Walking Weekend 2011

2011 Reunion and Walking Weekend‏ to be announced

as soon as we have decided on the dates and place.

2010 YHA WALKING WEEKEND AND AGM NEWS STORY

As with previous years a successful weekend was had by all 43 people attending. YHA Ilam is part of an imposing Victorian gothic manor house.. Its grounds stretch to 84 acres of country park on the banks of the River Manifold, What a place, we felt like guests of the Lord of the Manor.

Although a similar weekend format each year (raising vital funds, a Saturday walk and Sunday AGM) yet every year seems completely different. The event allows for supporters to meet one another as well as the trustees.

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2010 saw a group of 43 people invade the hostel with just over 30 taking in the Saturday walk. As previous years the main walk started at the hostel and followed a circular route.

Now it is always been known for the Saturday walks which over years have seen snow drifts to stunning hot spring sun but all in lovely locations. Of course the walks do not always go to plan and I (Trustee Charles) mention this because the weather on Friday was fine and the weather on Sunday was bright hot sunshine with lovely views all round. You may ask why have I missed Saturday out!

Well Saturday was ‘persistent rain’ as we made our way over the very ‘misty stunning views’. An odd steep decline on the outward country journey led to mud as well as water proving a challenge. For many it was a test not of endurance but whether their walking gear really was waterproof. It also proved mud can be every bit as slippery as snow and ice and with an odd fallen tree and I think you have the picture. But it has to be said our intrepid trekkers, took it all in there stride although I sense it is a good job I could not read their minds at the time.

The silver lining on the outward journey was the Lunch stop at the Watts Russell pub at Hopedale. And, although we arrived earlier than planned and all together instead of staggered (the plan like the weather not quite going to plan), I have to say Chris and Bruce the owners gave us great hospitality and food in a lovely warm welcoming pub. With everyone refilled the return journey to Ilam was a steady walk back along the river down the Dovedale valley and woods. Saturday evening was dinner, chats, two excellent quizzes with great prizes and relaxing.

MORE IMPORTANTLY people talked and met the trustees, learnt about the where’s, what’s, when’s and whys of New Futures Nepal. How the money is spent. From Helen, the latest news on the children (the heart and soul of why NFN exists). Colin Culley explained about the Castle Howard Annual event in Yorkshire (see www.challenge4nepal.org). Those signed up to the 2011 Charity trek had the opportunity to meet and talk to each other and to Tracey, the trek organiser. .
We, the trustees of New Futures Nepal, have known and grown with the children and their carers over the last 8 years. By meeting our supporters face to face we hope they feel more involved, more committed and confident that their funds are going where they intended.

WATCH OUT FOR THE NEXT WALKING WEEKEND DATE FOR 2011.

2009 YHA WALKING WEEKEND AND AGM NEWS STORY

Over the last 4 years we have organised a Youth Hostel (or B&B) Walking Weekend, all of which have been a chance for supporters to meet the trustees and attend our AGM. It has seen New Futures Nepal descend on Grassmere, Castleton, Gradbach, and 2009 was at the brand new National Forest YHA.

Apart from the weekends raising funds, it is also a social weekend with a choice of walks or just being a free spirit. 2009 weekend was held at the new YHA at the National Forest near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Derbyshire and was a particularly successful with just under 60 people joining us. It was also a chance for the New Futures Nepal 2008 Charity Trek Party to reunite with their trekking group.

The main walk, (shorter ones for those less energetic) started at the hostel and followed a circular route passing through a mix of very new plantations which needed the imagination to be seen as the forest of the future to other centuries old countryside and villages. We strolled through villages such as Overseal and down to Botany Bay (did not see any boats!). Cottons in the Elms was our first refreshment stop, of course only the pub was open. Few of the elms which gave the village its name remain as result of Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s.

Leaving Cotton in the Elms we walked along ‘the coffin route’, Before the graveyard at Coton was begun, the dead were carried to Lullington for burial along this route through the “Devil’s Arches”. Lullington was our next refreshments and pub lunch stop. Lullington has the distinction of being the most southerly village in Derbyshire. The Colville Arms is named after Charles Robert Colville, former Lord of the Manor and MP for Lullington in the mid 1800s.

The homeward bound route took us through Birchington House to Netherseal. Netherseal was recorded in the Domesday In the late 1800s, a large colliery produced 500 tons of coal per day with around 500 men employed. Sir Nigel Gresley, designer of The Mallard steam locomotive, which held the world speed record of 126 mph in 1938, is buried in the churchyard. After the village of Donisthorpe we joined the Heritage Trail back to the Hostel.

Like other years it is important to all of the trustees, (for which New Futures Nepal is very personal in that we all have known and grown up with the children and their carers over the last 7 years), to make every effort to meet our supporters and for them to have the chance to feel more than just a donator or sponsor.