Dear All,

Whilst we are all missing the chance to go for long walks, we have an exciting opportunity to share with others, the wonderful walks we have done in the past. Adam Dawson (outgoing National LDWA IT Officer) has worked really hard to update each of the LDWA Local Group websites, and in doing this has added a walks database for each local group.

Take a look at our Dorset LDWA website and you will find the Walks Database on the main menu bar. This contains all the walks we have recorded since 2008 - quite a list! We are now asking you to help add to this database by sending me walk reports / photos / gpx files.

Walk reports can be sent as Word files / PDF files / TXT files or just in email form - perhaps a simple description of the highlights of the route and notable things we saw.

Photos can be sent as JPEG / JPG / PNG files. If these are too large to attach to an email, you could use the file transfer system We Transfer 

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ALL IDENTIFIABLE PEOPLE N THE PICTURES GAVE THEIR PERMISSION TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED.

GPX files can be sent to enable others to complete the walk in their own time. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ONLY SEND GPX FILES FOR ROUTES THAT  USE RIGHTS OF WAY / OPEN ACCESS LAND / PUBLISHED PERMISSIVE PATHS. DO NOT INCLUDE ROUTES WHERE YOU OBTAINED ONE-OFF PERMISSION FROM A LANDOWNER!

Over time this resource will build into one that we can all dip into, wherever we are in the country.

So, if you have time on your hands right now, start digging out those old routes and pictures and put fingers to keyboard. When you're ready, send your contributions clearly labelled with the walk date, and if possible walk name, to me at the address below. Please send a separate email for each walk.

I will then add the information to the database. Please be aware though that I am working full-time throughout lockdown so may not be able to respond immediately, particularly if I receive lots of contributions.

Many thanks in anticipation of your help.

Anne Brown

Dorset LDWA Walks Secretary

dorset.ldwa.walks@gmail.com

Please  do not reply directly to this email because it is from an un-monitored account used for outgoing email only.