new online events calendar launched · news for all who enjoy the thames path new online events...

Thames Path Na onal Trail Office, Speedwell House, Oxford, OX1 1NE Informa on: [email protected] T:01865 810224 Volunteers [email protected] T: 01865 810211

W www.na onaltrail.co.uk/thames‐path/

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Events online 1

Organised Events Calendar

3

Missing Jigsaw

Piece

4

Trail Overview 6

Volunteer Task

Diary

7

Along the Trail 8

Circular Walk

10

End notes 13

Erith Lighthouse 12

N E W S L E T T E R A U T U M N 2 0 1 7 I S S U E 7

follow @n hames

News for all who enjoy the

Thames Path

New Online Events Calendar Launched

We have just launched an online events calendar! This calendar is not just

for large organised events ‐ we’d love Parishes and Towns and local

organisa ons to promote their

fetes, rega as etc – the things

that make the Thames special.

Organisers can add events to the

website to a ract par cipants

and keep the public informed of

ac vi es along the trail. We hope

that it will also allow organisers

to avoid poten al clashes with

other events.

The past few years have seen a tremen‐

dous growth in the use of the Trails for

large organised charity events. Organisers

of these events have started working more

closely with the Thames Path Trail Team to

plan ahead, keep everyone informed and

support improvements to the Trail. Thanks

to all who have sent in event forms to the Trails Office with details of

events taking place this year and also pledged a dona on to the Trails.

Con nued overleaf

From the website you can

download a registra on form

for events on the Thames

Path and also find guidance

on managing an event

on the trail.



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We aim to keep the Trails as gold standard public rights of way for all to use.

Earlier this year the family of 16 Na onal Trails decided to request a minimum

dona on of £1 per par cipant from the organisers of large events along the Trails

to contribute towards keeping the trail open for all future events and for all those

who enjoy walking the Trails. The dona ons are used to fund improvements for

work and projects that we wouldn't otherwise be able to do, for example accessi‐

bility improvements or new signage. Dona ons also go towards providing free on

‐line informa on about the Trail ‐ this includes the website and keeping it up to

date with accommoda on informa on, changes to the route, news etc. The new

online Events Calendar sprang out of feedback from the Event Organisers Forum

we held earlier this year. We will be holding another event organiser's forum

some me in January 2018.

Please keep in touch about your events. We are happy to have a range of ac vi‐

es taking place along The Thames Path! For large events, remember to make

sure you have sent in your Event form to us and entered your event online.

We wish you every success for your event along the Thames Path!

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To help people schedule their visits to the Trail, this calendar sets out some of the major

organised charity events planned for the autumn which we have been informed of. Details

about these events and also other local events, such as healthy walks, can be found on our

website.

If you are out along the Thames and spot any interes ng sights, please do get a

photo and up‐load it onto our website www.na onaltrails/thamespath

We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to provide feedback and suggest ar cles for future newsle ers.

E: [email protected]

Chilterns Walking Fes val 16 September – 1 October 2017 Explore new areas of The Chilterns—family‐friendly, accessible and inclusive walks in the autumn Walking Fes val

www.visitchilterns.co.uk/walkingfest

Date Organisa on Event Loca on Par ci-pants

Website

19 & 20/8/2017

City of Oxford Rowing Club

Oxford Royal Rega a 2017

Folly Bridge & Longbridges, Oxford

100‐499

www.oxfordrowingclub.org.uk

09&10 /09/2017

Ac on Challenge

Thames Path Challenge (3 challenges)

Putney Bridge‐Henley

3,000

www.thamespathchallenge.com

10/09/2017

Parkinson’s UK

Walk for Parkinsons

Oxford

300

www.parkinsons.org.uk/walkoxford

16/09/2017

Microloan Foun‐da on

Thames Path Challenge

Putney and Kew

80+

www.microloanfounda on.org.uk/events/

24/09/2017

Mul ple Sclerosis Society

MS Walk

Ba ersea

TBC

www.mssociety.org.uk/ms‐events/ms‐walk

30/09/2017

Helen & Douglas House

Riverside Stomp

Wallingford Riverside Park

250

www.helenanddouglas.org.uk

29/10/2017

Shoo ng Star Chase

River Thames Half Marathon

Walton, Surrey

TBC

www.shoo ngstarchase.org.uk

Organised Chari ty Events Autumn Calendar

P A G E 3

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thames-path/calendar�

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thames-path�

http://www.visitchilterns.co.uk/walkingfest.html�

http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/walkoxford�






P A G E 4

Walking for Health in Oxford In Oxford, as in many towns and villages there is an active Walking for Health group and events run weekly. There is a regu‐lar health walk every Tues‐day morning, star ng at Oxford Town Hall, St Al‐dates, OX1 1BX. The walks o en go along the Thames Path. They are designed for people who want to take some exercise by walking for about 2 ‐ 3 miles in about an hour. Every one is welcome and there is no charge.

TheBerks,Bucks&OxonWildlifeTrusthaslaunchedanappealtoraise£220,000towardsthepurchasepriceoffarmlandatDuxfordOldRiver,oneofthevitalmissingpiecesofavastjigsawforwildlife.Thiswillcreatethe irstnaturereservetocoverbothsidesoftheriverany-wherealongtheThames.

TheTrust’sChimneyMeadowsnaturereserveisjustacrosstheriverfromthefarmlandatDuxford,sotheTrustwillbeabletocreateoneofthelargestnaturereservesinOxfordshire.

NeilClennell,theTrust’sDirectorofConservation&EducationforOxfordshireexplains:“Insomanyplaceswildlifeisbeingsqueezedoutofitsnaturalhabitatswhereitusedto lourish.Herethepeacefulmean-dersoftheoldriverarenaturalplaygroundsforottersandwatervoles,andthereedsarefullofdragon liesanddamsel lies.

“IftheTrust’sappealissuccessfulwe’llletMotherNaturetakethelead,withjustalittlebitofhelpfromustogetthingsgoing.At113acrestheDuxfordOldRiverlandisinmanywaysavastblankcanvaswithsomuchpotentialforwildlife.

“BBOWTcantakeastepback,letnatureleadthewayandseewhatna-turedoeswiththesite.WehopethatDuxfordOldRiverwilldevelop

The Old River meanders with banded demoiselles among water crowfoot

Phot

o cr

edit:

And

rew

Mar

shal

l “We hope

that Duxford

Old River will

develop into a

wonderful,

complemen-

tary mosaic

of habitats to

the meadows

that we creat-

ed on the

northern bank

of the river,

completing

this part of

the upper

Thames wild-

life jigsaw.”

Nat

ure

alo

ng

the

Tra

il

Help to Buy the ‘missing piece of wildlife jigsaw’

http://www.bbowt.org.uk/reserves/chimney-meadows�



I S S U E 7 P A G E 5 N

ature alo

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intoawonderful,complementarymosaicofhabitatstothemeadowsthatwecreatedonthenorthernbankoftheriver,completingthispartoftheupperThameswildlifejigsaw.”

TheTrustwouldallowtheThamesto loodontothelandandholdwaterinpondsandpools,providingmuch-neededandundisturbedhabitatsforcurlewandlapwingtobreed,andlarge locksofbirdssuchassnipeandtealtooverwinterhere.Newback-watersanda ishpasswillgivesafehavensfor ishtospawnandinsectstothrive,providingmorefoodforbatsandbirds.

Neiloutlineswhythisopportunitywillbetransformative:“We’veshownonChimneyMeadowsthatafter14yearsofcarefulstewardshipwe’vebeenabletorestore654acresoffarmlandtoitsformergloryandcreateamajorhavenforwildlife.

“ThecurrentownersofthelandatDuxfordhavefarmedsympatheticallyforwildlife;thedensereedbedsandthickhedgerowswithtallcrackwillowtreesarefullofthebirdsongofwarblersandbuntings.Ourecologyof icerColinWilliamsrecentlyrecord-ed45speciesofbirdincludinglittleegretandapairofnestingcurlew.Butitcouldbeevenbetter.ThelandhasnoformalprotectionforwildlifesoBBOWTisdeterminedtoprotectitanditswildlifeforthefuture.”

BBOWThasappliedtotrustsandgrant-makingbodiesforfundstocontributetothepurchaseofthelandatDuxfordOldRiver.Thepublicappealfor£220,000willalsocontributetothepurchase.

YoucangivetotheDuxfordOldRiverappealviathiswebsite:bit.ly/DuxfordOldRiver

Phot

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Duxford, old river farmland Sedge warbler

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayCharityCampaignPage.action?charityCampaignUrl=duxford�



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Created for the public to enjoy the beau ful landscape with its rich wildlife, flora and fauna,

the 184mile long Thames Path Na onal Trail is unique. It is the only long distance path to fol‐

low a river for most of its length and it's the iconic River Thames which gives the Trail its char‐

acter and creates the countryside through which you walk. Star ng in the Cotswolds as a track

across water meadows and fields beside the infant River Thames, the Trail passes through vil‐

lages in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, on surfaced pavements through historic ci es …un l

finally it passes through the capital, London, to the Thames Barrier in Greenwich. The Thames

Path provides a walk alongside the ‘liquid history’ of a wonderful River.

The Thames Path Partnership is responsible for the management, development and promo‐

on of The Thames Path Na onal Trail to ensure a great trail experience for all. It involves a

wide range of organisa ons and dedicated Trail volunteers help to maintain the route and

keep it to a good standard for all who use it.

Plan your day visit or holiday to The Thames Path using our interac ve online map:

www.na onaltrail.co.uk/thamespath. Why rush? Pace yourself to the meandering river ‐ if you

like you can plan to walk the Trail a sec on at a me (there are 15 sec ons ranging from 9‐15

miles, see map above)—and take days, weeks or even years to complete it!

The Thames Path Companion guide lists details of campsites, B&Bs, hotels, self‐catering

co ages and inns around the area. Other useful contacts, such as taxis, hospitals, vets, are pro‐

vided as well as car park loca ons. It costs £4.95 plus postage and is available from our online

shop: www.shop.na onaltrail.co.uk

P A G E 6

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thames-path�

https://shop.nationaltrail.co.uk/�



P A G E 7

Volunteer Task Diary Practical work is carried out along The Thames Path and The Ridgeway to ensure walkers enjoy using it. Work is carried out by the National Trail Team, volunteers, local highway authorities, landowners and contractors. Volunteers are welcome to help maintain the Thames Path by joining the task team led by the National Trail Team. The location and activities for the next 3 months are shown below. Please ensure that you book early as the practical tasks are popular. Locations for tasks may change and volunteer numbers can be limited due to type of task.

Volunteer to help with a task by contacting the National Trail Team.

Book in advance and as soon as possible. E: [email protected] T: 01865 810211

Thames Path National Trails Team

SEPT 4th RW ‐ Scutchamers IB 1 4th TP – Workshop S 2 5th TP ‐ Northmoor G 3 6th TP ‐ Inglesham S 4 7th TP – TBC 11th TP – workshop S 2 12th RW – Wendover ST 5 13th RW – TBC 14th TP – Inglesham S 4 18th RW – Bishopstone S 6 19th TP – Swinford BBQ 2 25th RW – Bishopstone 6 26th TP – Inglesham S 4

OCT 2nd RW – West S 6 3rd TP – Workshop S 2 4th RW – West S 6 5th TP – Inglesham S 4 9th RW – Watlington W/C 10th TP – Inglesham S 4 11th RW – South Stoke W/C 7 12th TP – Inglesham S 4 16th TP – Dorchester W/C 7 17th RW – Snap W/C 8 18th RW – Wallingford W/C 7 19th TP – Northmoor G 23rd RW – Princess Risborough W/C 5 24th TP – Cholsey W/C 7 25th TP – TBC 30th RW – Snap W/C 8 31st TP – Dorchester W/C 7

KEY IB = Interpreta on boards G = Gate S = Signage ST = Steps TBC = To be confirmed BBQ = :-)

Task Dates

Task Locations for Ridgeway and Thames Path

4

8

2

1

9 5

7

Check

the map

for a

task

location

near to

you.

3

6

NOV 1st TP – Lechlade W/C 4 2nd TP – Osney W/C 9 6th RW – Snap W/C 8 7th RW – Wallingford W/C 7 8th TP – TBC 13th RW – Snap W/C 8 14th RW – Watlington W/C 10 15th TP – Lechlade W/C 4 16th TP – Osney W/C 9 20th TP – Chimney W/C 11 21st RW – Watlington W/C 10 22nd Workshop 2 27th TP – Fiddlers W/C 9 28th RW – Snap W/C 8 29th TP – Dorchester W/C 7 30th RW ‐ TBC

Whether repor ng by phone or by email, please add a grid reference and a photo is also very useful!

Vo

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P A G E 8

Along The Trail

Here’s a quick update on the larger scale works and other assortments along the Thames that you might find interes ng.

Our aim is to ensure all enclosed sec ons of the Thames Path receive at least 2 grass cuts per year. As well as your on‐going commitment to our volunteer grass cuts, we also have 3 separate contractor grass cuts in opera on, with the second cut having now been completed.

We only have funding for 2 grass cuts and so our volun‐teer cuts are crucial to keep‐ing the trail open. On top of this the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and Richmond Borough Council undertake grass cu ng regimes along the trail through their reaches. The last thing we need now

is a warm and wet August! You might be interested to learn, especially those of you that sign up to the Chimney Meadow grass cu ng day that within 2 weeks of us cu ng that reach, we then received a complaint from the public that it was overgrown and so the need for three cuts from our volunteers are crucial along such reaches, nothing grows like a riverbank during the summer!

Some weldmesh and gabion stone revetment works have taken place between Pangbourne and Mapledurham, where the erosion had become an issue to trail users, further works are required here, we’re going to build a boardwalk through a marshy, water meadow area, to improve access for all, but also to ensure users won’t cause further damage to this fragile eco system.

We have further large scale revetment works programmed in for both Streatley and Oxford City. As the river banks are high with a narrow topped bank along these reaches, sheet piling is our only op on, but this will be off set with pre‐planted coir rolls, with shade‐resistant riparian vegeta on planted in the coir rolls. The Oxford City reach is also going to see a widened new surface along with des na on signage, to encourage the public to walk and cycle as part of a Government ini a ve to improve city walking and cycling links.

A new replacement bridge with ramping to replace steps, crossing the Thames near South Cerney will be installed, and a new in keeping surface will be put down just upstream of Marlow – this will link up with previous surfaces and pro‐vide a level path along the Marlow reach for all to enjoy.

Further downstream we are looking to work with partners to undertake a full London condi on survey on both banks through the capital. User feedback on the Thames Path through London highlights signage and development as two factors that need to be inves gated. When we know about development taking place, we ask the Highway Authority to provide us with diversion maps which are then uploaded onto our interac ve website map here www.na onaltrail.co.uk/thames‐path/plan and so help forewarn trail users. This

Grass cu ng

Pangbourne revetment work

Signage through London

..nothing

grows like a

riverbank

during the

summer!

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thames-path/plan�



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is not the only informa on that can be uploaded, for example businesses along the Thames adver se their hotels on the site and recently all London Premier Inns did just that. There are many other business adver‐sing their products such as pubs, boat hire and cycle hire companies. The website peaks at around

70,000 hits during the summer months with 12% of the traffic coming from overseas, so it is certainly worthwhile for Thames side businesses to adver se themselves.

One of the largest developments taking place through London is the Tideway tunnel. This is London’s largest build since Crossrail. It is upda ng London’s sewerage system to cope with the demands of the city well into the 22nd century. Overflows of untreated sewage into the dal River Thames add up to tens of millions of tonnes every year. This is unacceptable and the Thames Tideway Tun‐nel will clean up our river. During the 25 kilo‐metre intercep on, storage and transfer tun‐nel build, there are some diversions around the Thames Path. Its legacy will not only clean up the river but also provide opportu‐ni es for further riverside frontage for public access. To learn more about Tideway visit www. deway.london/ With development comes our opportunity to create new riverside walking through London and another large development taking place is Ba ersea Power Sta on. Because of the dangers in walking next to industrial areas such as Ba ersea, there has nev‐er been riverside access for the public through such areas, however thanks to the development taking place, once completed, and for the first me we’ll see the Thames Path running next to the Thames through this area.

We’ve been ‘researching’ the possibili es of working in partnership with one of the breweries that has a connec on with the Thames, to brew a Thames Path Trail ale, unfortunately we haven’t had any success to date, but if you do know or have connec ons with a brewery who would be interested in working with us then please do get in contact with us.

Moving yet further downstream, we’ve had mee ngs with the English Coast Path Team, Greenwich and Bexley Borough Councils to inves gate further the linking up of our exis ng Thames Path Na onal Trail with the crea on of the English Coast Path Na onal Trail South East. This work is on‐going, but some parts of the English Coast Path Na onal Trail have already been created and can now be walked, whereas others sec ons such as the estuary areas have more challeng‐es, ranging from environmentally sensi ve areas, river delta systems feeding into them and heavy industry and so require more me for their crea on. Visit: www.na onaltrail.co.uk/england‐coast‐path All the best, The Thames Path Trail Team

Thames Estuary

https://www.tideway.london/media/3547/route-map.png�

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/england-coast-path-se�



P A G E 1 0

Circular walks thanks to Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and Hurley Parish Council

To download a pdf of the walk please visit www3.rbwm.gov.uk/



P A G E 1 1



Come and enjoy Erith’s riverside this summer. Erith Lighthouse is an extraordinary des ‐

na on for the community that will bring the town back to the Thames and give space to

season of food, explora on and play.

Across August and September 17 chefs will host 17 dinners at Erith Lighthouse, crea ng

dis nct menus inspired by Erith’s unique riverside loca on on the border of London and

Kent. Each dinner will be a celebra on and fusion of London’s exci ng food culture and

this area’s agricultural heritage.

Alongside the dinners, a six‐week programme of family‐friendly events in partnership

with the best of Erith’s people and places will explore and celebrate the many faces of Er‐

ith and this part of the Thames Estuary including free Erith Lighthouse and Historical

Walking Tours. Devised and programmed by DK‐CM and The Decorators, Erith Lighthouse

is commissioned by the London Borough of Bexley and funded by the Mayor’s London Re‐

genera on Fund as part of Bexley’s Greater Erith Programme that is aimed at reac va ng

the town centre and making the most of Erith’s unique se ng by the River Thames.

Follow the link to Book your ckets or visit h p://www.greatererith.com/erith‐

lighthouse.

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NATIONAL TRAILS OFFICE ADDRESS

Speedwell House, Oxford, OX1 1NE

Informa on 01865 810224 Volunteers 01865 810211

E: [email protected] W:www.na onaltrail.co.uk/

thamespath

NATIONAL TRAILS WORKSHOP Signal Court, Sta on Road,

Eynsham, OX29 4TL E: [email protected]

P A G E 1 3

LOVE THE TRAIL?

THAMESPATH

Buy this classic enamel pin badge to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this much loved Trail. Perfect for your hat, your rucksack or your lapel, wear it to show your support for the Na onal Trails.

Maps and guide books also for sale, visit Thames Path website the Na onal Trails Shop

A quality mug in a contemporary design lis ng memorable places along the Trails. If you've walked the Trail then it's a must!

Na onal Trails Office, Speedwell House, Oxford, OX1 1NE

En

d N

otes

Our quarterly newsletter goes out to

our volunteers, to parishes &

businesses along the Thames - if you

would like to advertise in

the winter newsletter,

please contact

[email protected]

Spot any problems on the Trail? Uneven or muddy surface?

Broken gate or sign? Overgrown path?

Please note the loca on with a grid reference

and take a photo— Then please let us know!

[email protected]

T: 01865 810211

https://shop.nationaltrail.co.uk/collections/thames-path�

new online events calendar launched · news for all who enjoy the thames path new online events...

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