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The Watercress Way AGM- annual report here.

by Jackie Porter on 17 January, 2017

Friend of the Line members, from Alresford to Kings Worthy, meet up to name The Watercress Way

Friend of the Line members, from Alresford to Kings Worthy, meet up to name The Watercress Way

This will also be on www.TheWatercressWay.org.uk website very soon.
Please go online to become a Friend of the Line and receive regular updates on progress

Annual Report of The Watercress Way
September 2015-April 2016

Many people had been walking and working on the open sections of the old railway in this area, calling it a ‘hidden treasure’.
A number of us talked about maintaining sections, and everyone we talked to said it would be a good idea to see if we could create a longer route giving a sense of the whole length.

Coincidentally, the two disused railway lines meet under the mainline at Kings Worthy, so it was an opportunity to link both routes, and by using existing drove roads to connect the north and east ends a circular route was created.
When we held the EGM in September 2015, we were pleased that the public were supportive of the idea and press from the Chronicle came along too. They asked how they could help and we asked them to advertise for a Secretary.
Mike Collis volunteered! What a fantastic find! Mike successfully guided us through the Charity Commission application and the charitable status was confirmed on 16th June 2016

This AGM brings us from the EGM to April 2016, which will be start of the charity’s financial year
This isn’t an instant project. It may take years to develop and meanwhile we agreed that we would offer the best route possible currently available, always highlighting the ecology, whilst giving a sense of the line and infrastructure along it.

So, we expect to update The Watercress Way route annually, but we were pleased when the SDNPA put Policy 19 into their Local Plan, which supports the creation of paths along old railway lines like these, and specifically the section which is the northern boundary of the National Park.

This is what we achieved from Sept. 2015 to April 2016.

1. Nine trustees came on board, with skills that are needed for the project. We meet monthly.

2. A website was created. Thanks to tlc-online who are our web partners in this, enabling upgrades to be done at very low cost. On the website, we invite members of the public to become a Friend of the Line. This mailing list is then used to send out a regular newsletter.

3. A bank account was set up to receive grants and donations. We are hoping to apply for some major grants in the years ahead. We have received some grants and a kind speaker has been donating money from other talks given by him too. We have used funds to buy insurance & an OS licence.

4. We sought and received support from local pubs, The Globe in Alresford and The Plough at Itchen Abbas. We intend extending this to other tourist spots along or near the route. We have provided leaflets for their use.

5. We spent 2016 holding stands at The Gratton Festival, The Alresford Show, and giving talks to stakeholders: eg: the Ramblers, Countryside Access Forum, & others including Parish Councils.

6. We have worked with developers to ensure the sense of the old route isn’t lost in any new development around the line.

7. Working parties have worked on open sections to conserve and improve the environment. Wildflower surveys were undertaken of the bridges along the disused railway footpath to the north of Kings Worthy and at Worthy Down Station.  Results were captured in a report and submitted to HBIC. We held a Dawn Chorus Walk on the line on International Dawn Chorus Day, the 1st May 2016

8. It was decided to create a circular walk of around 42kms- the length of a marathon. But don’t worry! You don’t have to do a marathon every time you go onto The Watercress Way!

Going clockwise, the route covers the two disused railway lines that connected Alresford and Kings Worthy, then going under the main line from Kings Worthy to Sutton Scotney. They are connected by a series of public footpaths to create a loop back to Alresford. A map has been drawn up of the
• sections that are open to the public,
• sections that are used by the public, and
• sections that are not open to the public, with alternative ways around these sections.

So what of our future plans?

This AGM 2015-16 shows the publication of the first official route of The Watercress Way (Jan 2017)
We will be offering an annual map update at future AGM’s, and updating the website of course.

Environment
More working parties have been arranged by the SDNPA and Worthys Conservation Volunteers to carry out more environmental work on the sections currently open.

Signage and explanation
We will be signing the currently available route with small markers to build confidence of the route for users of The Watercress Way.

We have identified existing car parks where users of the route could make a start. Users of these car parks have agreed to promotion of The Watercress Way signage and explanatory boards there, and we intend to seek funding and install two in 2017.

Designation as Paths available for use

1. Some areas are not in public use. We will continue to work with land owners to upgrade the route wherever possible.

2. Some sections are designated as public routes with different categories of designation. We are working with others to ensure these areas remain in good condition.

3. We have identified sections that are used by the public but not designated as permissive or public paths. We have had meetings with the County Council to start off claims for official designation. This process will continue, hopefully with your help!

Facilities for users
We will be looking at entrances onto the route, and identifying costs for any improvements necessary so that we can apply for grants to carry out the work.

A Parish Council has offered the cost of installation of a seat. We hope to achieve the installation in 2017.

Keeping in contact with potential users
The users cover a wide range from dog walkers, ramblers, runners, army training groups to bike riders.
The charitable aims include that we make this a non motorised route, seeking sections available to disabled users. We will identify an initial route and test it in 2017 for physical disability and sensory loss.
We will continue to identify all potential user groups and to seek their views and support.

Seeking Friend of the Line help to volunteer, and help others to enjoy The Watercress Way.
1. We are seeking ‘lengths(wo)men’ for each kilometre who could report any problems, showing that the section can be walked at different times of year and can keep it litter free.
2. You are welcome to volunteer for practical or paper tasks- there are a lot of jobs to do!
Just go to the ‘contact us’ section on our website or email info@thewatercressway.org.uk
3. We will be logging volunteer hours from January 2017 to bank against future grant applications.

We are holding an Open Day starting with a Dawn Chorus Walk at 4.45am on the 30th April 2017.

You are welcome to join us on the day which will include various events around the route until 4.45 pm!

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