There is a system in place for walk secretaries to check for local clashes but there are so many factors that come into play when organising a walk programme that it will rarely be utilised. Many groups struggle to get one walk leader a month so walk secretaries generally take walks when they are offered. Of course you want to try and avoid clashes with Challenge walks, but walk leaders have their own lives and are possibly only available on the day they offer to lead. Sometimes a particular date is required as they feel it is the best weekend for daffodils, bluebells or autumn colour. I realise it is sometimes frustrating when you get 3 options one weekend and nothing on others. Why not offer to lead a walk on one of the blank weekends? It may not appear in Strider, but the website can be updated in plenty of time

How practical is it to establish a system to avoid local groups walks clashing with those organised by neighbouring groups. For example there are only three group walks on Sunday 16th November but they London Group walking in Kent, Kent Group walking in Sussex and Sussex Group have their own walk. I’m sure all walk leaders find it gratifying to have more rather than fewer walkers turn up to share the walk they have taken time to organise but on this Sunday the potential pool of walkers is going to be split 3 ways and those that live locally are going to miss out on two walks they might otherwise have joined. Often future programs only appear on group websites at the time of the Strider deadline date by which time it is too late to juggle clashes apart in time to get accurate listings in the prime source used by members to plan their outings. If anything could be put in place it would undoubtedly involve additional work for social walk co-ordinators but what can be done to streamline any process?