The Ramblers' Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW
The Footpath Team has been established for some years, reporting to the Greater Manchester and High Peak Area, and is one of the twin pillars of the group, Footpaths and Walking.
Footpath Inspectors make an annual survey of Rights of Way in the borough and assess the paths for easy of use against local government standards. The FP Team report their findings to Trafford Council and works with the Council Officers to make best use of the Council's allocated resources to keep paths in Trafford in good condition for the benefit of all users be they pram pushing mums, children walking to school, commuters on the way to work, cyclists and horseriders (on appropriate routes) or anyone who enjoys walking locally for health.
As well as the work in keeping existing path is good order, the FP Team assist Trafford residents when they want to claim new Rights of Way or simply need advice on what to do about a problem they encounter with a path.
Footpath Secretary June Mabon telephone: 0161 928 3437 email: june@hilltopltd.org.uk
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We had the benefit of a power strimmer operated by the Council officer. It certainly does clear vegetation fast although the vegetation fights back by being “strimmer wire hungry” and the strimmer needs frequent recharging of the plastic cutting wire. We also cut down some self seeded sapling growth which was either getting in the way of path users or where too many saplings were too close together to allow for healthy growth.
The pictures below illustrate the morning’s “showcase” bit of clearance – a large patch of rampant brambles had taken over the path verge, obscuring the wooden fencing and threatening to spread over the centre of the path just as soon as the growing season gets underway. Within an hour of starting we had this patch cleared back to the line of the fencing. And we collected two bags of litter, mostly
exposed when we cut back vegetation.
U31 footpath is quite long and there is scope for a second clearance visit. So there will be more work day dates coming soon.
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On Friday 2nd December 2011 the Footpath team tackled their first vegetation clearance! The weather was ideal for the event and ten team members made a big difference to the path beside Baguley Brook, Sale. Even the local Community Police lady stopped by to say hello and comment favourable of Ramblers putting something tangible into the community. This was the first exercise we have done so there were quite a few lessons learned and we are very hopeful that there will be future
exercises along the same lines. The Council seems to be prepared to help us identify other paths where we can get the landowners permission to cut back excessive vegetation, Encouragingly, the Council representative who worked with us last Friday morning has left the Council supplied yellow
hi-vis vests we wore with us “for use on future occasions”.
© Trafford Group.
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