Webmaster is Geoff Kirby

NEWSLETTER

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Programme – there is one extra walk on this programme

We have continued with our policy to have fewer walks on Thursdays. You will note that there is one Thursday walk per month leaving from Brownsword Hall, Poundbury. 

Extra walk – on Thursday 22^nd March we plan to catch the number 10 bus at 13.18 from Trinity Street to go to Weymouth. After our walk we will go the the Palm House for tea. Other extra walks planned for this year include Long Bredy, Abbotsbury and possibly the Water Gardens at Chickerell.

The Strollers Committee would like to take this opportunity to send our walkers its very best wishes for the New Year.

Aim of the Group is to encourage walking on a regular basis in a very sociable atmosphere.  We have all ages from youngsters in push chairs to very senior citizens.  We aim for the pace of the walk to be what ever suits you best. There will be a leader at the front setting a moderate pace and a leader at the back going at the pace which suits the slowest walker. 

They will have First Aid packs and water for emergencies. The route and any hazards will be discussed at the beginning of the walk.  We hope walkers will be able to stop for refreshments at the end of the walk. It is, of course, optional but having a chat is a great way to get to know people.

Health Forms If you are attending a walk for the first time you will be asked to fill out a confidential health questionnaire.  You will also need to fill in a new form if your medical circumstances have changed.

Other walks  For people who want to walk independently in the town but are not sure where to go, there are the Dorchester Town Trails which tell you about the history of the town. Maps and information are available from Tourist Information (on the corner of Antelope Walk and Trinity Street).  For people who want more challenging walks the South Dorset Group of the Ramblers’ has regular short walks – for programme ring 01305 269381.. The Casterbridge Ramblers also has regular short walks – for programme ring 01305 263759. For other nearby Walking the Way to Health Groups contact Alan Burfield 01305 835637 for Weymouth and Portland and Tony Hawthorne 01308 458966 for Bridport.  The County Council is also a source of information and booklets.  The Broadmayne Strollers also offer a short walk each month – for further information ring 01305 854436.

The Strollers was formed in July 2003 arising from the Action Plan of the Dorchester Area Partnership upon which one of our leaders now sits.  The Strollers has a constitution and Committee and holds regular meetings of both Committee and Leaders and an annual AGM in the autumn.  It is under the umbrella of Natural England’s ‘Walking the Way to Health’ – www.whi.naturalengland.org.uk.  We do not charge the walkers and funding in kind and by grants comes from Dorchester Town Council and other organisations, as well as our own fund raising activities.  We have a set of display boards to publicise the Group and to support talks and events.  You can find us on http://www.geoffkirby.co.uk/DorchesterStrollers/index.html.

The Ramblers’ Group programmes point out that “All sporting and leisure activities have inherent hazards associated with them and rambling is no exception. In spite of the safety of members being the paramount concern, accidents will occasionally occur. It is important, therefore, that when entering into the activity, each member appreciates that they have a responsibility to identify the hazards associated with the activity and take all reasonable steps to eliminate or minimise the potential for an accident to arise”. The walk leaders feel this applies to the DORCHESTER STROLLERS activities too and so would like to bring it to your attention.

The Committee is always interested to hear your views and comments and try to act on them.  

Our next Committee meeting will take place on March 14^th.

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