Jack Ellerby - Lands End to John O'Groats sponsored ride July-Aug

Many of you will know the long standing KDCS member Jack (Ellerby) who has asked me to ask you to consider sponsoring him on his forthcoming LeJog. Also please put in your diary that Jack has invited us to join him on all or part of his ride through Cumbria on Sunday the 3rd August.

 Lands End to John O'Groats sponsored ride July-Aug 

Dear personal and work Friends

Having some time on my hands in between finishing at Friends of the Lake District (end of June) and starting self-employed outdoor work in September, I thought I’d do something useful and raise some funds with my good mate Steve for charity. Please sponsor us and pass these links onto your friends and contacts to see if they would like to donate to a good cause. Steve has a facebook page which can do something else which is beyond me, but some of you might know what to do!

Very best wishes and here’s to a dry spell as we cycle 1045 miles (and visit some of you on route!). 

MS Society donations:http://www.justgiving.com/Steve-Gaskell1 

Friends of the Lake District donations:

https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/jackellerby1 

Jack Ellerby
Policy OfficerFriends of the Lake District  - Protecting Cumbria's Landscapes for future generations

It’s our 80^th anniversary – help us create new woodlands in the Lake District by buying a tree for your loved ones today

Hardraw, Hawes weekend March 22-23

An update from Hilary..... 

The Hardraw weekend is going ahead with about 20 members all up, in various locations including the bunkhouse and the Green Dragon Inn. 

There is still plenty of bunkhouse accommodation in the Green Dragon if anyone wants to make a late booking - tel:  01969 667392 - for the eccentric landlord!  

If anyone wants to join us for rides on the day, please turn up at the Old School Bunkhouse (first building on left coming into Hardraw) or at Green Dragon, for 9.30am on Sat or Sunday.  

I plan to set off between 9.30 - 10am depending on how long it takes everyone to have breakfast ....  the weather etc.  We will have a group evening meal at the Green Dragon on Saturday night - all welcome to join in.

Rides are planned to be;-

1. Down Wensleydale to Castle Bolton, over hill to Grinton and Reeth for lunch, back up Swaledale and over Buttertubs - approx 40 miles.

2. Out of Hawes and over Oughtershawside to Cray (White Lion Inn) then Bishopdale to Aysgarth, back up Wensleydale.   Revised versions if weather is bad.

Please note:  I am the co-ordinator of this trip - but not a 'leader' as that has lots of implications for liabilities in case of accidents etc, everyone should be aware of and responsible for their own safety.

Thanks

Hilary

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

An update from Peter .... 

Andrew (J) and I are planning to cycle (weather permitting) to Hawes on Friday returning on Monday.

If anyone would like to join us they would be most welcome. We plan to leave Milnthorpe around 10.00am and the intended  route is:-

    Crooklands, Old Hutton, A684 north of Killington, Sedbergh, Garsdale, Hawes.

Please let Andrew or I know where you would like to meet up with us.

In friendship to all

Peter (R).

North York Moors Cycling Trip; 19 - 21 April 2013

Many of KDCS and friends arrived on a very sunny Friday evening to the picturesque village of Glaisdale on Friday. The more active had cycled over – from Kendal, Leyburn and even Nelson in Lancashire and deserved a well earned rest in the evening. Others had explored the locality during Friday daytime.

A gentle ride round the dale as the sun set – and up the first climb of the weekend – many more to come – gave us a bit of a understanding of how severe some of the North York Moors hills really are.

Saturday morning saw 6 folk head over to the coast – Whitby and surrounding area, for a beach filled day of exploring. Another 14 headed off toward Cropton Forrest via Wheeldale Moor – with two massive climbs at Egton Bridge before the day had really got under way. From Cropton, some people opted to visit Pickering and take the North York Moors railway back to Goathland – with another steep hill or two back to Glaisdale; others had a sunny lunch stop in the quaint village of Hutton-Le-Hole or nearby Cropton pub & brewery – with a beer festival kindly arranged for Mr Rose.

The afternoon saw three routes back to Glaisdale, via places like Rosedale Abbey (descending the famous Rosedale Chimney), Blakey Ridge and a lovely valet called “Fryup Dale”. We all met up for an evening meal in the Arncliffe Arms – and people planned various rides and activities on Sunday to suit their own timescales for returning. Jamie and I did a superb off-road route across the moors on shooting tracks and an old railway track on cross bikes.

 The above picture is Bank House Farm across Glaisdale – and it genuinely looked like this – (possibly a little less green on trees) when we arrived and stayed like this all weekend!

 Below a few pictures to show you some of the fun which was had!

 Jo MacDonald

These photos can also be viewed, copied and downloaded on Flickr at: 
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjETn1Bc

Lunch on the grass at Hutton-Le-Hole!

Mark Bazeley heading down into Fryup Dale!

The view heading down into Fryup Dale

More views of Fryup Dale

Farndale from the disused train track on Sunday’s ride

The amazing disused railway on Sunday to Hutton-Le-Hole.

SATURDAY 23 MARCH
Please note that tomorrow's ride, led by Bill Jackson, has been CANCELLED because of the snow.

Sustainability group - opportunity to campaign for our marine environment

Marine Conservation Zone

Our seas need you! Now’s the chance for you to have your say and influence the future of our seas. We have until 31 March 2013 to voice our opinions to the Government and show our support for Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs).

Below is a copy of an email that we wanted to be available to as many people as possible - the item highlighted in red lower down is of interest to all cyclists.

Hello everyone.

Apologies for this email being rather long, but as fellow members of the sustainability group, I thought that you would like to know about an important public consultation that is currently being held in relation to proposed Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs).  These are essentially nature reserves in the sea; areas where the most damaging activities will be appropriately managed to ensure effective protection of the species and habitats within the reserve.

Disappointingly, only four of the 19 recommended MCZs in the Irish Sea were put forward for designation in 2013. It is unclear when the remaining sites will be designated and whether damaging activities will be restricted in the meantime

So how do I know about this work?  Well, until fairly recently, I worked for Cumbria Wildlife Trust.  I still keep in close contact with my ex colleagues - hence me learning about this important area of campaign work.  So I hope you don't mind me letting you know about it too? 

If you would like to know more about the marine life in our coastal waters and why we need to lobby for its protection, then please follow the link below. 

http://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/what-we-do/living-seas-north-west/marine-conservation-zones

The website also has a smashing little video and further information about the issues, including how you can help the campaign.

I hope you find this of interest that you don't mind me emailing you about it.  I think that its a great way of acting upon our commitment to sustainability as it concerns the future viability of our marine environment as well as fish stocks and associated wildlife habitats.  

I have just sent a petition letter and it was very easy.  I have also copied the text as a word document - see attached and plan to send it to Tim Farron.

In friendship ....and apologies if you are already aware of this work.

Izzy

ps.  Morecambe Bay Partnership is also holding its AGM in Grange-over-Sands on the 26th March 2013.

http://www.morecambebay.org.uk/what_we_do/AGM_&_conference_2013.html

Speakers include:

• Sustrans on the Bay Cycle Way - our plans to connect and sign a 200 Km long cycle route
• Peter Fendley of the National Grid
• Maddi Nicholson of Art Gene talking about the creative work that is giving the Ship Inn on Piel Island a new contemporary resonance and other work with Coastal Communities in the NE.
• Walter Menzies and James Rebanks looking at the Morecambe Bay and other Local Nature Partnerships in the North West
• Peter Caton - Author of "No Boat Required"

Adele Aiming High

This sounds like an interesting evening and  in a very good cause. Jackie Bateman asked us to publicise this event which she is helping to organise at the Lakes school, for a little boy who has cerebral palsy and also CPCumbria who support those with cerebral palsy.

Latest on North York Moors trip (April 2013)

Hi all

Jo has just emailed the latest plan for this weekend of cycling and socialising based in Glaisdale  in the North York Moors. A choice of three routes is suggested for the Saturday, with the Sunday morning rides to be planned on Saturday night. Some folk are going early, some are cycling part of the way there and there may be lifts available.

Click here to download the latest info as a PDF.

Lois