Tawe Trekkers Newsletter - 29th June 2009

Again, there's a lot of stuff in this week's newsletter including two walks and a bike ride. There's also a bit of news concerning the Rambler's Association that is worth mentioning here; the organisation is in financial difficulties and making significant staff cuts.
Graham went along to the Glamorgan Area Council meeting last week to find out what was going on, and his summary is included below. If you'd like to find out more and how it may affect us as a Group and as walkers please get in touch with Graham or Doug. First though, let's start with this week's walks...


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Mumbles Head Evening Walk - Thursday 2nd July

Thursday evening's walk takes in countryside and coast with a smattering of military history and architecture. There'll be some fine views of Swansea Bay as in the last evening walk but from a totally different angle.

After a steep but short climb to Mumbles Hill Nature Reserve we'll see some remnants from the Second World War. Further on the walk we get the chance to view Catherine Zeta-Jones new house and discuss its grand design. Near here we get fine views across the Bristol Channel towards Ilfracombe.

The walk ends at Salt (or The George as it used to be known) and if you can't make the walk hopefully you can join us on the upstairs balcony from 9 pm (or inside if wet!).

Meeting place is Southend Boat car park (opposite Salt) which is a little further down Mumbles Road from Southend car park. Grid reference: SS 622877.

See you at 7.30 pm.

Phone 07981 963 681 for further details.

Robert H


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Mynydd Margam and Margam Country Park - Saturday 4th July

South Wales has many fine country parks and Margam is no exception. Margam Park is an 850 acre estate on the southern slopes of Mynydd Margam. This rich landscape has a rich history to match; an abbey was built in the 12th Century and then razed by Henry VIII in the Disolution. Margam 'Castle' was built in the 19th Century as a stately mansion. Tom's walk offers a chance to explore the history and landscape of Margam Park and beyond.

The route starts off steeply up a wooded hill past old abbey church then walk along a ridgeway. It continues through Forestry Commision wood to the summit of Mynydd Margam to follow the Coed Morganwg way eastwards and finally descends back through the deer park back to start.

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 8 Miles

Meeting Points: County Hall at 0930 or the walk start point (which is the information point by Margam Stones and near Margam Abbey) at 1000. If you plan to go straight to the start point please let Tom know.

For more details on the route and meeting place please call Tom on 07980477164.


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Credit crunch strikes the Ramblers Association

Along with many other voluntary sector organisations the Ramblers Association nationally has been hit hard by the current economic downturn. As a result major cuts in budget and staffing are being applied and the view in Scotland and Wales is that the the axe is falling far too freely in the Regions. There was a lively discussion of the issue on friday night at the well-attended Glamorgan Area Council meeting.

Due to the Credit Crunch Ramblers memberships are dropping and there have been falls in income from sales and donations too. This has left a budgetary deficit of £1.5 Million out of a total budget of £ 6 Million for the Ramblers nationally. The solution formulated by Central Office in London is major cuts in staffing. The budget for the Wales Office is being cut from £300,000 to just £80,000 with 6 out of 8 core posts being lost. The remaining two core staff (Senior Development & Promotions Officer and Rights of Way Officer) will work from home as the office in Cardiff is being closed. The first redundancies will take place next friday.

Although there will be cuts in staffing in London also, the feeling of the meeting was that Wales and Scotland were being disproportionately pruned and that the measures had been applied in undue haste and without proper consideration or consultation. It is probably now too late to avert the cuts but the meeting formally resolved to send a strongly worded letter to the Chief Executive and Trustees condemning the action that had been taken and highlighting the damage that would be done to the Ramblers in Wales - loss of reputation, loss of voice with the Assembly Goverment, loss of fundraising opportunities and opportunities for partnership working. The promotion of walking in Wales with it's attendant health benefits and the maintenance and enhancement of the the footpath network would suffer as a consequence.

The move is a stark reversal of recent progress in devolving more resources and authority to the Scottish and Welsh Offices. There is talk of UDI in some quarters especially amongst the unruly Scots!

Cheers,

Graham


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BHF Gower Bike Ride - Sun 5th July

Phil is organising a group for the 2009 Gower Bike Ride. This is an annual event in aid of the British Heart Foundation. Choose your route from 16 or 29 mile routes (29 miles if you want to join Phil!!). This is not a race, but an opportunity to enjoy a day cycling around the beautiful Gower Peninsula.

The ride(s) begin from St. Helens recreation ground. We are planning on setting off at 0930 but if you haven't pre-registered online you will need to get there earlier to register on the day.

See the link below for entry details .

http://www.bhf.org.uk/get_involved/take_part_in_our_events/event_finder/view_event.aspx?ps=1000313

For more details call Phil on 07967 115395.


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Phew! That's about all there is for this week.

Cheers,

Doug