During the year 2016 the Vale Path Volunteers path maintenance team of the Vale of White Horse Rambler Group undertook 13 path clearance projects throughout the Vale. It has cleared just over 2 kilometres of hedgerow or woodland, and spent 140 person work hours doing it.

Richard Kenyon a member of the team received LANTRA training to operate a brushcutter and the Group received funding from Area Council to purchase a second brushcutter. Both machines were used in a work session at Milton village in October on a path forming part of the Vale Way.  Five new members joined to the team during the year. The Team also received funding from Area Council to purchase a number of secateurs, pruners and loppers which Mike Sergeant of the Blitz and Klean Path Maintenance Group was able to obtain at very preferential rates.

The team continues to receive very good support from Arthur McEwan-James, Field Officer South-West of the Countryside Access Team. Arthur liaises with landowners before the team undertake path clearance on their land. He has also suggested paths for the team to work on and has spent two work sessions with the team. Suggestions for other paths that could be cleared are made by Ramblers.

Since its formation in 2012 the VPV team has undertaken 39 path clearance sessions, and it is estimated that it has cleared nearly 8 kilometres of path and spent a total of 540 person hours in doing so.

The photographs show the team ready for action at Milton, and at the end of a path clearance at Longworth