Walking the old ways

I have been very much enjoying listening to readings on BBC Radio Four from Robert McFarlane's latest book, The Old Ways, about the ancient footpaths and routes around Britain.

In yesterday's extract,  which focussed on the Peddars and Icknield Ways, we heard about how in times gone by it was the habit in Suffolk to leave small sythes along the route of paths.  This was so that travellers could clear them themselves during the growing season.

This year the paths are particularly hard to traverse, in part due to the weather, and in part due to the fact that the County Council, understandably, I suppose, due to financial cuts,  seems to have finally  given up on their statutory duty to keep all rights of way open.

As McFarlane writes in his book paths need walkers, but walkers are unlikely these days to wish to spend their time cutting their way throught the undergrowth.  Every year Nick or I take our secateurs down to a little overgrown footbridge between here and Long Melford and cut back the brambles to make our walk a little easier.  Unfortunately the sides of the fields on either side of the bridge are now also currently virtually impassable, and there is no little sythe available!

Thank goodness the Parish Councils do take time to keep the most frequently used footpaths clear, which is, I suppose, something.

The readings from The Old Ways are at 9.45 a.m. every morning until Friday, and can be heard again through the BBC website here! for the next seven days.