As we had hoped, our 2022 Spring Walks Festival was another roaring success. Not just because it was the first since Covid first derailed our plans in 2020 but because, somehow, this year the eight days of walks perfectly coincided with the arrival of spring and a bout of fine weather.
Warmed by the gentle spring sunshine, our beautiful countryside was reawakened by a dramatic explosion of colour and life. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to stroll through the woodlands swathed in wood anemone, wild garlic and (not least) our native bluebell, all accompanied by the joyful sounds of birdsong?
It was meant to be a low key event, just in case the unthinkable happened and our activities were restricted again. Despite this, there were a total of 24 walks delivered by a team of 20 volunteer walk leaders. MVR members joined these walks an impressive 254 times. Ramblers from other groups attended 48 times and new walkers 19 times. Our latest badges bearing the updated MVR logo (designed by Paul G using the new Ramblers colours) were distributed to mark the start of the Festival and were very well received. Indeed, many people were actually wearing polo shirts with the new logo embroidered in situ; these were greatly admired too.
It all culminated on the last day, when a total of 74 people undertook the 4 different walks, which all converged at Wotton Village Hall for some social gathering. They were joined there by a few people who had been unable to go on the planned walks. Bizarrely, our activities attracted a herd of curious cattle that looked in through the windows clearly wanting to get in on the action.
Scrumptious cakes were donated by talented bakers in our midst and the refreshments were served by an efficient team of helpers. Everyone was on very good form and the mood was exceedingly jolly.
We were delighted to receive a couple of personal accounts of walkers' experiences during the Festival, one from MVR walk leader Christine Gittinsand another from fellow rambler Simon Strudwick so please click the links to read their stories.
