THIS MONTH'S WALKS AND EVENTS

APRIL 2019

DOGS MUST BE ON LEADS AT ALL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED BY THE WALK LEADER

From time to time we take photos to update our web site and also SRSB's web site. If anyone does not wish to appear on group photos please make it clear at the beginning of the walk.

FROM THE CHAIR... On Thursday the 21st of February we had 3 V.I.P.S at the Sheffield Interchange and there were no sighted guides to see them to the bus safely. Can I ask that anyone going on the walks particularly Thursdays and Sundays, to please let Carol know, and hopefully this problem will not happen again. Thanking everyone. David.

THURSDAY 16TH MAY - Mike JACKSON'S OPEN GARDEN EVENT
Dear Friends. Just to let you know that IÕm again opening my garden this year as part of the National Garden SocietyÕs ÒYellow BookÓ Open Garden Scheme. As many of you will be aware, the NGS is a major fundraising charity and every year donates up to £3M including £500,00 each to Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Charity and Hospice U.K. plus substantial sums to many other worthy causes. The NGS is in fact the greatest single donor to Macmillan since the charity was founded - £15M in total.
My opening dates are Thursday 16th May and Thursday 19th September, from 2pm until 5 each day. The Òentry charge" agreed by the NGS is £4 per person (children and dogs free). Excellent refreshments will be available both days in aid of local charities, Sheffield Young Carers in May and Children's Air Ambulance in September.
All members of the Group would be most welcome. It would lovely to welcome yourselves, your colleagues and your relations and friends on what promises to be an enjoyable and relaxing afternoon, at the same time contributing to a very worthwhile charitable event.
I look forward to seeing you on the day. Mike.

WEDNESDAY 10TH APRIL - VALLEYS AND WOODS
MEET: Poundland, High Street at 9.30 to catch the 9.55 no 120 bus to Fulwood Village, where the walk will start 10.20.
ROUTE: Firth Park, Wincobank Hill, Wolley Wood, Concorde Park, returning back to the start.
DISTANCE: 6 1/2 miles.
TERRAIN: Mostly good tracks, some rough ground.
LEADER: Judy Gathercole (0755727559 on the day). Please contact Chris by Friday 5th April if you wish to join this walk. Tel: 0114 2366685 - hewitt.c4@sky.com

THURSDAY 18TH APRIL - HATHERSAGE CIRCULAR WITH MIKE AND JOE
MEET: Sheffield Interchange at 9.20 to catch the 9.40 bus to Hathersage, where the walk will start at 10.30.
ROUTE: Hathersage, Leadmill Bridge, Torr Farm, Oaks Farm, Offerton Moor, Offerton, Callow Farm, Leadmill Bridge, Hathersage.
DISTANCE: 6 1/2 miles.
TERRAIN: Some minor roads but is mostly on good paths through woodland and across fields and rough pasture - it does cross exposed moorland and there are some steady ascents and descents.
LEADER: Mike Wilson (0753 8001933 on the day) and Joe Fagan (07791 634319). As always all VIP's and Guides contact Carol if you wish to join this walk to enable her to collate enough guides to VIP's, Carol Adams 07786546004, 0114 2753922 caz25adams17@gmail.com

SUNDAY 28TH APRIL - PARKS VALLEYS WOODS AND DAMS
MEET: Poundland, High Street at 9.45 to catch the 10.16 no 88 bus outside the Virgin Bank on Leopold Street to Hunters Bar, where the walk will start outside the gates of Endcliffe Park at 10.30.
ROUTE: Endcliffe Park, Porter Valley to Forge Dam (lunch), Ivy Cottage Lane, Whiteley Woods, Bingham Park, return to Endcliffe Park.
DISTANCE:5 miles.
TERRAIN: One climb up Ivy Cottage Lane and mostly hard surface footpaths.
LEADER: Les Seaman (07547115946 on the day), Please contact Carol if you wish to join this walk 07786546004, 0114 2753922 caz25adams17@gmail.com

SATURDAY 27TH APRIL - THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF ACCESS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE
Organised by S.Y.N.E.D Ramblers. A rally will take place at Winnats Pass, at 2pm. Guest speakers include David Blunkett, Jarvis Cocker and other speakers. Doncaster Ramblers are organising a walk starting at Hope Railway Station at 10.00am. We were thinking we might have our own walk but it is our Sunday Walk the next day so it probably wouldn't be prudent. However, if any member wishes to take part contact David Tel; 07554143262, davidcadet81@gmail.com or look on line.

FUNDRAISING CHALLANGE 2019 SATURDAY 11TH MAY
MEET: Poundland, High Street at 8.15am to catch the 8.39 Blue Route tram to Hillsborough Interchange, then number 61 or 62 but to Lower Bradfield, where the walk will start 9.36.
ROUTE: Lower Bradfield passing high above Agden Water, then fields and open moorland to the Dukes Road. Onto Back Tor, where we will have our lunch Break, then passing Derwent Edge Water and making our way to Strines Reservoir, to continue onto Dale Dyke Reservoir, before returning on country lanes back to the start.
DISTANCE: 12 1/2 or 5 miles for a shorter walk .
TERRAIN: Some ups and downs on good tracks and trails, taking in nice scenery and good views. The challenging part of this walk will be the distance, however, there is a point where walkers can leave the walk and make their way back to the start.
LEADER: David Cadet (07554143262 on the day). Please contact Chris by Monday 5th May if you wish to join this walk tel 0114 2366685 or hewitt.c4@sky.com
Sponsor forms have been printed and will be handed out shortly. The estimated time of this walk 6-6.1/2 hours to complete.

TUESDAY 2ND APRIL - GRENOSIDE WALK
MEET: Meet at Poundland High Street at 9.15 to catch the 9.45 no 86 bus on Arundel Gate to Cinder Hill Lane Grenoside where the walk will start 10.20.
ROUTE: Easy Walking around Ecclesfield on good tracks some stiles but no steep ascents.
DISTANCE: 4 1/2 miles.
TERRAIN: Good tracks and paths.
LEADER: David (07554143262 on the day) and Norman. Please contact Norman if you wish to join this walk 0114 2686339 Car drivers can park at the top of Whitley Lane near the Norfolk Arms Pub.

Walking Holiday September 9th- 14th September in Llandudno...
Firstly thanks to those who have sent their £50 deposits in. Those members who still need to pay please can you let Stan Wainwright have your £50 by 30th Jan, either by a cheque payable to SVIWG, cash or directly through the bank.
We have had a couple of cancellations for the walking break so if you were thinking you might like to join us but thought it was too late, then please get in touch & we can see what accommodation will be available. Further information please contact Hilary on 0114 2306604 hilarymyers16@gmail.com or speak to Sue Hill or Christine Hewitt.

GROUP NEWS
We raised a fantastic sum of £130 on the Wednesday 12th December Christmas lunch raffle well done.

TABLES WANTED
A member has asked me if anyone has a nest of tables they no longer need, if so please let Gail know who will pass your details on to the person making the enquiry. email gail.fagan@guidemail.co.uk 0114 2667764.

NEW APP FOR I PHONE... APRIL 2019
Details below. Contact David if you have any problems. davidcadet81@gmail.com

CLEW: navigation app for the blind and low vision

https://youtu.be/llznhGUxpPk

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/clew/id1268077870?mt=8

NEW UPDATE FOR IPHONE...Earlier this year

The GPS satalight navigation Lazarillo have invested quite a bit recently and improved it. You can now actually get turn by turn instructions whilst navigating towards the destination. You need to use the search function or try going to your list of favourite locations.
Select somewhere by double tapping with one finger
then swipe to find start tracking,
double tap to turn that toggle
then at the bottom left double tap on walking mode
a menu will pop-up on which you need to double tap on Google maps or just Lazarillo because it has now built in navigation and this is better because you do not get two voices talking at the same time!
You then make sure you have your ear pods in your ear- well, one of them anyhow - and pop your phone in your pocket and set off!
With BlindSquare it is much easier to cut out unwanted announcements of shops, pubs, small restaurants. Lazarillo is completely free and as I said, it now enables you to get turn by turn directions. None of the GPS apps are absolutely accurate but they really do help quite a bit. So, I would encourage you to download this app and experiment!

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MEMBERS LEAVING ANY WALKS EARLY PLEASE LET THE LEADER OR BACK MARKER KNOW

HOLIDAYS FOR VIP's AND SIGHTED GUIDES... Traveleyes is a holiday company who specialise in holidays for Blind people and Sighted guides. They do short City breaks and World Wide Travel. Sighted guides can get a discount of up to 50 percent. For further information call 0113 8874275 or visit their web site traveleyes-international.com

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MAIN WALKS CONTACTS: Christine Hewitt (Chair) - 0114 2366685 hewitt.c4@sky.com and John Bater (Walks Organiser) - 0114 233 4080 or 07816089059

Please note that anyone intends to come on any off the walks, you must contact John Bater above (except for Wednesday walks when you should contact Christine Hewitt on 0114 2366685 or

hewitt.c4@sky.com

. Walks are suitable for dogs (on leads) unless otherwise stated.

IMPORTANT!! It is advisable to bring a waterproof jacket and wear walking boots (if you have them) when you come out with the group.

DOGS ON WALKS...
This is by way of a reminder to everyone about how we should be taking care of dogs on walks. There was an incident on a walk recently where a Guide dog went missing and it took some time and a lot of retracing of steps to find her again. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE LOSING GUIDE DOGS!!!! So - let us just remind ourselves of the rules governing dogs on walks. Firstly, it is up to the leader to say when dogs can be let off the lead. In making their decision leaders will be bearing in mind that dogs should not be off the lead near roads, anywhere where there are livestock, either in the field we are in or adjacent fields. Nor should dogs be off the lead if we are walking on a narrow path where dogs running up and down the line of walkers runs the risk of knocking people over, especially if they pick up a stick in their mouths as some of them are prone to do. Once the leader has said that dogs may be let off the lead it is up to the guide dog owner to release their own dog but they must make sure that a sighted guide takes responsibility for keeping an eye on the dog. If the sighted guide is you - then YOU DO NOT TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE DOG. Ask the guide dog owner to call the dog back the minute you spot a possible problem and let's be sensible about playing with the dogs. This can just get them over excited and distracts their attention from their owner as well as the potential danger of dogs chasing up and down the line of walkers. Please do not throw sticks, dogs get splinters in their mouths which can be quite dangerous. Finally - remember that dogs must be on leads for coffee and lunch stops. Christine

Please send articles for Newsletter to gail.fagan@guidemail.co.uk Tel; 0114 2667764.

!!! REMINDER!!! PLEASE NOTE FOR ALL WEDNESDAY WALKS

VIPs and Guides need to Contact Christine Hewitt 0114 236 6685 or

hewitt.c4@sky.com

by tea time on the Friday before the walk AT THE LATEST if they intend to walk. This gives her time to ensure that there are enough guides available for the VIPs. Leave a message if she isn’t in. For ALL other walks you need to contact John Bater.

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OTHER EVENTS

CALVERT TRUST Activity Centre in the Lake District - for people with disabilities have contacted me to enquire if any of our members would be interested. They offer a wide range of activities and include training i.e. canoeing, sailing, cycling, climbing plus indoor activities. Accommodation provided with full board or self-catering. Anyone interested to please contact me for further information. Thanks, Eric. CONTACT - Eric Andrews: Tel. 0114 229 9504 or email:ericandrews2009@guidemail.co.uk

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