Good afternoon all I hope you are all finding ways to combat this insane heat. Hopefully it will ease off a bit at the weekend to allow us to enjoy the walking… Following the Norfolk and Suffolk committee meeting earlier in the month I want to raise a couple of points we discussed. The first being volunteers on challenge events. We would like to emphasise that volunteering to marshal is an open invitation to all members, particularly those that regularly participate in the social walks. Please do not feel nervous about coming forward your assistance would be most appreciated. Remember these events cannot take place without our volunteers. The challenge events are the clubs only income stream which is utilised to maximise the overall experience on our social walks and group activities.   Whilst on the subject of social walks you may have noticed the photo gallery has not been updated lately due to technical difficulties on my computer… Tracy has however agreed to step in and update the website. Going forward please send any photographs of social walks to Tracy’s email  norfolkandsuffolk@ldwa.org.uk. Remember to just ensure everybody is happy for their photo to appear on the website. Something for walk leaders to clarify at the start of a walk. Please can walk leaders also forward the GPX to Tracy to store on the walks database. If you do not wish to appear on any photograph’s can you please advise the walk leader. I’m keeping this short this month as I would rather be sat in an ice bath! Hopefully there is something for everyone on the upcoming schedule. We also have plenty of dates left to fill, therefore if you would like to put on a walk please get in touch with me. janeaudsley@msn.com  It maybe you decide last minute to put on a pop up walk? Upcoming walks schedule   Sun 28th Jun 2026 Still Searching For That Special Constable - Joint E&H/N&S Group Walk - 20ml. 9:00 Meet at The Recreational Ground car park, School Street, Stoke By Nayland, CO6 4QY. ///riot.pursuing.indicated. Free parking Map : LR155. (GR TL985364). A meander through both Essex and Suffolk countryside taking in some of the very best of Constable Country. We will have two short morning breaks; first at Stratford St Mary to rest our legs and then at Flatford Mill (public toilets/ NT shop) with the possibility of an ice cream. Our lunch break will be taken at Dedham after approx. 12 miles (public toilets/ shops/ café/ pubs) In the afternoon we follow the river Stour and gently rolling countryside back to Stoke By Nayland taking a brief stop at Rivers Hall Farm. General Notes 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of John Constable and we will pass the setting for what is probably his best known painting The Hay Wain. A hay wain being a cart traditionally used to transport freshly cut meadow grass. Constable is less well known for his depictions of people and also for his religious paintings - in fact he painted just three - and the best of these, The Annunciation, hangs in St Mary’s church Dedham. The church should be open for us to take a peek. This Special Constable is occasionally on exhibition loan and if that proves to be the case, we have another special constable up our sleeve - or possibly on the wall! Special thanks to Bill Bowers for the route Contact Gill Struthers and Jane Audsley. Tel: Tel: Gill - 07591 97179. Jane - 07762 057584 Email Janeaudsley@msn.com   Wed 8th Jul 2026 Summer Wednesday - Shouldham Warren Group Walk - 15ml. 9:30 Shouldham Warren forest (off Warren Road), Shouldham Warren, PE33 0DQ. The carpark has no charge. W3W: briefing.universal.flitting. IMPORTANT: check the exact location of the carpark before travel; the post code covers a big area and will not automatically take you to the carpark. Check the Forestry Commission website: https://www.forestryengland.uk/shouldham-woods The route is mainly forest farmland and meadows, with some quiet road walking. From our start point we navigate through the forest onto Pentney Drove and on towards Pentney village, breaking at the church. Then West Bilney and West Bilney Woods which is likely to be the lunch stop. We then pass the lakes at Nar Valley Fisheries and on to the Nar Vally Way. This leads back to the forest and the carpark. Paths along the route are varied but mainly good. Most of the route is on forest tracks, open farmland and meadows General Notes Please bring enough food and drink to last the entirety of the walk; there are no opportunities for food and drink on route. Dogs welcome; there are some sections of the walk where dogs must be on a lead Contact Jon Inett Tel: 07799420492 Email jon1965@runbox.com   Sat 11th Jul 2026 Rodent Wriggle Challenge Event - 31, 23 or 13.5ml. 11.5. Needham Market Community Centre, School Street, Needham Market, IP6 8BB Parking at the Community Centre for the Long and Medium routes. For the Short route, please use the free parking in Station Yard or at Needham Lake, only a short distance from the community centre The Rodent Wriggle is named after the way it meanders its way up the upper reaches of the River Rat. A gentle undulating scenic route through the Mid Suffolk countryside, with 10 historic churches along the 31.5mile route. All are interesting in their own way, but of particular note are Great Finborough with its majestic spire, quaint thatched Harleston Church, and Rattlesden Church with its magnificent Angel roof General Notes This event is ‘scan & go’. There will be refreshments at all checkpoints and a light meal at the finish. Dogs are allowed on the event, but not allowed inside any hall (except assistance dogs). All dogs must be on leads at all times & must have appropriate liability insurance. Please refer to SI Entries for full details. https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?elid=Y&event_id=17142 Contact Andy Dack Email chair.norfolkandsuffolk@ldwa.org.uk Web Site https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?elid=Y&event_id=17142   Sat 18th Jul 2026 Deben Dawdle Group Walk - 28ml. 9:00 Melton Car Park up river to Bawdsey/boat across to Felixstowe walk back down river to car. Further details nearer the time. C: Chelle Armour. E: chellearmour@yahoo.co.uk Sun 19th Jul 2026 Around Aylsham Group Walk - 18ml. 9:00 Mill Road carpark, Aylsham, Norfolk, NR11 6DU. No charge. OS Expl map 238. What three words: landed.afternoon.roosters. (GR TG191267). This is a figure of eight walk first looping around Blickling and then around Aylsham. There is an easy option to reduce the walk down to approx. 12 miles if required. From the carpark we head out of Aylsham soon picking up Marriotts Way, following it for a couple of km before turning off to go through the tiny village of Silvergate and towards the Blickling estate. We can make use of toilets at Blickling before heading through the park and on towards Itteringham. We then head east and south to arrive back at the Blicking estate to walk past the lake and house. This is the suggested lunch stop. Café, toilets, shop are available at Blickling. We then briefly retrace our steps to Silvergate to then head east to pick up Weavers Way. A green lane then takes us south and onto the Bure Valley railway path, and back into Aylsham. General Notes Paths along the route are varied but mainly good, landscape is varied. Please bring enough food and drink to last the entirety of the walk; there is however an opportunity to restock at Blicking, albeit at National Trust prices! The group can however stretch to an ice cream! Dogs welcome; there are some sections of the walk where dogs must be on a lead Contact Jon Inett Tel: 07799420492 Email jon1965@runbox.com   Sun 26th Jul 2026 Reserved for Robert Group Walk - Sun 9th Aug 2026 Summer BBQ and Walk Group Walk - 18ml. 9:00 Craven farm Brampton Beccles NR34 8EGCT. (GR TM423833). Figure of 8 walk 12 in morning and 6 after lunch. Stopping by Reddisham Hall for refreshments in the morning with lunch at Westhall church. BBQ at 4.15pm. Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of drinks for the walk Numbers are required at least 1 week before for the BBQ Please contact Martin Contact Martin Watson Tel: 07890 753516 Email suffolkbassett@gmail.com   Sun 16th Aug 2026 N&S countryside from Gillingham (Beccles) Group Walk - 18ml. 9:00 St Mary's Church Church Road, Gillingham, South Norfolk, Norfolk, NR34 0ND What three words. ///dripping.fond.absent. (GR TM410922). Exploring the countryside on the Suffolk and Norfolk border. Leaving Gillingham on minor roads, heading into the countryside across Geldeston Marshes, through Shipmeadow, back via Ringsfield and through Beccles on our return, with an opportunity for an icecream. Varied terrain minor roads, field edges, cross fields and commons. General Notes There will be a main morning break and a late lunch. Please note many of the paths are overgrown with nettles and cross field paths are of barley/wheat and rape seed, those who wish to protect themselves from stings and scratches etc I would suggest wearing clothing to cover legs. Some fields have cattle therefore dogs to be kept on leads at all times. On street parking near St Mary's Church Gillingham Contact Tracy Woods Tel: 07786 384448 Email Tracyj66@talktalk.net   Sat 22nd Aug 2026 “Suffolk Delights” Sudbury circular-Led by London Group Group Walk - 20ml. 9:20 9.20 at Sudbury station. Car parking at station. Train users take the 8.02 from Liverpool Street (8.09 at Stratford, 8.25 at Shenfield) and change at Marks Tey. (GR TL877410). Long Melford and Lavenham to admire the 2 famous wool town churches with a plentiful supply of ice cream and an… Sun 30th Aug 2026 Reserved for Heather Group Walk - Sun 6th Sep 2026 Flower of Suffolk marshals walk Group Walk - For marshals of the main event only. Please contact Chelle for more details and if you would like to help. C: Chelle Armour. E: chellearmour@yahoo.co.uk Fri 11th - Sun 13th Sep 2026 Group weekend away to Isle of Wight Group Walk - Please see trip information on group website https://ldwa.org.uk/NorfolkAndSuffolk/W/10659/isle-of-wight-2026.html   Enjoy the sunshine I’m sure it will be raining again soon!   Jane