COUNTY rights-of-way officials say they are doing their best to clear blocked paths in time for the eight-day Herefordshire Walking Festival which begins next week.
The Allied Special Forces Association has complained that part of the Violette Szabo GC Trail from Graftonbury to Wormelow - earmarked for one of the festival walks - is blocked by crops for the second year running.
Said association secretary Mike Colton: "Last year two major areas of the route were impassable due to the land being planted with crops and the footpaths being destroyed by the plough.
"This year it looks as if the same will apply despite our letters and requests for the council and landowners to take positive action.
"So rather than a Festival of Walking, anyone attempting to walk along the Violette Szabo GC Trail which ranges over public footpaths will really think that they are up the jungle on a survival course!"
Overgrown
Herefordshire has more than 3,000 kilometres of footpaths, bridleways and byways. This year many parts of the network have become overgrown with vigorous spring growth.
Rob Hemblade, public rights of way chief, said: "We are pulling out all the stops. We are going all out to tackle problems in time for the walking festival as they are reported to us by walk leaders."
Mr Hemblade said his staff sought the co-operation of farmers over problems with crops obstructing paths. Enforcement action was taken in some cases.
l The Violette Szabo GC Trail was developed by the Allied Special Forces Association to assist the Violette Szabo Museum at Wormelow and to allow people to make the journey on foot from Hereford via Little Birch. The trail details can be found at www.violetteszabogctrail.org
The festival walk is on June 21 and the third Annual Violette Szabo GC Memorial Picnic will be held at the museum onJune 22.
"These events, along with the showing of 'Carve Her Name With Pride' at the Courtyard on June 20 and June 21 will hopefully make this a true Violette Szabo GC weekend for many visitors to the county," said Mike Colton.
The museum details can be found at www.violetteszabogcmuseum.org
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