The month has so far brought us all weathers and continues to surprise and we’ve still got 3 social walks to come. The first is this Thursday, followed by a special jointly led Essex & Herts and BBN walk this Sunday in memory of Francoise Bannister and another mid-week walk in the last week of the month:

Thu 16th Apr 2026 Chelmer Chug
Group Walk - 17.5ml. 9.30am Littley Green CM3 1BU Parking on spaces opposite the Compasses PH car park close to footpath sign at top end. ///lousy.pastime.notebook. (GR TL699172). Crossing, then turning north following, by and above, the River Chelmer to meet the Flitch Way at Brook Street. After a 4 mile chug along the disused railway line, we reach the lunch stop at Rayne Station, then return to Littley Green via Great Notley Country Park, Chelmsford City Racecourse, and Phyllis Currie Nature Reserve. Lunch stop 10.5 miles at The Booking Hall Café Rayne Station. Toilets, picnic benches, also a railway carriage if raining. Yes to well trained dogs. C: Peter Tremain Tel: 07427 857003 E: peter.tremain@live.co.uk

Sun 19th Apr 2026 Spot the Benches – a Memorial walk for Francoise
Group Walk - 17ml. 9am Baldock Tesco REAR c.p. Turn into Tesco’s at the London Road/High Street roundabout & follow the signs to ‘Click & Collect’ ((///jams.bless.sprint). (GR TL247333). What better way to remember our dear lovely friend Francoise than to enjoy again one of the wonderful walks she led for us - Spot the Benches in June 2024. This is a joint BBN and Essex & Herts walk which will pass 16 of the 20 Weston Walkabout Benches visited on Francoise’s walk. Each bench has a fabulous view and is made from 45,000 recycled plastic bags. The walk will be led by Jackie Burnett (E&H) and Dee Brockway (BBN) - Francoise walked with both groups and had a great many friends in each. Francoise’s daughter and granddaughter are hoping to join us at the end of the walk. The lunch stop will be by the village pond and pub in Graveley. The pub is for drinks only and there won’t be enough time to order food, so please bring all the food you’ll need for the day. Well behaved dogs on leads only. There is an option of joining the group for a shorter circular walk from Weston and if you wish to do this please contact Jackie, on the following email, by Friday for details. C: Jackie Burnett & Dee Brockway Tel: 07845 969826 / 07742433951 E: Jackiecburnett92@gmail.com

Wed 29th Apr 2026 A walk around the Canvey Island loop
Group Walk - 19ml. 9.30am From Hadleigh Country park car park outside the Hub cafe Start/end grid ref/s Start and end What3words ///trick.preoccupied.super. The postcode of the café is Chapel Lane, SS7 2PP. (GR TQ800868). We will be walking through Hadleigh Country park to Benfleet railway station and then walking the Canvey Island loop and returning back to the start. There is paid parking at the Country Park or you can often find free parking in nearby roads. There is a café and toilets at the start and end of the walk and toilets halfway along the path. Please bring packed lunch and drinks for the walk. Kirsteen and Linda are going to provide some cake so maybe also bring a flask of tea/coffee and send a quick message to Kirsteen on 07740922107 to let her know that you are coming on the walk so that they know how much cake to bring!  Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome. C: Kirsteen Newell & Linda Fordham Tel: 07740922107 E: essexandherts.chair@ldwa.org.uk

HunnyPot Hundred Challenge
We do have 3 social walks already planned in May – see the Future Walks list for details, but for many May means the 100 mile challenge. Thanks to those who’ve come forward following our last plea for volunteers to help support the Essex & Herts checkpoint on 23rd May – it’s not too late to put your hand up to help if you’d like to be part of the experience - just send an email to essexandherts@ldwa.org.uk.

Some of our members are taking part in the Marshals walk over the weekend of 2nd May - some walking and some supporting the walkers. Last year we ran a call to share information / experiences / tips from previous 100 mile events and recces of the route to help those entering and those supporting, in particular the first timers. We plan to do this again in early May, after the Marshal’s walk. More details will follow in the May update so look out for these if you’d be interested in joining the call. We’d love those who’ve walked 100s before to join to offer advice and those with questions to bring them to the call and equally welcome anyone interested in hearing tales of the 100 or thinking about what it’s like to help at a checkpoint.

Hope to see you on a walk soon.

Sue

Essex & Herts LDWA - Welcome to the Essex/Herts LDWA website

Facebook LDWA Essex & Herts | Facebook

WhatsApp: to join send your mobile number to jackiecburnett92@gmail.com