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Millennium Footpath progress reportWednesday, 22 November 2000 The Hardwick Millennium Footpath is a circular walk around the village to celebrate the Millennium, which is due to open on 2 July 2000, the Sunday of the Hardwick Millennium Celebration weekend. It begins and ends at the village sign, and the entire walk is 13.9 km (8.6 mi) long, though optional short-cuts allow it to be shortened to 12, 10, or 5 km (7.5, 6, or 3 mi). An inaugural walk is planned on the opening day, beginning 10.30-11.00 am (exact timings to be announced later)and to include a bring-your-own picnic lunch. The path passes through the parishes of Hardwick, Comberton, and Caldecote,and crosses the Greenwich Meridian twice, at 5 km and 11 km from the start. It mainly follows existing public rights of way, though part is on a new permissive path. The route follows a combination of farm tracks, bridleways, field edges,and roadside pavements, and will be waymarked with signs bearing the "Hardwick Celebrates 2000" logo. Hardwick and Caldecote Highfields are seen from a variety of different viewpoints, and in places there are good vistas to the south over the Bourn valley. The exact route description will be published later, accompanied by a map. Information about the Hardwick Millennium Footpath will be published on the Hardwick web site. A circular footpath to mark the Millennium in Hardwick was one of the most popular ideas emerging from the village questionnaire held in March 1998, and has been supported by the Community Association, the Parish Council, local District and County Councillors, and the landowner, Chivers Farms Ltd.,who have kindly granted permissive access for the new section of path to cross their land. The access agreement does not come into force until 2nd July. Until then there is no permission to walk on this part of the route, so please do not trespass on it and risk damage to the newly seeded grass areas which must be left undisturbed if the path is to open on time. Funding for the project has come mainly from a grant of £1180 from the Millennium Commission. A new timber footbridge has been constructed over the Bin Brook, and further work such as waymarking is in progress to prepare the path for its opening on 2nd July. If anyone would like to help with this work,please let me or one of the other members of the planning group (Shirley Bidgood, Iain Hayman and Chris Bond) know. If anyone has access to relevant tools or equipment, such as an auger for installing waymarking posts, please get in touch. h3. Help wanted Looking forward to the summer celebrations. If anyone feels they would like to be involved in the planning any of the millennium events or are willing to help at any of the events please contact Jane Muncey. The next planning meeting for the weekend will be held on Monday 15 May, 8.00 p.m. in the school Community Room to which you are invited to attend. |
