Since May’s report the walk group have completed 6 more walks, culminating in its biggest challenge to date with an 8 ½ mile walk at Fittleworth.  

Not only was the distance both a group and a personal challenge for some, the torrential rain the day before made walking muddy and wet in places, and hurdles were put in our way!   To overcome the hurdles:  we explored how many different ways you could get across a barbed wire fence, tested our horse whispering skills and summoned the energy for a sprint up, and down, the highest point in the Fittleworth area!   

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551.75 miles have been collectively walked by the group, since the challenge started on 29^th March, with £250.00 pledged for Sage House Dementia Unit, one of our WI charities for 2021.   Only 448.25 more miles to tread before our Annual Meeting in October!   Can we do it?

Each walk has a different character – with different routes, different fascinating facts and different corners of the countryside and coast in our area.    The relief of covid restrictions easing in May was enormous, not only did it signify less people across the nation were falling very ill, it meant we could walk together in 1 group, so the planning and organisation were simplified.  

Not every walk group member walks every walk – they walk when they can if the route and date suits them.  Each walk, however, has been in really good company and seemingly enjoyed thoroughly by all taking part.   The walks have been to Dell Quay, Slindon Dale Park, Bognor beach and Pagham Harbour, Arundel as well as Fittleworth.  

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Here’s to the next 448.25 miles!

Jan Marsden

Many thanks to Jan for organising.

Words: Kate Claisse

Photos: Sue Harris

Covid-19 influenced our Autumn Walks with a vengeance!     

That did not stop us getting out and about, however, and our walks were managed within coronavirus guidelines 6-person rule and NFWI guidance for WI activities.  18 of our members, please note – not all at once, have taken part in one or more walks.   Recruitment of additional walk leaders has gone very well, and sincere thanks goes to those volunteers.

Bognor Pier to Aldwick along the beach at low tide was the first walk.  As it coincided with a dress down day at Sage House, one of our WI charities, walkers wore unusual hats and raised £40.00 for their funds.   

Halnaker Windmill walk, on a bright sunny morning, was a tribute to our late member Stella.  The information our walk leaders share about key points on the walks, extended to a reading of a poem, written by Hillaire Belloc, about the similarity of Halnaker Windmill’s dereliction in 1923 to the state of the country at that time.

The erosion that the last winter’s storms caused at Climping shocked some of us on the walk along the shoreline from Middleton to Climping.   Does anyone know when Climping was spelt as Clymping?   Jan, our main walk leader, had to concede that Climping spelt with an ‘i’ seems to have been around longer than Clymping spelt with a ‘y’.   £41.50 was raised for ACWW, Associated Country Women of the World – we were taking part in Women Walk the World Day.

The next walk took us back to Pagham Harbour North Wall to Siddlesham Quay.   Sadly, no one saw the Cattle Egrets, that had recently arrived, with their yellow beaks – however, there was plenty of other wild life to spot, along with some rather tricky puddles!

Now looking forward to the rest of Autumn.   Details will be sent out shortly, and more WI members would be welcome.

Jan Marsden

Bognor Regis WI Lock Down Walks

The corona virus had the potential to take so much from us, which meant we had to think differently.   The walk group was not going to be outdone.   Jan sent the usual gang of walkers, by email each month, photographic memories and notes about 3 walks we had completed over past years:   Graffham Wild Daffodil Wood, Angmering Bluebell Wood, and Pagham Harbour.  However, with the easing of lockdown guidelines, things changed.

We’re out and back together, socially distanced of course!   

Gill suggested a walk to Sue and, within days, Jan had an evening walk organised with military precision and within social distance guidelines. Last Monday 16 members split into 3 groups – 1 group starting from the Lobster Pot at Felpham, and 2 groups starting from the Waverly, at the end of the prom in Bognor, at staggered times.  

The cross-overs were always going to be a challenge – but they worked!    Individuals kept apart and, although greetings and a bit of chat were exchanged, there was no crowd gathering.   Some bought ice-cream or drinks at the Lobster Pot, others devoured Jan’s shortbread, and some had both!   

A lovely sunny evening along Bognor Regis beach at low tide, with plenty of space and only a slight breeze, made a perfect evening.   Everyone said how wonderful it was to walk along with others and chat.

Jan Marsden