It has been a busy couple of summer months with lots of walking taking place, as well as making plans in preparation for more walks in the autumn. We also welcomed Catherine, Dorset Project Officer, to the Coast Path Connectors in June, so we now have a full team of Project Officers, and it’s great to have someone on the Path in Dorset.
Our volunteers have also been busy and 35 of them attended ‘on-the-path’ training sessions on 6 different days on the Coast Path. On these days, they developed their skills in walk leading, map reading and dealing with emergencies. But, these were also lovely opportunities to meet up with other volunteers and explore new sections of the Coast Path.
Cornwall
We have been leading walks with organisations such as St. Petroc’s (homeless charity), Newquay Orchard and Ocean Housing as well as delivering socially prescribed opportunities in Newquay, Roseland and Penzance. One particular highlight of the last couple of months has been working with the NHS Cornwall Foundation Trust wellbeing team in a walk for staff to celebrate the NHS’s 75th anniversary. Jack Greaves (Cornwall Project Officer) says “Its been an absolute pleasure to lead a walk for our NHS workers around Polkerris and Gribbin Head. In typical Cornish summer weather we experienced rain and sun, but the coast path didn’t disappoint. Thank you for all you do, the real heroes of today.’’
You can watch a short film about how Coast Path Connectors is helping to facilitate walks for the NHS Trust HERE.
Torbay
After a busy May of meeting community partners and understanding what was already on offer in Torbay, June saw a shift of attention towards building the volunteer team. Many of our wonderful volunteers attended an information and welcome day in the early June sunshine when we walked a loop through Chelston and Cockington and back along the Coast Path. We also enjoyed an extended, information-packed coffee break. Stuart (Torbay Project Officer) says about the day, ‘It was a pleasure to notice everyone’s passion for walking and a good time was had by all’ .
Since then, the volunteers have been busy attending walk leader training sessions, and, in addition, six of us attended a session put on by the charity Sense, to hear about their efforts to create and map Sensory Walks. July has seen us meeting several groups of potential walkers and we now have two trial walks planned for groups in the coming fortnight, and there are several other groups that intend to start walking by September.
Dorset
The project is now getting underway in the Dorset Hub, beginning with recruiting and training our volunteer Community Rangers. Our first training day on the Coast Path at Ringstead Bay was a great success, with five volunteers coming along to improve their map reading, route planning and group management skills. They will now continue their training by assisting on some more group walks with local organisations and building up a portfolio of walking resources. This will allow them to gain experience and develop the skills needed to begin leading their own group walks for the Coast Path Connectors Project.
We are also beginning to find local community groups that would benefit from bespoke walks for their members and clients along the Coast Path. If you know of or work for a group in the Dorset area who would like to be involved, please contact catherine@southwestcoastpath.org.uk
Plymouth
June and July continued to be busy months for the CPC project in Plymouth. We delivered regular walks for our established community groups and have welcomed two new groups through collaborations with Improving Lives Plymouth and the University of Plymouth.
The University of Plymouth recognise that a significant number of students experience forms of poor mental health and wellbeing during their time at university. There is also an understanding that many students rarely leave the city centre and are not benefiting from the fantastic natural resources we have here on our doorstep. By working directly with a mental health advisor in the University’s Student Services department, we have delivered walks along the path around Mount Edgecombe and Wembury using public transport to show the students how to access these wonderful locations independently in the future. The walks were a great success, a chance to relax and unwind, meet new people, all while getting close to nature and the sea. From September, this will be a monthly group and we look forward to getting more young people out to enjoy the benefits of walking the South West Coast Path.
North Devon
July has been a busy month for walks along the North Devon Coast, despite occasional poor weather. Healing Steps, a new walking group for widows had its second outing at Westward Ho! and despite the rain the group managed three miles before abandoning ship to the nearest café. The group has over 30 signed up walkers on its Facebook page and has published a schedule of walks through to the end of September, with more planned for the winter. The Braunton Primary Care Network group walked around Crowe Point and Baggy Point and continues to attract referrals from social prescribers, NHS and local charities supporting those with mental health issues. The next walk for this group is at the end of July on Braunton Burrows where we will be looking at WW ll structures built by American troops in preparation for D-Day.
This article is the third bi-monthly update on the Coast Path Connectors project. Read the previous updates here:
Coast Path Connectors Spring Update
Coast Path Connectors Project Gets Underway
About the Coast Path Connectors Project
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Coast Path Connectors project aims to open up coastal walking to a range of new audiences. This project will help improve equity of access along the South West Coast Path by supporting local people in making the most of our amazing trail, for their health and well-being, through a network of new volunteers.
MORE INFORMATION
Email: Coast Path Connectors Project Manager, Alex Turner at alex@southwestcoastpath.org.uk
Website: www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/Get-involved/coast-path-connectors/
The South West Coast Path 