Local walks

Press, 11 March 1983, Page 13

Local walks

A special programme of walk-related activities has been created for the week beginning on Sunday. A wide range of walks and tramps has been organised, many by local tramping clubs with special knowledge of the area. Walks in the Canterbury district programme range from an easy stroll in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens to the opportunity to undertake a four or five-day tramp on the St James Walkway, which will be specially staffed for the occasion. In between are many day or half-day walks, mostly handy to Christchurch. The Walkway programme is designed to encourage people to try a walk they have not attempted before, with the special organisation aimed at giving confidence and assistance if required. Locally. Walkweek 1983 is under the auspices of the Canterbury District Walkways Committee, created primarily to establish walkways under the Walkways Act. This Act seeks to provide opportunities for public walking access to the countryside by means of negotiated easements, primarily over private land. A walkway agreement with a landowner includes any special conditions a farmer may require to protect his interests, while providing the public with a marked track with free access. The concept is particularly

valuable near centres of population, to offer legallysanctioned walking opportunities in the countryside immediately around towns and cities. It is also useful in providing back-country access over land used for a variety of purposes. As a side benefit, it is hoped that such developments will foster more contact and greater understanding between urban dwellers and country people. The original walkway concept envisaged trails linking from North Cape to Bluff. While this is still a long-term objective, priority has been given to walks within easy range of cities and towns. In Canterbury, the Crater Rim, Godley Head, Quail Island and Pegasus Bay Walkways fill thise role for Christchurch people. Others are located near Timaru, Waimate and Methven, and more are to be opened during Walkweek near Fairlie, Temuka and on the northern outskirts of Christchurch, starting at The Groynes, a riverside park on Johns Road. More challenging walkways include Mount Herbert, Pareora River and the St James Walkway near Lewis Pass. Another function of the walkway committee is to promote and publicise opportunities for walking generally.. The Forest Service, the Department of Lands and Survey, reserve boards and local councils have provided

many walks and tracks in areas under their control. Taking these into account, the local committee is preparing an inventory of walking opportunities in Canterbury, to be used as a basis for future publicity. Programmes with more detail on Walkweek activities in Canterbury are widely available in Christchurch, and staff at the Canterbury Information Centre can also provide first-hand knowledge of many of the 40 or so walkways in and around the city.

A new walkway on the northern outskirts of Christchurch will be officially

opened on March 13, at 2 p.m., as part of Canterbury’s Walkweek activities. This walk begins at The Groynes, a popular park in Johns Road managed by the Waimairi District Council. To .be known as the Waimairi Walkway, it follows the South Branch, a picturesque tributary of the Waimakariri River, for 2.5 km before joining a tall avenue of poplars planted by Mr James Johns, an early farmer of this land. The other end meets the end of Darroch Street, Belfast. Interest centres on the river’s edge, which is rich in birdlife, including waterfowl. There are also signs of one of Canterbury’s earliest irrigation schemes — the pumphouse, which is still used, and the unused, dry, irrigation canals, about 2m wide, which the track crosses and follows in places. Further from the river, modern irrigation canals can be seen from the walkway. The Canterbury District Walkway Committee is grateful to the farmers who have given permission for the new walkway to be established, and walkers are asked to respect their publicspirited gesture by keeping to the marked track, and not taking dogs or firearms into the area.