Godalming and Haslemere Ramblers, in common with many other Ramblers Groups around the country, help the local council by volunteering to keep stiles and gates in good repair and replace them when necessary, as well a clearing vegetation on overgrown paths - all to enable Ramblers and the general public to continue to enjoy their time in the countryside. This is particularly important now that local government budgets are squeezed and keeping Rights of Way open may not be their top priority.
Our Footpath Working Party meets on the first Tuesday of every month, except January. They carry out a wide variety of tasks in conjunction with Surrey County Council Countryside Access Team.
Imrovements to footpath furniture and structure: This may involve replacement of broken stiles with field gates or kissing gates; small bridge construction; boardwalk construction and repair; work on steps, path surface or drainage; installing or replacing fingerposts and waymarks.
Footpath clearance: Paths can get very overgrown, making them hard to follow or completely inaccessible. Working Parties carry out vegetation clearance from all sides of a path.
All necessary tools and training if required e.g. for use of brushcutters are provided by SCC. To join in all that is required is old weatherproof clothing, strong footwear, the willingness to work as a team and to get stuck in. A sense of humour also helps. We generally work from 10.00 am until mid-afternoon so bring a drink and a sandwich for lunch. However, everyone commits the time they can. Some of the work is physically demanding, but there are also less onerous tasks which are no less important.
Here is a small selection of the work we have done recently.
