Hello everybody and welcome to Episode 13 of Ricky and Jonny’s exploits on the byways of our wonderful parish. Yes! Thirteen episodes, numerous alerts, a bunch of completed projects, an honorary PRoWler (Steve Keynes) and many mysteries and puzzles along the way.
We’ve nearly reached the end of another eventful year and Ricky and Jonny have asked me to thank you all for supporting their endeavours throughout… and long may it continue.
So this is an episode with a number of themes and updates on various activities that the boys have been up to and will be up to soon. Don’t try and read it in one go. This is definitely one to enjoy(?!) over several sittings.
Funding Update – This is good news !
So finally! Devon County Council have released the project funds for 2025. A tad late, but at least it’s in the bank. Thank you to the Parish Council for looking after the P3 money and keeping it safe so we can use it as we need it. Related to money, Ricky and Jonny were in Mole Avon recently and thought it prudent to open a cash account with them; This not only gives the boys a small discount on purchases, but also allows them to claim the VAT back and add it back to the project pot.
Of course there is another (hidden) benefit to shopping at Mole Avon, and that’s the near-by Railway Kitchen Cafe. Never let it be said that the boys are slow to scoff a full Railway Breakfast, though sadly no discount for PRoWlers, but they’re working on that (in their own time of course).
Whilst they were up in that neck of the woods, they also popped in to Bradfords and opened a similar account there. In unison they both said “Right! That’s us sorted, let’s get on and do some PRowlin’ “.
Devon County Council – Growl
Talking of Devon County Council, Jonny sent a request in early September for some additional signage – finger post signs, footpath and bridleway markers etc. – You know – the sort of things the boys need to simply do their jobs. He got an immediate reply… “Due to the significant number of emails I receive there may be a delay in responding to individual queries. I am sorry for the inconvenience.”
It’s now December and no response. I’ve told Jonny to send a polite reminder! It’s really difficult to get things done when people in the system simply ignore you.
The Ship has Sailed – This is less good news
Here’s a bit of a mystery. Someone has decided to “borrow” the pirate ship marker from the finger post in Goldsmith Lane at the start of FP57. One day it was there… the next it was gone. Jonny spotted this when out on an “off duty” dog walk. You do wonder what goes on in some people’s heads.
Let’s hope the rascals read this and return it to the (now naked) finger post, of course assuming they can actually read. Just in case you aren’t sure what’s been taken, here’s a photo (taken at another undisclosed and secret location). If anyone offers you one down the pub, let us know!
Is there Anybunny There?
Read on to the Residents’ Reports to learn about a PRoWler Reward related to the Black Bunny.
Now – back to business.
Upcoming Projects on FP56 – Path onto South Common
Footpath 56 is in a right old mess at the moment. This is the path that leads on to South Common from Goldsmith Lane, then continues past the woodland and on to Heather Bell, Flashmans and beyond. Water and mud everywhere.
Having studied this in the summer and done some work on the gate at the north end of the woods, Ricky and Jonny came up with a plan for this northern leg of the path.
Sloshing through the muddy path adjacent to the woodland, Ricky said “I think this water REALLY wants to run off the South Common field, cross the footpath and end up in the pond in the middle of the woods. But at the moment it just sits on the path and goes nowhere and the pond is almost dry.”
Jonny agreed. “I agree!” he said, “but what’s the best way to make that happen?”
They both did their usual umming and arring. “How about a wooden walkway?” asked Ricky. After more thought they both agreed that that wasn’t really solving the problem, but simply hiding it under some wood. “Drainage!” exclaimed Ricky. “Yes!” said Jonny. They came up with a plan to hand dig some drainage channels from the path, directly into the woodland’s pond.
Of course, this would involve asking the landowner’s permission to do a bit of ground works – you know the sort of thing: levelling, sloping, digging, raking and tea drinking. So off they both trotted to warm up and form a cunning plan. Did someone say “Tea” ?
But who owns this small patch of woodland? It seemed that the only people who knew were the owner and His Majesty’s Land Registry. So while Ricky (alter ego – artistic director for the All Saints panto) was busy making hedgehog costumes with Jonny’s wife (don’t ask), Jonny donated £7 to His Majesty to learn who owned the woodland.
“Got it!” shouted Jonny from the other room – and went to tell Ricky who the owner was. The Registry Entry only had a name and address (in Bristol), but no email address. So using a well loved (not by Jonny, that’s for sure) social media platform, he tracked down a likely person and sent a message explaining the situation. It was lucky that the owner had a very unusual name so he got a hit straight away.
Within minutes (literally two or three) a reply flew across the fibres/wires/ether/string (you choose) and they said they were happy for the boys to go ahead. Brilliant news. A nice little job when they are both feeling fit! That’s the plan sorted for the northern leg…
…so what about the southern leg of the path?
Also horribly wet and muddy. Even Jonny’s dog is reluctant to wade through it.
The boys had already planned what to do with this section, but it involved spending real £money. However, now that our friends(?) at DCC have stumped up a few quid, the boys can start executing their plan. It involves “scalpings”… A lot of scalpings – probably 3 or 4 tons of scalpings.
All the boys have to do is get it delivered and get in on the ground!
I’ll keep you posted.
Residents’ Reports
As always, thank you to everyone who has contacted the PRoWlers with tips about what needs looking in to.
- Recently, there was a report of a… (wait for it…) a real zebra traversing a footpath somewhere on FP61. A zebra of all things. I’ll resist all jokes about zebra crossings because that would be, well, just silly.
Ricky and Jonny couldn’t resist – so off they trekked in search of the mysterious beast.
And what did they find, munching the grass quite happily? It was (of course) a ZORSE. Turns out that even horses have a sense of humour and this one was wearing a stripy zebra coat. How the boys chuckled. - Another sets of sightings – this time the elusive Black Bunny (at Black Bunny Corner).
Very sadly these were also both false alarms. The boys did find a couple of black-faced sheep on one occasion and a man dressed as a Bobby on another occasion. It turns out that the “policeman” was in fact PC Twit (of PC Twit and PC Twoo fame) who had somehow escaped from the upcoming panto. The sheep was… just a sheep.
If anyone can offer genuine photographic evidence (none of this AI malarky) to confirm the existence of the Black Bunny – please drop us a note at prowlers@allsaints-pc.gov.uk. There may be a small reward!
- And finally, the boys are often asked about dog poo on the footpaths. Unfortunately, the poo itself is not phantom poo; It’s real and it’s smelly and it’s just PLAIN SELFISH. Pups will be pups, but owners have an obligation both legally and morally to clean up after pooch. It’s not a PRoWler’s job to deal with it (unless it’s one of their own pups of course).
The poo situation did get markedly worse this summer – who knows why? Knights Lane became a poo highway for a few weeks earlier in the year – Most unpleasant.
Rant Over (for now, at least) !
Footpath 49 – Fordwater and Beyond
Whilst enjoying a cuppa and a KitKat (other chocolatey snacks are available), Jonny was looking at the footpath map, and shouted – “Ricky! Why have we never been to Footpath 49 at Fordwater?”
Ricky, somewhat taken aback, replied “Because, dear boy, we are heading out there in just a moment. It’s next on my list of “must see” paths.” Huh! A likely story thought Jonny.
Well, I don’t believe it was on Ricky’s list either. I believe he was just trying to cover-up the fact that the boys didn’t like navigating the dangers of the A358. Who can blame them?
FP49 is right on the edge of our parish and is in the vicinity of Fordwater Farm where the road bends slightly.
They set off in the PRoWler Mobile, wearing their best Indiana Jones hats. They parked up just before the start of the path. Even though it was only about 20 yards along the road from the truck, it was still a death defying walk to the finger post and road-side stile. How the boys HATE the A358.
Talk about the Jurassic Coast! This path was more like Jurassic Park. Overgrown, wet and very boggy. The boys surmise that there really was a ford across the A358 long before it was an A road. According to our maps, it’s an out lying tributary of the River Axe that now crosses under the road bridge largely out of sight. You’d hardly know it was there.
Anyway, they scaled the roadside stile and then carved in to the undergrowth. Ricky froze! He thought he heard heavy footsteps following.
“Stegosaurus!” exclaimed Ricky and quickly took a photo (see right).
Jonny replied “Sorry, can’t look now as I’m fighting off this Pterodactyl.”
It really was an untrodden and overgrown jungle of a path.
Sadly, much of the jungle was the highly invasive Himalayan Balsam which was, thankfully, just starting to die back.
The parish boundary runs along the river which was in full flow. The whole area is VERY wet. Do NOT mention wet legs or wet feet. The boys were pretty sodden.
So having “discovered” this long lost footpath, they decided to follow it as best they could – north to the boundary with Chardstock. A few(!) maintenance jobs added to the list, but because it seems nobody treks here – they have classified the work as low priority – best done on a sunny spring day before the balsam starts to regrow and the ground has dried a bit.
PRoWler Fact – How invasive is Himalayan balsam? Click here to find out.
The answer is… VERY!
Since its introduction in 1839, Himalayan balsam has become widespread and common in the UK, primarily along riverbanks, streamsides and other damp areas. Its rapid spread is partly due to its effectiveness at producing and dispersing seed.
A single plant can produce hundreds of seeds, and its explosive, easily triggered seed pods propel seed up to 7m (23 ft) from the parent plant. Seed can travel much further and colonise new areas by floating down water courses, and can remain viable for two years.
FP67, 68 and 69 – Close to Frogwell Farm
A Trio of short paths (68 is really a Bridleway). Footpath FP67 is a short path that starts opposite Frogwell Farm. It crosses the parish boundary in just a few hundred yards when it bridges the river. Nothing much to report here, but the stile does need a good haircut. “Added to the list.” said Jonny.
Continuing up Frogwell Lane, the bridleway (BW68) splits off to the left and tracks up the slope. FP69 heads off right, over a stile and into the fields. On a warm sunny day both of these would be lovely walks, but wind and rain tend to dampen the enthusiasm.
Trekking up the bridleway in their PRoWler gear, the boys can look a little intimidating and suspicious if you don’t know them. As luck would have it, they met a gentleman in a Landrover coming down the track. Winding down the window he said “Can I help you? Are you lost?” The question really was “WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?”, but he was much too polite to say that.
Rick and Jonny approached him and explained their mission to survey the outer reaches of our network of paths; This is where sporting the “official” PRoWler badge really helps.
When he understood they weren’t rascals, he was quick to jump out of the Landy and chat amiably. He then gave the boys a guided tour of his buildings. “Logs!” said Ricky. “Yes,” said the new friend, “and ready to deliver. Do you want some?” Ricky booked a delivery of a ton of dried hardwood logs there and then. Good logs, good price!
Funny old business PRoWling.
So that brings us to the conclusion of this PRoWlers’ Progress update. I hope you enjoyed it.
And, yes, I know it’s a bit early, but to end this episode, Ricky, Jonny (and me) would like to wish you all
A very Merry Christmas and a Happy and (above all) Healthy New Year.
And please don’t forget….
Shut that Gate!
A Note from the Webmaster
Keep an eye on this website over the next couple of weeks as the boys might be firing up the Christmas Puzzle engine… if they can remember where they left the keys. No promises, but there may be another PRoWler Jigsaw in the mix.
