Page 37 - Demo

PAGE 37The Bedfordshire Festival of Autumn Walks 2025 proved to be an unbounded success.Firstly, we had huge support from the four Bedfordshire Ramblers Groups, Leighton Buzzard, Lea & Icknield, Ivel Valley and North Beds. On top of the 35 walks we put on, we welcomed the following Ramblers Groups from across the county border - Wellingborough Ramblers, Stag Walkers, Hunts Ramblers and North Herts Ramblers who all also contributed walks to the program. We also included in the program walks hosted by other non-Ramblers groups - Wellbeing Walks, Forest of Marston Vale, U3A, Parish Walking and Wildlife, Bedford Tour Guides, Bedford Rambling Club, Social Walking, Higham Ferrars Footpath Group, The Dunstable and District Walking and Hostelling Group - The Bogtrotters, Friends of Bedford Cemetery, Toddington Rambling Club, Mindfulness and Massage and The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. We also had a walk and boat trip with the John Bunyan Community Boat. Sadly, the Bedfordshire Bat Group Walk was rained off - hopefully next year. All this contributed to a massive 74 walks with 1066 walkers over the 9 days. Finally, what would be a walking festival without a training course and the regular Greensand Ridge Challenge (40 miles in 2 days). Thanks to Nick Markham for running Navigation Course and Ivel Valley for the challenge.This year also saw a number of invited dignitaries getting involved. We were delighted to host the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, 4 of our local MPs, the Deputy Mayor of Bedford, the Chair as well as the Leader of Central Beds Council and 3 other Councillors join us either for a walk or photo opportunity. All in all, it was a massive team effort with a number of shared interests %u2013 but at the heart of what we do, we all want to share our beautiful unsung county with as many people as possible and help to get people out walking! Thank you to all who contributed. See you in 2026.Sandra Kelsey - North Beds RamblersWow what a success!