# Winton walks 4 fun 4 water

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/08/03/winton-walks-4-fun-4-water/
- Published: 2006-08-03T12:49:04+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

3 August 2006

[Winton Walk for Water – August 2006 FINAL.doc](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/blogs/newswire/?attachment_id=140)

On Saturday September 2nd Winton Estate at Pencaitland is launching a new 12 mile(
20km) network of walks created over the last two years by Winton’s foresters for
the local community. The paths run from Pencaitland through undulating East Lothian
countryside and provide fascinating perspectives on local wildlife and history.

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Running from 10.30am to 4.30pm on the 2nd from the Tyne Bridge in the centre of 
Pencaitland, the Winton Family Fun Day is also a fundraising event for two very 
hands-on charities: Mercy Ships, a global charity which partners with local communities
in West Africa to construct water wells and sanitation as the basic requirement 
for health and wellbeing, as well as providing healthcare and education on hospital
ships and on land; and the Haddington-based Bridge Centre where, amongst other community
activities, music-making, motorbike maintenance, off-road riding, and other valuable
life skills are taught to young people. £125,000 has already been pledged for Mercy
Ships’ water supply projects in Ghana but further funds are needed to complete the‘
Mainstay’ water and sanitation programme.

Family, individual, school and company sponsors are needed for the 6.6 mile (10km)
sponsored walk carrying 1.5 litres of water which starts at 11 am (finishing by 
2pm) on the 2nd, a three-legged race also carrying water, and for handmade wooden
carvings including 30 giant toadstools or ‘Pixie Perches’. The distance of the walk
reflects how far millions of people walk to collect clean water everyday.

David Costello, Depute Provost East Lothian Council, who has already enjoyed strolling
along these paths, says: It is an absolutely superb path network that has been set
up. It is exceptional and fits in well with East Lothian’s strategy for encouraging
personal fitness and makes it easy for families to appreciate our beautiful countryside.
â€

Sir Francis Ogilvy, who developed these walks with the help of the Winton Estate
forestry team, adds: The Winton Walks combine old and new routes over Winton Estate
and around the village. There are short ones, long ones, flat ones and bumpy ones,
some for the dog and some just for its owner! Assistance in creating the paths and
signage has come from The Community Council, The Leader Plus European Fund and the
hard work of Winton’s multi-talented forestry team who have also made many of the
wooden carvings and other creations. This big project would not have been possible
without all their help.â€

Walkers will have four routes from 1.5 miles to 6.6 miles to choose from: a nature-
based scavenger hunt with a ride back by horse and cart; a story-telling and ranger-
led walk along the River Tyne; a historical walk through Pencaitland; and a 6.6 
mile (10km) sponsored walk for more serious exercise (11am to 2pm). Each walk has
intriguing points of interest along the way: a wood carved pirate ship, an ‘Ormiston
Express’ train and a bike; five unusual ‘walkers’ roosts’ with space for up to four
people to shelter; wire sculptures made by the Bridge Centre; African carvings from
tree trunks; and carved ‘Pixie Perch’ toadstools.

Fantastic entertainment has been laid on for the day and will include: a delicious
barbeque using locally-grown produce; bird boxes for families to build and paint
using bird-friendly colours and identify as ‘their’ bird box; a miniature boat race
down the River Tyne with two hundred little boats from Mercy Ships; a tremendous
range of music including a drumming workshop; a tug of war; and, of course, an opportunity
for exercise along the Winton Walks.

– end –

Notes for editors:

Mercy Ships provides very practical health care and water supply improvement services
to Africa where nearly 50% of the population have no access to a hospital or doctor,
1.2 billion people do not have safe drinking water and life expectancy is only 41
years.

Their Mercy Ship, Anastasis, recently arrived in Ghana with a crew of 400 for a 
project to provide free healthcare, training and community development. On board
several hundred patients will receive surgical care for conditions that local hospitals
may not be able to treat. Simultaneously, teams go out into the community to provide
clean water to 23 villages which includes constructing 35 new wells and rehabilitating
20 existing wells, as well as installing sanitation. All of this is supported by
training on well maintenance, latrine construction skills and hygiene promotion.

In the words of Nelson Mandela: I salute the vision and mission of Mercy Ships and
ask that you join me in supporting their noble work and contribute to make this 
world a better place.â€

The Bridge Centre Music Project, supported by East Lothian Council and other stakeholders,
offers music-making opportunities to children and young people. This aim is achieved
through instrumental tuition, access to rehearsal facilities, musical instruments
and support from experienced tutors. These budding musicians are encouraged to compose
their own music and lyrics and have access to the Bridge Centre recording studio.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate recently described the Music Project as ‘a model of good
practice’.

To quote Pete Wishart of Runrig: The main success [of the Bridge Centre Music Project]
is in the now considerable numbers of young people who crossed that door knowing
little or nothing about the making or recording of music but who left with enhanced
self confidence and self esteem because of that experience.â€

For more information or an application form, please contact Morag Ramus at Winton
House on 01875 340222 / mo***@************co.uk or Christopher Lamotte on 01620 
824986 or 07957 870071.

For further information on Mercy Ships, please contact Lorna Inglis or Lois Boyle
at Media House on 0141 220 6040.

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