Summary

The main event was drawn by being a part of Armed Forces’ week organised by Leominster Council. The project took the opportunity to open the Pte Harold Speke gate in the centre of the village, and take his Walk across to the weir and back via Broome Lane. Also, on 8th August, we opened Pte Harry Smith’s gate at the culvert about 200m past Broom Farm going west.

The project comprised a good deal of preparatory activity for about a year: it’s time therefore to look ahead and carry it forward. This might identify chances for readers and supporters to become involved should they see a opportunity.

Situation, 20th August 2018.

The Walks are all waymarked. They include Pte Ernest Morris’(Walk 12), who lived up in Staunton on Arrow. It’s 10 miles in all, but there are options in driving up to Pembridge, or even Staunton, and picking up respective loops. Start at the bridge in Pembridge, or at the stile at the bottom of the field leading up to the church in Staunton. Checked early in August, the grass in all the meadows in Staunton has been cut and you’ll be able to follow the riverside without impediment.

The Pembridge loop is OK, but when you come east along the lane from the cross roads by the Arrow bridge – Staunton end – and reach the Rowe Dyke you might find it tricky. The Herefordshire Council signpost is missing and you might watch your footing the immediate 25m or so of path. It could be obstructed. If that’s the case, just walk on up the lane for 300m and turn right into Leen Farm. Everything is well marked and you’ll find the EMW sign up on your left, inviting you to turn left and pick up the footpath.

Pte William Webb’s Walk 13 is another 10 miler, passing through Monkland and Kingsland. A great walk, but when waymarked in June it was obstructed in places by high grasses and overgrown edges, especially when following the line of Pinsley Brook west from Cholstry. But it’s still doable and should improve when Kingsland’s very active and effective Parish Footpath Officer gets on the case. Coming in from Cobnash, following the Pte Thomas Cook Walk, a potato crop obstruction has been dealt with by Hereford Council in July and the Walk’s passage to Shirl Heath made viable. Another EMW, Pte John Charles Morgan (Walk 5) is only 71/2 miles long and takes in Monkland, passing the Cheese Shop and Monk pub which are both pleasant distractions. This Walk is more or less clear. (Please note the PS to this newsletter.)

Future intentions

We have timber enough for another batch of three Memorial Gates, and plan three more afterwards. The plan is to install the first three by Armistice Day in November. We’ll take it from there according to several factors but the plan – now funded – WILL work.

To move the project on beyond November, partnering with other parishes and organisations is being contemplated where objectives are linked to Herefordshire’s sustainability in rural areas. This ties in to Eardisland’s Neighbourhood Development Plan’ E12 policy dealing with Rights of Way and connectivity, and Councillors are always welcome to discuss ways by which EMW can implement relevant parts of their Plan. Or anyone else too!

Please make a dairy entry for 10th November’s First World War supper in the village hall. Details are still being firmed up but it could be a good old fashioned bash just like your Granny had – or in many cases – her Granny! That said, we’re still looking for volunteers to get the show on the road. Please leave your name at the shop or Dovecote post-box.

Research

Simply repeating: any information on our 13 fallen soldiers or relatives of parishioners, or any contextual stuff relating the First World War in Eardisland would be very welcome.

If you have a relative who fought in the First World War, and if you like, please let us know. We’ll research the individual and hopefully produce a short biography for you.
Contact research@eardislandmemorialwalks.org.uk.

PS

Obstructed paths are alluded to above. They are common outside the parish but still affecting Eardisland Memorial Walks. These illegalities are regrettable and you can go to herefordshire.gov.uk if you get annoyed. Search ‘PROW report a problem’ and do so if you have the knowledge, skills and counter-cunning to navigate the site.

You might also download the Ramblers’ Pathwatch app. You don’t have to be a member and it allows you to get a fix on the map, take a picture, note a description and report it on the spot. I’m assured it reaches respective local Ramblers’ groups, which do what they can to report the issue and even help with a fix.

If you are not having success with the herefordshire.gov.uk website and can describe the problem and its location, send it to contact@eardislandmemorialwalks.org.uk for forwarding. While paths in Eardisland are navigable and in good condition overall, if you notice an infringement, please send details to dandswallis@hotmail.co.uk or watsonopo@gmail.com and copy eardislandclerk@gmail.com.

Here’s a copy of the relevant Right of Way Act to help define what you should expect on the Walks:

• Ploughing and cultivating
  The following should not be ploughed or disturbed if they can conveniently be avoided:
  • Cross-field footpaths and bridleways.
  • Footpaths or bridleways at the edge of the field.
  It is within the law to plough or disturb the surface of a footpath or bridleway which crosses a field if it is not convenient to avoid it when sowing or cultivating a crop. But, it must then be made sure that:
  • the surface is made good, to at least the minimum width, so that it is reasonably convenient to use, and
  • the line is apparent on the ground, to at least the minimum width, to anyone using it.
  This must be done within:
  • 14 days of the first disturbance for that crop, or
  • 24 hours of any second or subsequent disturbance, unless a longer period has first been agreed, in writing, by the highway authority.
  It is also within the law to disturb a footpath or bridleway during an excavation or engineering operation, but only if you first get written permission from the highway authority.
• Crops
  Crops, other than grass, must not be allowed to grow on or overhang the minimum width of any footpath, bridleway, or any other right of way at any time, so as to inconvenience the public or prevent the line of the right of way from being apparent on the ground.
• Minimum widths
  If the width of a path is recorded, then that is the minimum width; if the width of a path is not recorded, then minimum width means for:
  • a footpath, 1m across the field, 1.5m on the field edge;
  • a bridleway, 2m across the field, 3m on the field edge;
  • other rights of way, 3m across the field, 5m at the field edge.
  These cultivations apply only to the law on ploughing and cultivation – they are the minimum requirements to safeguard against court action. They do not affect other aspects of the law on public paths and do not limit the public’s established rights of passage in any way.
• Responsibility
  It is the responsibility of the occupier of the holding to comply with the law, regardless of who carried out any works on their behalf. The highway authority (county or metropolitan district council) can take action against persons not complying with this legislation, by doing the following:
  • Prosecution.
  • Enter the land and carry out necessary works itself. Costs will be recovered from the occupier.

Meanwhile, please take care to follow the Country Code, in particular where you see evidence that farmers and landowners are doing their best to keep paths up to regulatory standards. It’s perhaps a tad sanctimonious to ask for special care on paths named after our parish Fallen, but it’s less contentious to suggest that caring about the health of children who might come into contact with dog turds lying around the paths is reasonable. This is apparent especially in the meadows immediately beyond the Pte Harold Speke memorial gate in the centre of the village. The County Code’s basics are always highlighted in the guide brochures.