Walking with ENBRO:
Richard Gardner counts town and countryside walks as one of his favourite pastimes in retirement, in addition to running the monthly meetings of the Croft Book Club in St Mary Cray. ‘Have Freedom Pass Will Travel!’ – and why not when Orpington and the Crays with their excellent transport links are a perfect starting point for exploring the Greater London metropolis or countryside.
Words from Richard Gardner and photos from Cray 150 author and poet Beverley Gillard.
Environment Bromley (ENBRO) is a voluntary unincorporated organisation founded by the late Philip Daniell in 1980, with the aims of conserving and interpreting the natural and man-made environment of the London Borough of Bromley and adjacent areas. It endeavours to protect and maintain footpaths with volunteers keeping an eye on them and reporting any problems they may see.
Members can enjoy walks most days of the year led by dedicated leaders. These walks are not only in the London Borough of Bromley, but also throughout Kent, Surrey, Sussex, London and even further afield. Walks may be circular or linear and many can be accessed by public transport. If you are lucky enough to have a Freedom Pass you can often travel for free. Guided walks in London are always popular as they are both interesting and informative.
I joined Enbro soon after my retirement over ten years ago and I regard it as one of the better decisions I have made in my life. Apart from making a host of new friends I soon lost a stone in weight and felt years younger. In the early stages I struggled to climb hills but these days I rise to the top of them with comparative ease. At the present cost of membership being £7 a year it won't break the bank but you will need to visit a sportswear shop to buy a sturdy pair of walking boots, walking socks and a rucksack. Some people also bring a walking pole with them which is particularly useful to maintain balance when the ground is slippery.
Richard Gardner counts town and countryside walks as one of his favourite pastimes in retirement, in addition to running the monthly meetings of the Croft Book Club in St Mary Cray. ‘Have Freedom Pass Will Travel!’ – and why not when Orpington and the Crays with their excellent transport links are a perfect starting point for exploring the Greater London metropolis or countryside.
Words from Richard Gardner and photos from Cray 150 author and poet Beverley Gillard.
Environment Bromley (ENBRO) is a voluntary unincorporated organisation founded by the late Philip Daniell in 1980, with the aims of conserving and interpreting the natural and man-made environment of the London Borough of Bromley and adjacent areas. It endeavours to protect and maintain footpaths with volunteers keeping an eye on them and reporting any problems they may see.
Members can enjoy walks most days of the year led by dedicated leaders. These walks are not only in the London Borough of Bromley, but also throughout Kent, Surrey, Sussex, London and even further afield. Walks may be circular or linear and many can be accessed by public transport. If you are lucky enough to have a Freedom Pass you can often travel for free. Guided walks in London are always popular as they are both interesting and informative.
I joined Enbro soon after my retirement over ten years ago and I regard it as one of the better decisions I have made in my life. Apart from making a host of new friends I soon lost a stone in weight and felt years younger. In the early stages I struggled to climb hills but these days I rise to the top of them with comparative ease. At the present cost of membership being £7 a year it won't break the bank but you will need to visit a sportswear shop to buy a sturdy pair of walking boots, walking socks and a rucksack. Some people also bring a walking pole with them which is particularly useful to maintain balance when the ground is slippery.
Walking is one of the most popular outdoor recreational activities in the United Kingdom, and within England and Wales there is a comprehensive network of rights of way that permits access to the countryside. Over the years the spaces that we are free to walk and enjoy have increased enormously. To begin with we have the National Parks.
The Peak District was Britain's first National Park. In 1932 there was a mass trespass at an area known as Kinder Scout. Many men and women who worked for long hours in the nearby towns wanted to get out in the countryside and enjoy the fresh air. It was reported in the Manchester Guardian that about 400 people took part. However, the land was owned by the Duke of Devonshire and he objected to this intrusion. Some of the returning walkers were arrested and given jail sentences of up to six months. But protests continued for the right to roam and proved to be successful. They led to the passage of the National Parks legislation in 1949 helping pave the way for the establishment of the Pennine Way and other long distance footpaths. Walkers rights to travel through common land and uncultivated upland were eventually protected by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act of 2000. These days there are now fifteen National Parks in the UK - ten in England, three in Wales and two in Scotland.
Walking is not only good for your physical and mental wellbeing, but it is a form of exercise that is easy on the body - the joints in particular. While some choose to walk alone or with family and friends there are many in hiking clubs who prefer the company of a larger group as they make their way. The groups are generally guided by an experienced leader who might take them somewhere they would never have discovered for themselves.
The Peak District was Britain's first National Park. In 1932 there was a mass trespass at an area known as Kinder Scout. Many men and women who worked for long hours in the nearby towns wanted to get out in the countryside and enjoy the fresh air. It was reported in the Manchester Guardian that about 400 people took part. However, the land was owned by the Duke of Devonshire and he objected to this intrusion. Some of the returning walkers were arrested and given jail sentences of up to six months. But protests continued for the right to roam and proved to be successful. They led to the passage of the National Parks legislation in 1949 helping pave the way for the establishment of the Pennine Way and other long distance footpaths. Walkers rights to travel through common land and uncultivated upland were eventually protected by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act of 2000. These days there are now fifteen National Parks in the UK - ten in England, three in Wales and two in Scotland.
Walking is not only good for your physical and mental wellbeing, but it is a form of exercise that is easy on the body - the joints in particular. While some choose to walk alone or with family and friends there are many in hiking clubs who prefer the company of a larger group as they make their way. The groups are generally guided by an experienced leader who might take them somewhere they would never have discovered for themselves.
My favourite walk that I lead is an Amersham circular walk with a lunch stop at Chalfont St Giles. There is a cottage in the village, now a museum, where John Milton wrote Paradise Lost. To get to Amersham in Bucks we travel from Marylebone Station on Chiltern Railways and this journey is free with a Freedom Pass. In March I will lead the Beverley Brook walk that starts from New Malden Station in Surrey and follows the Brook through Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park, Barnes Common and ends at the Thames.
Should anyone wish to join Enbro please email [email protected]