FROM THE DARKNESS TO THE LIGHT.
IT’S GOOD TO BE WALKING IN LYDIATE AGAIN
On Monday 4th April, 2016, we had our first walk back in the Lydiate area. The 1 hour 30 minute circular walk commenced at Lydiate Parish Hall car park.
We had 15 walkers, two of whom joined us for the first time, having just completed their course. The 3.5 mile route took us along Southport Road and into Hall Lane. We then took the footpath, which crosses the horse racing stables race track, to the Liverpool Leeds Canal. Having crossed the footbridge, we followed the footpath close to the canal to Jacksons Bridge and along Pygons Hill Lane to Moss Lane, via a short footpath. At Moss Lane we again used a footpath to join Sandy Lane and then the canal towpath to Southport Road and back to Lydiate Parish Hall. The walk was completed before it went dark, which was a nice change as we have been walking right through the winter on the well-lit streets of Maghull, during the hours of darkness. We were lucky with the weather, which was dry and not too cold. There was still some mud in places on the footpaths though, from previous rainy days. It can only get better from here on.
LEADER REFRESHER COURSE
I have recently attended a Nordic Walking Leader Training day at Crosby Leisure Centre, provided by Active Sefton, as part of the ongoing training package it provides for leaders, who are also registered with Nordic Walking UK. This is to ensure that walkers get the most from their walks, receive proper support from their leaders and that their safety is paramount.
HAPPY NORDIC WALKING, Ian
To Ian Gent
Dear Ian
You kindly provided some information about the M and L NW group around Jan 2015 when we were forming a group in Purbeck. I’m pleased to say that this has been working well and we have 17 NWUK trained members and 2 instructors within the group. Walks in different locations take place on the 1st and 3rd Fridays and there is reasonable attendance (not as high as M and L!) and there is a rota for walk wecces and leading.There is one NWUK trained leader and will be another shortly.This is mainly because the 2nd Purbeck NW festival is scheduled for mid September, NWUK are keen to have trained people to assist in leading the walks ( there are going to be around 100 this year- more than last year)
The reasonAs we have 2 instructors with the U3A the training is mainly ‘in-house, but those doing it pay through the NWUK and of course have the option of training and walking with non-U3A instructors.Walks with the U3A are free- part of the U3A ethos.
As the instigator of the group, I’m v keen to ensure participants get the most from their walks and of course safety is paramount.
Our walks are led by qualified NWers most of whom do not have a further qualification of walk leader (or instructor) Are your walks now always lead by a
qualified walk leader? If we were to make a move towards this it would involve training, a first aid course and insurance. The group works well as it is at present, but the good people running NWUK feel the more training people have the better.
I’d appreciate your thoughts when you have the time
Kind regards and v best wishes to you and your group.
John 07966 500820
Hi John,
It is good to know that your Nordic Walking Group is going well and that, in some small way, I have helped to assist you in achieving it.
In answer to your questions. We now have three Walking Group Leaders in our group (including myself), who are trained and registered with Nordic Walking UK. Two of us also hold current first aid certificates and have fully equipped first aid kits, which we carry on the walks. All of our ur walks are led by a qualified Nordic Walking Leader and insurance cover is provided through Active Sefton, Nordic Walking UK and the U3A, as long as we abide by the rules.
This has all been made possible with the help and assistance of Active Sefton, part of Sefton Council and it’s Coordinator, Stephanie Boote .
All of our training courses, with a qualified Nordic Walking UK Instructor and the equipment (poles etc), have been provided free of charge, by Active Sefton. This includes some clothing, an outer waterproof jacket, soft shell jacket, shirt, high-vis tabard and bag, a form of uniform with Active Sefton logo, for our volunteer leaders, who also lead other non U3A Nordic Walks on a weekly basis.
All our walks are advertised in the Active Sefton newsletters and are open to all qualified Nordic Walkers who have had the free course and registered with Nordic Walking UK. However, most of our walkers are also members of our own U3A.
I hope this helps you, but please let me know if I can be of further assistance,
Ian Gent (Nordic Walking Group Leader).