Launch of report from rural advocate

March 4th, 2010

Country road

Yesterday Stuart Burgess launched his report on rural England to the PM. I have read the  snapshot.

I admire Stuart’s decision to focus on the issues affecting both children and young people living in rural areas. Many young people are leaving the countryside in large numbers because they cannot find work or afford to buy houses here. We have an ageing  rural population?

But I am not sure that the report goes deeply enough into some of the key issues  in its suggestions to help.

What about rural business, and the role it can play with young people?

Affordable housing is identified, and more of it is desperately needed if young people can afford to live in the areas where they grew up. And health provision is mentioned along with a focus on improving broadband and mobile phone signals in rural areas. (How will this help?)

To increase jobs and opportunities for young people in rural areas, we need more businesses employing young local people. At the same time there will be a knock on effect on economic wealth and other local business. I am not pretending this will be easy. The solutions have to be sustainable, and sympathetic to the rural environment.

 How are we going to attract more businesses to both come here and start here? And how are we going to help develop the talents of young people living here right now, who might start the next rural business in 5 or 10 years time?

Mentorship is in my view one clear answer. Young people in my experience benefit from having a role model, someone to whom they can aspire. Someone who has already trodden much of the business path.  I have myself been mentored, it’s effects are far reaching and can be life changing.

Services and information for rural business is another solution. Rural business often faces slightly different challenges due to size, location, transport. These can all be overcome, but often require a slightly different solution to a city based company Staff recruitment and development one obvious challenge in rural areas, which I know about from my own experience of finding staff.

The report seems a good beginning, but Stuart, please go a bit further where rural business is concerned, I believe that’s how we can really help our young people. I look forward to seeing what action and steps will follow.

Alison

http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/

My favourite rural England walk

March 1st, 2010

Me enjoying the Bluebells in Wiltshire

Hello – I really enjoy hearing from you – and this month I would love to hear about your favourite rural England walk. It might be in wood near your home, a spot on your favourite coast, or somewhere no-one else knows about. Is it spring, summer, autumn or winter? Whenever and where-ever your favourite rural England walk is, please add your comments and tell me all about it.

At the end of March the best blog entry will win a £25 Foot Trails gift voucher. I look forward very much to reading your suggestions. 

To start things off, a few words about one of my own favourites. Near St Philips House in south Wiltshire is a gorgeous stretch of woods where the Bluebells spill up over the woodland banks in a carpet of colour. I love the sight of the Bluebells. These very English of flowers trumpet and herald the full symphony of spring. Their scent is just heavenly, it is impossible to think of anything stressful whilst smelling wild Bluebells!  And then there is the colour – the vibrant indigo and on close inspection swirls of light purple. I love to walk through them and lose myself in thought.

Best wishes and happy writing, Alison

March sightings in the English countryside

March 1st, 2010

Daffodils bring a touch of sunshine

Hello,

1st March is officially spring according to the Met office – if you are more traditional then the date is March 20th / 21st. Either way the first signs of spring are all around us in the countryside. I’ve spotted catkins on the trees, first buds, lots and lots of Snowdrops and the first Daffodils are budding. I’d love to hear about the things you spot and enjoy in the countryside during March on your walks, and I will be giving a £25 Foot Trails gift voucher to the best blog entry. I look forward to hearing from you, Alison

New foot trail on Sunday

February 22nd, 2010

The Tithe, Wiltshire (Knights Medieval Castle walking holiday)

Well Sunday came clear and dry in south Wiltshire, so I took the opportunity to get out and try one of David’s (our guide’s) new independent walks. Called the Tithe, it is going to be the complimentary walk if you are coming on either the Knights Medieval Castle self guided holiday or guided Knights Medieval Castle holiday.

After a long few weeks in the office at my computer  it was wonderful to be out in the fresh air again, some flapjack for eleveneses in my pack and my camera ever at the ready for what I might see.  I set out over the muddy fields and was soon lost in peaceful thought as I walked through the woods, enjoying the rich green mosses and earthy scents around me. There were several exposed tree roots where I could easily imagine rabbits or maybe foxes snuggled up below in their burrows. Well I liked too!

Tree roots make great homes for the woodland animals

By the lake the blue of the sky reflected temptingly in the water and looked very inviting. It was only when I paused to look that the coolness in the air reminded me it was February.  A short climb up onto the hill and the views over the surrounding countryside stretched out in front of me. Ahhh, I always relax and sigh inside when I see views like that. I feel free and very alive.  I could make out the Fovant badges in the distance on the hill (carved by world war one soldiers into the chalk) and look out over tiny cottages and villages.

The easy rythm of my walking and the company of Buzards calling above soon wove their magical spell, and I was lost in what I love best, a world of rural England.

Dropping down the hill the Tithe barn looked fabulous. It was built in the 14th century as a place to collect taxes. The stone wall to the side of it made a great place to sit and enjoy my flapjack,  and then off again enjoying the little rivers and streams and friendly ducks. 

Snowdrops - lots this year

14th century Tithe Barn and old plough

Further into my walk I enjoyed seeing the yellow colour of the catkins, almost fully grown,  teling me spring is almost here, and that soon the countryside will once again be transformed by another season.

David is now putting the new trail card together, and this new walk will be in walk and explore packs by the end of March. 

Gorgeous Wiltshire countryside

A Celebration of Snowdrops, 12 February 2010

February 16th, 2010
Snow Drop Woods

Snowdrops extending back on the Woodland walk

A Celebration of Snowdrops, the weather delighted, the walks invigorated and refreshed and the snowdrops added their touch of beauty.  As one of our guests remarked, I’ve never seen so many snowdrops.  We found them wild in the hedgerows, in a secret cottage garden deep in the woods and of course on mass where in the 19th century avid collector and naturalist Henry Elwes had planted amongst his woodland walks.

I shared these poems with our guests out on the trail; I hope you enjoy them here too.

Mary Robinson wrote this beautiful poem,

Snowdrops, close up

A close up of the snowdrop

The Snow Drop

The snow-drop, Winter’s timid child,
Awakes to life bedew’ed with tears;
And flings around its fragrance mild,
And where no rival flowerets bloom,
Amidst the bare and chilling gloom,
A beauteous gem appears!

Her friend, the poet Coleridge, inspired by her poem replied;

The Snow-drop

Fear no more, thou timid flower!
Fear thou no more the winter’s might,
The whelming thaw, the ponderous shower,
The silence of the freezing night!
Since Laura murmur’d o’er thy leaves
The potent sorceries of song,
To thee, meek floweret! Gentler gales
And cloudless skies belong.

From David Howell, Foot Trails guide.

New brochure out this week

February 10th, 2010

This week please look out for Foot Trails new 2010 brochure hitting your door mats with a very English of thuds. After several weeks of writing, taking pictures and many months of planning and organising of walking holidays, the new brochure is here.

With 8 new walking holidays there are plenty of options. You can plan a trip for spring or summer, or plan your whole walking year with us. It’s great to have a holiday to look forward too.

My recipe for a walking holiday remains exactly the same. I promise you a trip that is relaxing, indulgent and authentic. Top award winning country inns, inspiring walks and a celebration of all things English country.

Brochure time is a frantic but enjoyable time for me. Nothing matches the excitment and thrill of seeing holidays and ideas which have often been months in the planning and researching, come to life on the pages.

New for 2010, our expertise and knowledge of the South West brings self guided walking on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast (without the monotony of the coast path), meet Millers and Poets on a romantic trail in north Dorset, and join the Knights of the Crusades (well their tales!) for a guided holiday in Wiltshire.

I hope you are inspired by the new brochure. Walking is such a fantastic way to get away from it all, and relax. It is also such an excellent way to explore. I would like to show you how walking can be indulgent and filled with light adventure,  and is definately not all about knee length socks, sandals and heavy back packs! An image that does absolutely nothing for the virtues of walking and rural England.

 I receive lots of emails and cards about Foot Trails, and I look forward to hearing what you think about the new brochure.

Lush green Dorset and new paths

February 7th, 2010
by David,

Dorset has wealth of beautiful countryside just oozing with rural charm.  Living as I do in chalk country it is always wonderful to get out and walk in a different landscape and south west Dorset offers exactly that.  Sharp tight valleys, lush green grass, small fields and hedgerows, majestic oak trees, stunning manor houses.  Saturday’s weather was perfect for a walk and for exploring new paths.  Misty views, low sunshine and long shadows.  The first signs of spring were there too.  Yesterday’s walk will be available soon as one of Foot Trail’s independent trails on the Dorset Jurassic Coast.  Here are some pictures from my walk;

Sky breaks over the Dorset countryside

Sky breaks over the Dorset countryside

Snowdrops in the Hedgerow

Snowdrops in the Hedgerow

Dark and light, a winter view

Dark and light, a winter view

The Dorset manor house

The Dorset manor house

Saturday morning

January 16th, 2010

It’s fantastic to see the grass again! The snow has all metled, the last disappearing yesterday. I’m looking forward to my walk this afternoon, enjoying the trees and landscape. Should start seeing the first Snowdrops soon.

Met The Black Farmer last week – he makes sausages, rather good ones. www.theblackfarmer.com

But for now it’s boots on, and out for some fresh air. Then back to finish Foot Trails new brochure.

Alison

Happy new year walking

January 4th, 2010

 

Frozen berries

A new year – 2010, a new decade too. It feels like an opportunity, I like the thought of being able to start afresh, though we don’t need the beginning of a new year to do that. We can start afresh at any time of year.

I hope you have had happy and relaxing holidays. The children and I have enjoyed some very frosty cold walks in Wiltshire, togged up in hats, gloves, scarves and many layers. I expect you have too?  I have never known such frozen beauty in Wiltshire during my life time, as we have been blessed with bright blue skies at the same time, and sunshine, the effect is magical. Travelling anywhere is taking twice as long as I am continually inspired by the magical landscapes, and stopping all over the place to take photographs!

Many of you are thinking about your holidays, I am enjoying helping you all plan some time away. Happy new year, Alison

Let if snow, let it snow…..

December 16th, 2009
Foot Trails - snowflakes

Foot Trails - snowflakes

It’s snowing heavily in Wiltshire – so for our guests walking today and this week, you really could be walking in a winter wonderland! The downs over the Cranborne Chase were white this morning as I went to meet up with one of our country inns and the air was clear so the views were sensational and far reaching.

I know some people find snow a nuisance, but I love it! Where ever you are, I hope you are enjoying the festive season.

Alison