"From Wolverton to Great Brickhill on horseback will take you through some of the greenest and most delightful routes the city of Milton Keynes has to offer. Its famous ‘Redways’ are complemented by horse trails which lead you along the Grand Union Canal, wooded disused railway tracks, meadows, lakesides, river valleys, village greens and even the infamous Concrete Cows.
My personal voyage of discovery missed out on the concrete cows but it did offer a host of other enterprising projects, which, in one way or another, seek to engage people, young and not so young, in expanding horizons.
Our first stop, the St John Ambulance have a stupendous new training centre at Greenleys, which the Milton Keynes Community Foundation helped to finance. Where would we be without their first aid cover at events large and small? Celebratiing 125 years, the Wolverton branch traces its roots back to the era of the town’s great railway works where accidents were numerous.
Our next stop by contrast was all about environmental concerns. Using a totally organic, ‘No Dig’ policy, The Urban Farm introduces local people to the pleasures of growing our food in sustainable ways. Pupils from local schools in Greenleys and Wolverton were on hand to help me identify the variety of fruit and vegetables grown on site. This project is inspiringly led by Sarah Barker and the Christian Foundation team. It not only is an educational resource for schools but offers a hugely worthwhile voluntary work experience for young people in need of alternatives to book based learning. Among the chickens, bees and polytunnels it even boasts an outdoor pizza over, which my young guide, Brian, professed his favourite place.
From growing things to creating things, we paid an unscheduled rapid visit to the Great Linford Arts and Crafts Centre. A creative resource that is much more than a ‘Centre’, you will find a myriad of courses, exhibitions and training that build on a rich heritage of rural crafts and artistic skills. It has a new director, Emma Jane Taylor who has a far reaching vision for the possibilities it offers. Watch that space!
A long canal side ride took us to Tinkers Bridge Meeting Place where a very welcome buffet lunch had been provided. All that is done here gives local residents a window of opportunity. An enclosed outdoor space in which to play, grow flowers and vegetables (brilliant tomatoes on show today!); a computer on which to learn new skills; a chance to relax and meet the neighbours, or talk to Gary, the local Community Police officer. So much can be achieved in life by just improving communication skills. The staff at Tinkers Bridge will help you do just that.
Our final stop of the day was at ‘Ride High’ located at the Bryerley Springs Equestrian Centre. The Redways and Horse Trails sadly do not extend beyond Caldecot Lake and in order to avoid the horrendously busy A4146, we riders had to take a long detour via Bow and Little Brickhills. An instance (which I know will throw up problems during the rest of the week) where otherwise usable bridleways are cut off and made unusable by short stretches of busy roads.
I shall moan about this sorry state of affairs again but it did not detract from the fantastic warm welcome we received at Ride High. A mounted escort guided us in before watching a short display by the children on horseback in the indoor school. These are children whose lives have become enmeshed in difficulties of one sort or another. Ride High and the extra-ordinary therapy that horses offer have built confidence and skills in quite astonishing ways. They had prepared a stupendous welcome for this visit, decorating cakes and horseshoes (one of which was presented to me) and were not shy about asking me what had motivated me to undertake this ride.
A lively and inspiring finale to a very long day. I am now officially aching and hoping tomorrow will bring renewed energy!"
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