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Doncaster Ramblers
Doncaster Ramblers taking care of the countryside
This week we look
at another walking group in our occa- sional focus on walks in and around the borough. This week it’s the turn of the Doncaster Ramblers.
Members say you would be forgiven for thinking the Doncaster Ramblers are all about walking, and they were as t as mountain goats! It’s not, and they say they’re not.
For the ramblers they say walking is as much about chewing the fat, and chit chat, as exploring the out- doors. It’s as much about companionship, health and wellbeing, as open skies and rolling hills. It’s as much about picnic stops and great pubs, as kissing gates and stiles.
Every walk is an adven- ture and there is nothing more exhilarating than look- ing back to see the path trod. Every route is unique in its changing ora, fauna, wild- life and terrain.
Some can be challenging yes, but the group is nothing, if not supportive. They de- scribe themselves as a family and the rewards for success are priceless. It’s brilliant.
Soifyouareas tasa mountain goat, or almost
a couch potato, you’ll be welcome. If you’ve done the Munros or just walked down the garden path, they urge you to come and give them
a go.
They walk on Tuesday and Saturday throughout the year. During the sum-
mer there are also outings every other Thursday (using public transport) and every Wednesday evening. Walks are local to Doncaster, as well as Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, and North No inghamshire. All walks are detailed and give the leader’s telephone number, meeting point and distance. (Don’t be put o !) Full details can be found on their www.doncasterram- blers.org.uk website.Don- caster Ramblers volunteers were out in force recently,
to carry out repairs to a sec- tion of fencing on the Trans Pennine
Trail which was
in urgent need of a ention. Fourteen volun-
teers from
Doncaster
Ramblers
worked with
Doncaster
Rights of Way
Department to re-
place ro ing posts and
rails along a 50 metre length of the trail. The surface of the track, which had become overgrown was also cleared of debris, moss and weeds.
During the ve years the volunteer group has been in action, this latest task was probably the most logistical- ly challenging of all the jobs undertaken because of the number of volunteers on site and the limited access and parking. Transporting all the materials, in this instance, 24 bags of cement, 18 posts
and 12 rails, together with all the necessary tools, would not be possible without the help of the Doncaster Rights of Way Department.
The volunteer group, consists of more than 30 volunteers who operate
on a monthly basis in close co-operation with the local Council.
The volunteers carry out a variety of tasks on the local footpath network in the bor- ough and beyond, ranging from basic clearance work and cu ing back, replacing
way-mark posts and repairing stiles,
to more exten- sive repairs to
bridges, steps and hand-
rails. Working
hand in hand with the
maintenance volunteers,
Doncaster Ram- blers also have an
additional team which walks all the paths in the bor- ough – and there are almost 600 in total – on an annual basis, reporting any prob- lems which they encounter.
These are then passed on to the maintenance team who go ahead and carry out the necessary repairs. Task completed.
The Doncaster Ramblers are part of a national walking charity.
They o er a variety of led walks each week, as well as monitoring paths, stiles, and
gates in the DMBC area. Among the aims and ob-
jectives of The Ramblers are of course walking. But walk- ing for what? Health and well being, pleasure and com- panionship, exposure to the great outdoors, experiencing new landscapes, ora and fauna. All this and so much more.
Every walk is a unique and exciting experience.
The Doncaster Ramblers are also stewards of our tracks and footpaths, keep- ing them open all year round, by walking them regularly, and via a programme of maintenance in association with DMBC.
walks