.

If you think that you would be interested in joining a group for a week’s holiday at Hassness House in 2021 please let me know. If there are enough people expressing an interest I will make further enquiries about availability, pricing etc. You may contact me by email at ramblersue@gmail.com.