Mendip Ramblers report October 2020

As Mendip Ramblers celebrated the new year in January 2020 few had any idea what the next months would bring.

Battling the February mud we hoped for lovely spring weather, and that arrived, but with it the ever increasing awareness of the seriousness of the coronavirus for the UK and for the world.

So in March the Ramblers walks stopped and the Working Party stayed home. Priorities changed for everyone.

But the spring sunshine was cheering and daily exercise from home was suddenly a treat. Regular walkers and non walkers alike found footpaths near their homes and for some that was the beginning of the pleasures of walking.

Mendip Ramblers were very sorry to lose their popular August Bank Holiday walking festival, but the good news that our Working Party could resume their activities was welcome.

There was certainly no shortage of jobs to be done in making our rights of way as safe and accessible as possible and local communities have been pleased to see them.

The Parish Council in Butleigh for example nearly put the bunting out, so pleased they were to see the team arrive.

Alan Carr from the council said: "We were fortunate to get a visit from Mendip Ramblers in August.

"Twelve volunteers turned up, after an enforced layoff during lockdown, to put in six hours of hard labour on one of the hottest days of the summer to mend gates, put up finger posts and repair stiles.

"They have been particularly good friends to Butleigh over recent years and we owe them a debt of gratitude for all their hard unpaid work."

It seemed as though it might never happen - and in late October there's still uncertainty - but a bit of "near normality" returned in September.

Ramblers were able to start some limited group walks again. Obviously the opportunity to resume a leisure activity is not a priority when the world is still coming to terms with a pandemic, but it was very welcome.

With a "good sense" approach, and always following the guidance, we hope to walk throughout the autumn and into the winter.

Mendip Ramblers' revised programme, available online, still has a variety of walking opportunities; from long walks for the keen types to "cup of tea" walks for the strollers.

And, despite everything that the last difficult months have thrown at us there have been some glimmers of light.

It appears that many more people have discovered the pleasures of walking since "exercising from home" became a treat.

Maybe this is the moment to make walking a regular activity and joining in group walking means there are new places to discover in our beautiful part of the world.

You will receive a warm welcome from Mendip Ramblers. Check out what they have to offer at www.mendipramblers.co.uk.

By Elaine Dadley for Mendip Ramblers