Bats, geology and time all feature in the 2012 programme of events just published by the North Pennines AONB Partnership.

The programme kicks off with Batty about bats on Saturday 28 April from 7.30pm – 9.30pm starting at Newbiggin Village Hall where there’ll be a short talk on the myths and misconceptions about bats and then a magical twilight walk to do some real bat detection

Limestone quarry workings near Geltsdale in Cumbria. Pic NPAONB

New for this year are Rocky Weekends – two days of walk and talks with a geological theme, plus an evening meal. Rocky Weekends will take place at Allendale in Northumberland (May 26 and 27), Bowlees in Teesdale (September 8 and 9) and Dufton in Cumbria (October 6 and 7).

Many of the firm favourite guided walks will run again, including a foray into the Nent Valley to learn how millions of years of geology have shaped today’s landscape and hay meadow walks in Upper Teesdale and Allendale.

Small charge

Rounding off the year as the nights draw in, the final event, Time Matters, explores the link between the North Pennine peatlands, time and the universe itself – all at St John’s Chapel on Thursday 11 October!

Shane Harris, the AONB Partnership’s sustainable tourism and communications officer said this year’s events programme promised something for everyone: “Whether it’s history or hay meadows, minerals or moorlands, our events help visitors to get the most of the North Pennines AONB.

“It’s the first year that we’re asking participants to pay a small amount – usually just £3 per person unless a meal or transport is included in the cost.

“All profits from the events will support the work of the Friends of the North Pennines, a charitable trust set up last year, so visitors will be exploring the North Pennines, learning something new about the AONB and putting a little back at the same time.”

Book online

This year for the first time participants will be able to book their places online at www.northpennines.org.uk/Events, but people can still contact the AONB Partnership office on 01388 528801 if they prefer.

A full run-down of the season’s events including dates, details and prices appears in the Spring/Summer 2012 issue of North Pennines News (phone 01388 528801 or email  info@northpenninesaonb.org.uk for a copy.

They are also available online  – simply click on Events in the sidebar to see the calendar.

Walk to Work Week 2012

Walk to Work Week 2012 will be taking place on the 14 to 18 May 2012 as part of the Great British Walking Challenge.

Thousands of employees across the UK will be walking to, from and during work as part of one of the healthiest workplace challenges around.

You can sign up your workplace for free on the My Living Streets website; where you and your colleagues will be able to log your miles, minutes and steps walked and see individual as well as collective totals of miles walked, calories burnt and potential carbon dioxide savings.

Free challenge resources

A few Walk to Work Week resources for employers are available to give you everything you need to plan, promote and run the challenge in your workplace.

Employer’s guide (.pdf)
Full of advice and ideas for planning your Walk to Work Week and spreading the word to staff.

Poster (.pdf)
Just print and put up in your workplace to help promote the challenge. Printable at A4 and A3.

Promotional flyer (.pdf)
Ideal to hand out to staff or pop in pigeon holes.

Offline record card (.pdf)
Allows staff without access to a PC to still take part in the challenge.

Graphics
An assortment of graphics are also available to use on your website, intranet or e-newsletters:
Walk to Work Week Heart graphic
Walk to Work Week landscape graphic
Web button 300x250px
Web banner 468x60px
Email header graphic

Walk to Work Week 2011 saw over 8,000 employees taking part and collectively walked over 77,000 miles.

The Chesterfield Area Walking Festival boasts two weeks of guided walking activities taking in the beautiful Chesterfield landscape.

From the 12th – 20th May 2012, you can choose from over 55 walks, many of them free of charge.

A clear and concise website details daily walking events

Enjoy the Chesterfield area on foot, discovering pretty villages, exploring beautiful bluebell woods or treading the Cuckoo Way alongside the ‘Haunted Canal’.

Take in some history as you follow in Elizabeth Shrewsbury’s footsteps around Hardwick, get up with the birds to hear the dawn chorus or follow the Chesterfield Murder Walk – if you dare!

Looking for a challenge?  Try the Chesterfield Round Walk, a 34 mile trek through countryside surrounding the town.  Or brave the 20 mile Beast of Bolsover.

If that’s all too much, try the Five Circular Walks – five walks of around 10 miles each through a variety of countryside.

Most walks are free so there’s no excuse not to join in, and every excuse to have a pint at the end of several of them.  All are led by a fully trained guide who knows the history, wildlife and the best countryside to walk through (as well as the best pubs to visit) in the beautiful Chesterfield landscape.

The Chesterfield Area Walking Festival website lists the events daily with clear information about facilities, suitability and booking details.

More information

Chesterfield Area Walking Festival website 

A popular daffodil walk in Farndale, North York Moors, has had a bit of a tidy up ahead of the arrival of 50,000 visitors.

People from Farndale teamed up with the North York Moors National Park Authority’s Make a Difference volunteers and staff to carry out habitat management work along the popular Farndale daffodil walk.

Local resident Sally and volunteer Dawn clean up near Farndale. Pic NYMNPA

A wet grassland site – known locally as the ‘duck pond’ – on the daffodil walk to the north of Low Mill, had become very overgrown with willow and alder trees.

Members of the Farndale community were concerned about the area becoming overgrown and shady, particularly as this is a popular spot for visitors to pause and admire the stunning display of blooms.

Trees were cut back to open up the area and let more light in to make it more pleasing for visitors.

The cut wood was used to make twiggy bundles and stakes which will be installed along a short stretch of riverbank in the same area to help prevent further riverbank erosion.

Natural England consent was required before the work could take place as the area concerned is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the diversity of habitats and plant species in the area including the wild daffodil.

Sally Weightman, Farm Conservation Advisor at the National Park Authority, said: “It was nice to see a variety of age groups represented by those people involved in the work tasks.

“The assistance of both members of the local community and volunteers was greatly appreciated and it is hoped that local community involvement will continue with further work projects in the future.”

Farndale resident, Sally Potter, added: ”We wanted to mark the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in some way and felt this would give year round pleasure to both locals and visitors to the Dale.”

Daffodil walk in Farndale

Over 50,000 people visit Farndale each year during the daffodil season.

To keep congestion on the narrow roads to a minimum, the National Park Authority runs a daffodil shuttle bus from Hutton-le-Hole car park to several stops along the daffodil walk.

This year the bus will operate on Sundays from 25 March through to 15 April plus Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday.

Timetables will  be available at www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/moorsbus or you can call 01439 770657.

A series of useful leaflets has been produced by golakes to feature some great walks in the Cumbrian Lake District.

The Lake District offers walks for all abilities from the challenging Coast to Coast walk to some beautiful short walking routes which are perfect for

Golakes On Foot walks leaflet series

relaxing walking holidays

Voted time and again the walker’s favourite UK destination, the Lake District is a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts.

Although a relatively small area, the Lake District contains a huge variety of opportunities for walkers.

Maybe you want to experience the classic lake, valley or ridge walks made famous through countless articles and guidebooks? Most are easily accessed from the major Lakes tourist centres via regular public transport services, and many low-level routes are suitable for wheelchairs or buggies.

The golakes “On foot” series is a range of A6 pocket size leaflets which tell you about the area and fold out to A3 size to reveal the relevant walks on a map.
The leaflets also contain lots of other useful information such as local public transport details.

Clicking on each area covered will take you to a more detailed page about the walk complete with downloadable PDF leaflet.

Smartwool Routes – A set of walking guides sponsored by Smartwool.
Each guide contains two walks designed to give both new and seasoned explorers inspiration to get out and discover more of this fantastic landscape.
Areas covered are; Ambleside, Keswick, Staveley and Kentmere.

Sprayway Family Walks – A series of walking routes perfect for families is sponsored by Sprayway.
Starting from classic destinations throughout the county there is a shorter route for little ones and a longer one for the more adventurous, so the whole family can get out and enjoy the best of the Adventure Capital.
Coniston, Buttermere, Patterdale, Borrowdale , Eskdale and Rydal areas are featured in this set.

Jennings Ale Trails – Long Distance walks sponsored by Jennings Brewery, explore some great days out in the Lake District and Cumbria. With routes to suit all abilities, you will be sure to take in some great scenery, good food and real ale.
Explore more series focuses on; Cockermouth, Wasdale and Eskdale, Keswick and Elterwater

Polartec Routes – With routes to suit all abilities sponsored by Polartec, you will be sure to take in some great scenery in and around;
Ambelside, Coniston, Keswick

Full Adventure capital series

Golakes have produced a range of activity leaflets in this series;
“Pedal or paddle, hike or climb.  Challenge your competitive spirit or just get out there and enjoy”.
On foot – for walkers and hikers
On wheels – For cyclists
On course – For runners
On water – For canoeists etc
On ropes – Mountaineering

For more information, visit the golakes website.