Members of Girlguiding in Montgomery of all ages, along with family members and furry friends, all took part in a Lockdown Walking Challenge recently.

This challenge was planned for May 20, to coincide with the date of the general meeting which was cancelled due to the pandemic.

It was organised by Cath Wilkins from Montgomery, county walking adviser for Girlguiding Montgomeryshire.

Young members from the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers sections, together with adult volunteers and members of the Trefoil Guild, all recorded the distance they walked.

They were aiming for a combined Girlguiding Montgomeryshire county target of 360 miles, the distance from Broneirion to Girlguiding UK’s Headquarters in London’s Buckingham Palace Road, and back again.

Montgomery walkers included Catrin McDougal, a Montgomery Ranger, who said, “We enjoyed our walk, although it was quite hot, and our dog, Blod, joined in too."

Sue Michaels, a former Guide and now a member of Montgomery Trefoil Guild, said, “We are all walking more to take our daily dose of fresh air, but this time we had to measure how far we went as well, in order to contribute to the total.”

Sue had planned a five mile walk, but was diverted by livestock and ended up contributing seven and a half miles towards the total, on what was a very warm day, celebrating with a well earned ice lolly.

If walkers couldn't go outside, or preferred not to, they had the option of walking on the spot or using a treadmill. Sylvia Sparrow, from the Montgomery Trefoil Guild, managed to walk a grand total of eight miles, in 20 minute sessions on her treadmill.

In total, 329 members of Girlguiding in Montgomeryshire took part in the challenge.

Members walked an incredible 1038 miles, with their family members adding 1067 miles, and 165 miles walked by furry friends.

County commissioner Anwen Thomas said: “We utterly smashed it, congratulations to all and thanks so much everyone.”

Cath Wilkins was delighted and said: "This challenge took off in a way that vastly exceeded my expectations. It was great to see so many involved, and lovely to keep Guiding alive in our county during this challenging time."

Writing through the window

YOUNG Montgomery writer Nancy Varty was the joint winner, along with Nia Wilkie, of the age 8-11 category in a Powys Libraries writing and drawing competition which was judged at the end of May.

Powys residents aged 8 to 16 were invited to write a short story or poem, and younger children to submit a drawing or painting, inspired by what they could see “Looking Through My Window”.

Nancy Varty is no stranger to writing success, having last year won first prize in the age nine and under category of the inaugural Bishop’s Castle Children’s Short Story Writing Competition.

During lockdown in May, she heard about the library competition from a friend and was inspired by the subject, saying “I thought it would be nice to enter. It was a nice idea to write a poem about what we see out of our window, since we are all at home.”

Nancy’s poem described the beauty of the garden outside her window, and its greenery and the visiting birds. She wrote of how the landscape, the light and the sounds change as day turns to evening and in turn to a new day, and how the view is a comfort in a time where other things are missed.

Powys Libraries found it a very difficult job to choose winners and congratulated everyone who had entered.

The judges loved Nancy’s descriptive use of words, especially her “tangle of roses” and “tingle of noses."

They were almost able to see and feel what she was describing and commented that the poem encapsulated the feeling of the current lockdown situation in a beautiful way.

Heather Bound from Newtown Area Library contacted Nancy to tell her she was among the winners and to congratulate her, adding, “Well done - and please, please, keep writing!”

The winning pictures and poems, including Nancy’s, were posted on the Powys Libraries and Newtown Library facebook pages, and other entries will be shared over the coming weeks.

Becoming bike friendly

The Montgomery Energy Group (MEG) meeting will be online again this month, using zoom (contact jeremy.thorp@gmail.com for an invitation link).

On Monday, June 15 at 7.30pm, the topic will be Cycling and Local Cycle Routes.

Jeremy Thorp said: “The coronavirus pandemic has created renewed interest in cycling, partly because it is a way of getting out into the fresh air and exercising, and partly as a result of the obvious problems that public transport will encounter in trying to operate under social distancing rules.

"Many towns and cities are making plans to extend their cycle path networks and bikes are suddenly in demand while our own Montgomery free bike scheme has had lots of new enquiries.

The Government and local authorities are keen to get more people on bikes and new funding is being promised for cycling infrastructure.”

MEG has spoken to or been contacted by several people around Montgomery who are keen to cycle more, but worried by the lack of good cycle routes.

The June meeting will kick off a discussion on what could be done, and who to work with, to improve some key routes in and out of the town to make cycling safer and enable more people to get on their bikes.

Please join the meeting if you already cycle around Montgomery, or would like to cycle more.

Walking festival update

Montgomery Walking Festival is due to take place later this year, between October 3 and 4.

Since online booking opened there has been unprecedented demand and at the time of writing three walks were already fully booked.

Organiser Jill Kibble said: “For your safety group sizes are smaller this year. Do have a look at the website soon if you are interested.”

Booking for the free walks and the Saturday evening ‘Pizza at the Pool’ event can be made via the website www.MontgomeryWalkingFestival.co.uk

Diary Dates

Every Thursday - Montgomery Market (outdoor food stalls)

Thursday, June 11 - Tourism Committee online, 7pm (contact townclerk@montgomery-wales.uk)

Friday, June 12 - morning prayer online (contact smith.sparrowssong@gmail.com)

Friday, June 12 - “Burning Issue” book launch party with Myfanwy Alexander, including reading, quiz and news; hosted on Zoom by Monty Lit Fest, 8-9.30pm (register via www.montylitfest.com)

Every Saturday - Taste Montgomery members’ food stalls (outdoors during pandemic)

Saturday, June 13 - Monty Lockdown Reads, panel discussion with four writers (Steve Doherty, Julia Forster, Alix Nathan and Mike Parker) including reading and listening during the pandemic and books to look forward to; hosted on Zoom by Monty Lit Fest, 7.30-9pm (register via www.montylitfest.com)

Sunday, June 14 - Church services online (contact smith.sparrowssong@gmail.com)

Monday, June 15 - Montgomery Energy Group meeting, Cycling and Local Cycle Routes, 7.30pm on zoom (contact jeremy.thorp@gmail.com for an invitation link)

Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday - Yoga and somatic movement classes online see www.creativeyogamotion.uk/www for details