The Chiltern Society

THE Chiltern Society’s South Chilterns Path Maintenance Volunteers celebrated the installation of their 400th and 401st kissing gates.

At the Merrimoles dairy farm on the Nettlebed Estate at Bix, on the Chiltern Way, 14 volunteers removed stiles, laid surfacing and installed two Woodstock gates as part of a 12-gate project, appropriately named “In the Footsteps Of Ermintrude”.

They included two volunteers, Stephen Fox and Peter Harden, who had worked on the first gate 15 years ago.

To mark the event, the team and invited guests then celebrated the milestone with wine from the Fairmile Vineyard in Henley and cheese toasties at the Cheese Shed in Nettlebed.

One of the Chiltern Society’s core objectives is the improvement and maintenance of access to the Chiltern’s extensive network of paths and bridleways and one effective way of achieving this is by replacing stiles with kissing gates.

Steve Feigen, leader of the volunteers, estimated that over the years they have invested around 20,000 hours in achieving this milestone.

He thanked the volunteers and task leaders who had contributed so much of their time to this cause as well as the society’s area secretaries and path representatives, who identify the opportunities for stile replacements, negotiate with landowners and secure funding for the gate materials.

He specifically thanked Maggie Templeman, the area secretary responsible for the dairy farm project, who also organised the celebrations.

All the gate installations involved support and
co-operation from a number of other parties.

While the society’s volunteers do the work, the materials must be paid for by other sponsors, typically in excess of £500 per gate.

It was therefore very appropriate that joining in the celebration were representatives of the regular project funding partners, the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment and Chilterns Natural Landscape, supported by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs as well as members of the Ramblers.

Rachel Sanderson spoke on behalf of TOE and Gareth Clay spoke for CNL, talking about their work supporting voluntary groups and thanking the group for its continuing contribution to improving access for all.

Steve also offered thanks to the many landowners who have supported the installation of the gates on their land and taken responsibility for their ongoing maintenance, specifically Diggory Laycock, now running the Nettlebed estate, Lucy and Simon Williams and Josette Feddes, the dairy farm manager, who thanked the volunteers for their hard work in all weathers.

The South Chilterns Path Maintenance Volunteers work hand in hand with Oxfordshire County Council, which helps with funding and oversees its activities as the statutory body responsible for the county’s rights of way.

Simon Kearey, Tom Beeston and David Harris represented the Chiltern Society.

Tom, its chief officer, spoke about the importance of improving access to the countryside and the key role that teams like the volunteers play in supporting the organisation and helping it achieve its core aim of promoting and protecting the Chilterns.

The society has more than 6,000 members and more than 650 volunteers who, in addition to maintaining the rights of way within the Chilterns, maintain 13 sites, including the Ewelme watercress beds and nature reserve and Marlow Common.

The path volunteers organise three work parties a month, clearing paths, removing fallen trees, replacing stiles with gates and installing waymark posts and occasionally steps.

They are always looking for new able-bodied volunteers and leaders.

As a charity, without the generosity of its supporters it wouldn’t be able to continue its work.

If you would like to know more about the society, make a donation or get involved in its activities, please call (01494) 771250, visit www.chilternsociety.org.uk or follow the society on social media.

Steve Feign