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Bedfordshire Parish Paths Partnership (known as P3) is a
partnership between Bedford Borough Council and the local Parish
Councils. The purpose of the partnership is to promote the
enjoyment of the countryside through the active involvement of
local parish groups. This is achieved by the two main aims of
P3:
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to improve and promote the public rights of way network
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to enhance the local countryside for wider use
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Felmersham
and Radwell P3 Group |
The
local Felmersham and Radwell P3 Group is under the
leadership of Carol Stork and is supported by Felmersham
and Radwell Parish Council. Members of the group are shown
on the right.
Two local walks leaflets have recently been produced. The
first is a guide to footpaths around Felmersham and
Radwell and the second is a "Three Churches Walk" visiting
the churches of Felmersham, Sharnbrook and Odell. Copies
are available from the Sun, the Church and the Village Hall
or as a download.
Walks Leaflet - Downloads
New members are always welcome for details contact
Carol or any other member.
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P3 group
photograph. Standing L to R: Ken Shrimpton,
Kitty Warburton, Chris Ure, Liz Conibere, Mark Percival,
Danny Mariner.
Sitting L to R: Neil and Paula Turvey
and Coral Stork - Chairman.
Other group members not in
the photo: Brian Conibere, Brigette Mariner, Peter Hartop |
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Carol Stork - Chairman of P3 |
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Wildflower Walk
- June 2008 |
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The Felmersham and Radwell P3 group would like to say a very big
thank you to Laurie Jones, lifelong botanist and Felmersham
resident, for guiding an enthusiastic group of around a dozen
villagers around the botanical wonders of Harrold Odell Country
Park on Saturday 14th June.
On this occasion the emphasis was much more on the natural history
than the walking and within a few metres of setting off, the group
had eagerly ticked around 10 plant species on their checklist.
Laurie opened our eyes to the beauty of many of the common plants
that we tend to walk past without noticing, but which are well
worth closer inspection.
Some of the botanical highlights of the morning were the pretty
campions, cranesbills and speedwell and the three orchid species:
the bee orchid; common spotted; and the rarer (and much harder to
spot!) twayblade. A total of nearly 40 species were ticked off our
list over the course of the walk.
After a fascinating couple of hours, the group retired to the cafe
for a well earned cuppa and all agreed that they’d learned a huge
amount and were inspired to continue plant spotting in the future.
Carol Stork, P3 Group Chairman and
Co-ordinator. |
Laurie Jones takes
a closer look |
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Beating The Bounds |
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Paula Turvey Writes: The weather forecast
predicted "Heavy Showers" but because of a lull in
the downpours eleven brave souls turned up at the
appointed hour, ready to "Beat the Bounds" of our
Parish.
We were disappointed at the total lack of village
youths, as tradition demanded that they should be
beaten and/or held upside down and pounded on the
parish boundary markers, or dunked in any
available trough/river along a boundary.
We curtailed our original route by mutual consent
(most of us by this time had soaking wet trousers
and boots). However, our spirits remained high as
we traversed the Ridgeway and stopped to admire
the view out over Harrold /Odell and to take the
group photo (by Carol Stork).
Some of our group decided that enough was enough
and headed home when we reached the Pavenham Road,
most however marched determinedly on across the
Golf Course, admiring another fine view of
Bedfordshire before descending towards Radwell.
Unfortunately, the weather turned to torrential
rain as we waved goodbye to our Radwellian walkers
Chris, Elaine and Beau their dog. The rest of us
trooped soggily home bowed but ironically not
beaten.
Did I enjoy the walk? Strangely, yes. |
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Come
and Join Us!
If
you live in Bedfordshire and you are interested in joining or
forming a P3 group then contact Steve Halton the P3 officer for
Bedfordshire County Council on Bedford 228759.
If you wish to
join the Felmersham and Radwell Group then contact Carol Stork
Tel: 782769
Walks
Leaflets
As well as being available
Online, the walks leaflets are currently on
distribution locally through the following outlets:
Bedford Tourist Information Centre; Sandy Tourist
Information Centre; Podington Garden Centre; Milton
Ernest Garden Centre; The Priory Marina, Bedford; The
RSPB, Sandy; Harrold-Odell Country Park; the churches
in Felmersham and Sharnbrook; Sharnbrook Post Office;
The Sun, Felmersham; The Swan, Radwell; and the Olney
Museum. |
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Dawn Chorus Walk |
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Felmersham
P3 Group organised a Dawn Chorus Walk starting at 4.15am on
Saturday 15 May 2004. Twenty Five people were led by a local
expert in bird-song. Afterwards breakfast was served in the
garden of a P3 group member.
Photo
by David Cardy. |
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Working Parties |
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Above: Peter Hartop
with Marigold and John Sykes.
Right: Neil Turvey and Brian Conibere
They
are busy stapling
chicken wire onto the steps of parish styles. The intention is
to reduce the likelihood of walkers slipping when climbing the
style. Two years ago a walker slipped whilst
climbing the above style and seriously cut her leg. The styles
are
typical of the many well maintained and marked styles
in the parish. November 2005 |
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Bedfordshire County Council are improving
access to the countryside by replacing
styles with kissing gates. The work is
undertaken locally by BTCV.
Click onto logo for more details on BTCV. |
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The group gave
parishioners a break from the very early Dawn Chorus
walk this year - and opted instead for a `Beating the
Bounds' walk on Sunday 21st May. The forecasted heavy
rain on the day kept some walkers away, but a hardy
group of 11 of us - plus Beau the dog - persevered and
completed most of the planned course before wet feet
sent us home to ponder on just how lengthy the Parish
boundary really is! Paula Turvey's excellent article on
the walk made it into the Autumn/Winter newsletter from
Beds County Council's Countryside Access Service.
Having missed a couple of
years, the P3 group once again hosted a stand at last
year's Village Show and Fair on 17th September - and
promoted local walks through a tricky photo-ID
competition for the adults and a simpler treasure hunt
for the younger visitors to the stand. The small amount
of funds raised were donated to Village Hall funds. . To
round off the calendar year, the traditional Boxing Day
Walk led by Ken Shrimpton, was this year
promoted under the P3 banner.
Carol Stork, P3 Co-ordinator.
March 2007 |
BTCV have improved the access to Pinchmill Islands
by trimming back trees and clearing overgrown
areas. The junction of the two bridges, pictured
above, has also been improved. |
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