2022 ended on a very sad note for the Vale Path Volunteers Maintenance Team (VPV), as we lost Jim Parke, the founder and long-standing coordinator of the VPV. Jim’s dedicated and tireless work for all walking matters, not least the VPV, was an inspiration and an example to us all. He will be sadly missed.

During the year 2022, the VPV cleared just over 5.6 km kilometres of footpaths and other public rights of way spending around 348-person work hours doing it. The team has the use of two brush cutters and a long pole petrol-engine hedge-cutter as well as a full range of hand tools.

This year we welcomed five new volunteers: Colin Skipper, Tim Howard, Donald Johnston, Timothy Bartel and Mark Sheldon, which brings our membership to a total of 20, normal turnout being between 5 and 10 at any one session.

The team works with the Oxfordshire Country Council South-West Countryside Access Team, which liaises with landowners before the team undertake path clearance on their land. They can also suggest paths for the team to work on. We have also received suggestions for paths to be cleared from walks leaders. This is a very important source of information.

An interesting session this year saw the installation of 9 waymark posts on Warren Farm in Holton Parish. This session followed up a request from Arthur McEwan-James of the South-West Countryside Access Team to undertake the work. The VPV combined with colleagues from the Thame and Wheatley and Oxford City path maintenance volunteers.

Below is a link to a video, produced by our own Andy Boyd, of a work session at Henwood nr Abingdon on 3 August 2022

https://vimeo.com/736855685/d8b6a299cb?share=copy

I would like to thank all members of the VPV team for their support in attending the work sessions. We have been very fortunate in the weather conditions this year were on our side during the work sessions.