23rd February 2006

Walking for the Weekend

Enjoy walking? Want to do something different? Fancy exploring the area on the Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire borders? Then take out your walking boots and register to Walk the Path’ on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th May. This weekend event, organised by the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership, will cover 23 miles over two days and is the perfect way to discover the contrasting scenery of the Blackwater Valley.

“More and more people are going out walking,” commented Sarah, Blackwater Valley Path Project Officer. “So this event will give them an opportunity to find out more about this relatively undiscovered part of the country. Because the walk is linear we will be providing transport back to  the starting point at the end of each day as well as organised refreshments stops en route.”

The walk follows the route of the River Blackwater, which starts at Rowhill Nature Reserve in Aldershot, and continues along the Blackwater Path to Swallowfield in Berkshire. The overall pace will be easy rather than strenuous, which is why the walk starts at 10am on both days and has been divided into two sections, covering about 13 miles (21km) on day one and 10 miles (17km) on day two. Weary registered walkers can be reassured in the knowledge that if they finish at the designated finishing point a minibus shuttle service will take them back to the day’s starting point.

Although the Blackwater Valley was once predominantly agricultural, urban encroachment and the extraction of sand and gravel have changed its character considerably and now over 200 lakes and ponds of varying size exist. Today the Blackwater Valley Path runs the length of the river and passes many of these lakes and ponds as well as through woodland, flower-rich meadows, parkland and much urban landscape. Nature reserves, parks and open areas walkers will pass both through and by include: Rowhill Nature Reserve, Aldershot Park, Tongham Pool, Lakeside Nature Reserve, Hollybush Park, Frimley Hatches, Hawley Meadows, Shepherd Meadows, Blackwater Park, Sandhurst Memorial Park and Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve.

If you are interested in taking part please register beforehand, registration costs £4 per person for one day, £6 for both days. For further information and registration forms please phone Sarah on 01252 331353 or write to us at the address below.

END

For further information contact:
Christine Reeves, Visitor Promotions Officer on 01252 331353. 

Notes

• Nature reserves, parks and open areas the walk will pass by include: Rowhill Nature Reserve, Aldershot Park, Tongham Pool, Lakeside Nature Reserve, Hollybush Park and Hill, Frimley Hatches, Hawley Meadows, Blackwater Park, Shepherd Meadows, Sandhurst Memorial Park, Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve.
• The Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership (BVCP) is funded by the County, District and Parish Councils along the River Blackwater. It works to promote community action in conservation and recreation and to protect the Valley for the enjoyment and well being of the whole community.
• Members of the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership are: Hampshire County Council, Surrey County Council; the District, Town and Borough Councils of Blackwater & Hawley, Bracknell Forest, Farnham, Guildford, Hart, Rushmoor, Sandhurst, Surrey Heath, Waverley, Wokingham and Yateley