A Happy Parish Walk
We had a delightful outing for both parishes on Sunday, April 14th, as approximately 60 of us embarked on a scenic walk from St. Dunstan’s Church in Woking to St. Hugh of Lincoln Church in Knaphill. Following the 10:30 am mass, we strolled (some at a brisk pace!) along the picturesque banks of the Basingstoke Canal, basking in the warmth of a rare sunny day adorned with the early blossoms of spring.
It was a wonderful community event, meeting new people, chatting and laughing along the way. The birdlife on the canal also turned out in great numbers, red kites, herons and canada geese put in appearances, much to the delight of the twitchers amongst us.
The LiveSimply team had been organizing this walk for some time, with both parishes collaborating to plan the route, provide marshals, and bake an array of delicious cakes—including vegan and gluten-free options, much to the delight of many (special thanks to the bakers at St. Hugh’s). Upon arrival, our walkers were treated to these tasty treats alongside tea and coffee, a welcome refreshment after the journey.
We were thrilled by the turnout from both parishes, spanning from babies in pushchairs to seniors, reflecting the vibrant spirit of our communities.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all parishioners for their incredible generosity; the walk raised a total of £427, to be equally shared between the York Road Project in Woking and the Padre Pio Rehabilitation Centre in Ahotokurom, Ghana.
Following the success of this event, many have inquired about making the Parish Walk an annual tradition. Indeed, it is our intention to organize one each year. We’ve also received interest in starting a walking group within the parish, and we encourage anyone keen on this idea to reach out to us.
It has been a year since the launch of our LiveSimply project, and we are pleased with our achievements in the first 12 months—establishing a website, hosting engaging talks on diverse topics (most recently, turtles and organic farming), offering tips for simple living, organizing events like the walk, and preparing to launch an overseas project as part of our award. We understand that joining a group can seem daunting amidst our busy lives, but we assure you that our approach is straightforward and sustainable, meant to enrich rather than burden—even for those with limited time. If you are interested in getting involved or attending our open meetings, we would be delighted to hear from you. Our next open meeting is scheduled for June 4th at 7:30 pm in the function room at St. Dunstan’s—feel free to join us in person or reach out via email at livesimply@st-dunstans.org.