As this is the 40th anniversary of the Group, we can indulge in a little nostalgia. Joan Hibberd, one of the founder members looks back……………………..

 

Although Lancaster Group came into being in 1969, it wasn’t until much later that walks purely for pleasure were introduced onto the programme. Originally members only met for footpath inspections, waymarking, litter and rubbish clearances, or to investigate some project we set ourselves.  In the 1970’s local rights of way were mostly in an appalling state, or simply not usable at all, and so we had weekly Tuesday evening footpath walks to start the process of getting paths walkable. It was not unusual for us to end up struggling in the dark as it took so long to get through. I well remember our then footpath secretary, Henry (a pipe smoker), striking his matches to read the map to get us back to our cars.

 

In the winter we continued to meet monthly, on the night nearest to the full moon, for a moonlight walk. The moon didn’t always oblige, of course, but it certainly did on one memorable evening of hard frost on the Salter Fell Road in Roeburndale. It was a never-to-be-forgotten experience.  Winter 1976 saw the introduction of full-day walks purely for pleasure – just one Saturday a month! They were usually fell walks, fairly strenuous and rarely less than 10 miles long, often 14 or 16. One or two regulars were very adept at taking an after-lunch siesta, and it was not unusual to find the little group flat out on some grassy knoll, for half an hour or so, rucksacs doing duty as pillows.

 

By 1982 there was felt to be a need for week-day walks and these were introduced fortnightly “as an experiment”. They soon took off and today are probably more popular than the week-end ones. Summer ’88 saw us producing an “easier-than-usual” programme with walks from 5 to 8 miles. The first was a 7 mile walk led by Elsie Ingle to Stainforth Force and Feizor, and I remember leading a walk on that same programme to Beacon Fell for bilberries.  

 

Between us we managed to pick 6 bilberries all day! There was often an easy walk and a harder walk on the same day, especially at weekends. Now all walks are integrated into one programme, with 17 evening and 103 day walks during 2008, rather more than the initial one a month.

 

Looking back, those early days were great fun even if it was pretty hard going at times to reach your objective. We got scratched, and thwarted, and lost, and sometimes almost benighted, to say nothing of dodging gamekeepers, but all the effort eventually paid off.  Our local footpaths are now very walkable and are there to be enjoyed by all.

 

I’ll end this reminiscing with one more memory of a day walk in 1984. Shivering in thick mist, and wearing all available clothing (in some cases even balaclavas, thermal gloves and scarves), we sheltered between two walls on Kentmere Pike to eat our butties, and this was August! As we reached the top of Harter Fell the mist suddenly lifted, giving a breathtaking view of Haweswater far below. We were enthralled. I wonder what the scantily-clad girls we met on our way down thought of this over-dressed group just beginning to thaw out. Once in the valley it became so hot that Ruth cast off her balaclava and changed into shorts. A wonderful day of contrasts.  But that’s rambling!

 

What did we do when we weren’t Rambling?

Joan alluded to the fact that in the early days the Group set itself projects. Jean Gilligan, our previous Secretary recalls one of these……………………

The “Arnside and Silverdale AONB Report” was one of three major studies undertaken by the Lancaster Group between 1973 and 1977, with a view to protecting Rights of Way and Preserving and Enhancing the local Countryside.  It was produced after a series of discussions and meetings, held usually at Our Ladies High School, during the winter of 1972/73. On each of the eleven evenings one aspect of the AONB was discussed with a visiting expert to give direction and answer questions.

 

There were 3 full-day visits to investigate specific points that had arisen, and several members also made individual visits to further the study. Eventually the report was published in 1973, bringing together all aspects of the study and 20 recommendations were made. Some of these were:-

 

- That a Joint Planning Committee be formed. A forum was established in 1995, then a Management Plan in 1996, and an Executive in 2002.

- That Conservation Areas be created.  Beetham, The Yealands and Warton are all now conservation areas.

- That Protection was needed for Historic Buildings and Dry Stone Walls. A Heritage Lottery Grant was obtained in 2001.

 - That outstanding permissions at Troutbarrow Quarry be withdrawn. It was made a Nature Reserve in 1996.

- That there be no expansion of Middlebarrow Quarry. It closed in 2000.

- That on-going footpath work, signage and waymarking were needed. Now done by the Countryside Management Team.

 

In succeeding years the group worked closely with the A.O.N.B. Landscape Trust, by donating money earned from the sales of books and newspaper walks towards the purchase of such places as Trowbarrow Quarry and Coldwell Parock, the rebuilding of Leighton Beck Bridge, and the repair of footpaths.

 

This Project fostered a sense of Group purpose, and through the report we achieved our aims to enhance and preserve the Arnside/Silverdale A.O.N.B.

 

What’s happening in the AONB today?

Why not come along to the AGM on Tuesday November 10th and find out?

We are fortunate to have as our speaker, Lucy Baron, the new Manager for the Arnside/Silverdale AONB.  She will talk about the AONB, for which the next 5-year management plan has just been published, and her role within it.

 

AGM- November 10th at 7pm, Friends Meeting House