- Date: 17 February 2024
- Walk Leader: Peter Berg
- Distance: 4.5 Miles
Nyewood Walk and AGM
A total of 18 Ramblers met up outside The Henry Warren Hall, to enjoy a 4 mile walk around the amazingly varied environs of Nyewood, prior to our AGM. A number of other Ramblers had also arrived who would be setting up the Hall for the AGM, and more importantly, lunch for us all.
The morning was damp, overcast with low cloud, but the walkers set off in high spirits northeast out of Nyewood, joining Dumpford Lane, following the Serpent Trail. We passed Nyewood House, shortly afterwards reaching The Woodcarvers Studio, which won the coveted South Downs Award for 2023. Some examples of their work were on display in their yard.
Still following the Serpent Trail, but turning off Dumpford Lane, we followed the track down past the fish ponds, where the trail encountered wet and muddy conditions – particularly at stiles and bridges.
Crossing the dismantled railway line, leaving the Serpent Trail to follow a path through a small copse of trees, we emerged to walk alongside a water meadow/marsh which is one of only a few breeding grounds of snipe and curlew along the South Downs.
Turning off this path we headed for Woodhouse Farm, where we joined a sunken farm track heading uphill for East Harting. At the top of this rise, the South Downs came into view, still topped with low cloud and mist – a lovely sight.
Heading north along the road out of East Harting, we took a footpath bordered by a line of trees and meadows on both sides. The going here was still slightly uphill, and as we came out of these trees, the view to the north provided a very welcome accompaniment to a brief coffee stop.
From here, we could make out that our path, downhill all the way back to Nyewood, would be a little wet and muddy, underfoot. Nonetheless, we all arrived back at the hall in good time for our AGM and a very welcome lunch.
Annual General Meeting
The AGM was held in the newly built hall in Nyewood, small but perfectly formed. After checking that all the walkers had changed their footwear so that no mud would be brought into the hall, everyone settled down to start the meeting.
All members of the committee presented their reports on the different aspects of the group. The reports reflected the hard work that had been put into that aspect of the club- from membership, budgeting, publicity, website, walks, checking footpaths- not forgetting that the minutes from each meeting have to be typed up. A huge amount of work to keep the club ticking along for the benefit of the members.
Linda Farley, membership and publicity, had indicated that she wished to step aside after three years. Fiona El Hasnaoui kindly stepped forward to fill the vacancy (not too much bribery was involved!) and she was unanimously voted onto the committee.
At the end of the meeting (short but sweet as everyone was hungry for lunch after their walk) a vote of thanks was given to Linda along with a bunch of flowers in recognition of her hard work for the committee.
Then it was time to savour the soups that Anne and her team were preparing in the kitchen. A choice of three soups along with a ploughman’s lunch was served to everyone and much appreciated. This was followed by delicious cake and a cup of tea. Many thanks to Anne, Barbara and Chris, along with those who made the soups and cakes.
Once the hall had been cleared up, tables back in the cupboard, washing up done the ramblers went home to await the packed (hopefully) programme of walks for the coming year.
Authors: Peter Berg and Lynne Burge
Photography by Paul Farley and Jeremy Bacon