The Best Value Performance Indicator Survey (BVPI) of the rights of way in the parish of Ellingham, Harbridge and Ibsley is now complete.  This has been an enormous undertaking involving only a small number of members.  Kelvin Winch is now completing the paperwork and forwarding it to Hampshire County Council Rights of Way.  A big thank you from me to those who have participated in the path checking process.  It has been a difficult task.  This large parish includes paths’ which cross National Trust Commons (open access land).  Many of you will know that there are a huge number of tracks and paths on Ibsley, Rockford and Mockbeggar Commons.  These are not all rights of way and it is difficult to know if you are on the correct path line (or even if it is a right of way) without using a compass.  (The survey says you should be able to do this with an up to date OS map without using a compass.)  Rowan Brockhurst and I (and probably others) had difficulty even when using a compass.  Using the BVPI criteria the paths should be given a ‘Fail’ grade.  I cannot help wondering if this is fair as it is easy to walk on the commons.

a road and at points where there is also a path to a private property.  Some arrows and signage, indicating where a path is going, would be very useful.  Perhaps these could be placed on some of the tree trunks which the National Trust has recently installed as seats.

Christmas is fast approaching and the New Year and the time for New Year Resolutions.  Volunteering is part of The Big Society.  And there are many opportunities for this.  Consider volunteering to assist with footpath work and the leading of walks.  Help will be given.  Someone will always help and advise you when you first start leading walks.  Both Pat Whiteing and I are being asked for extra walks especially for shorter ones both in the week and at weekends.  If you want them come forward and volunteer to lead them.  To provide them we need more walk leaders.  Pat wishes to give up as Programme Secretary at the AGM so someone is needed to take on that role.  Do talk to me or to Pat if you are interested in doing so and want further information about what is involved.

With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
Ruth Croker.