THERE is now just a week to go until the annual Forget Me Not Charity Walk in Bromsgrove, which will raise funds for the town’s branch of Leukaemia and Lyphoma Research.

Taking place on Sunday, June 7, the walk is a real community event that is suitable for people of all ages and abilities. All of the walks begin at Bromsgrove’s beautiful Sanders Park and participants can choose between one, three, five eight and 12 mile courses. The one and three-mile walks are ideal for children and there is always the option to make a whole day of it and enjoy a picnic in the park after the event. Each one is guaranteed to take you through some fantastically picturesque Worcestershire countryside, taking in the wonderful villages of Dodford, Chaddesley Corbett and Bournheath.

The walks are expertly marshalled by members of the Bromsgrove Ramblers and by other volunteers. Everyone who finishes a walk will be rewarded for their efforts – the adults will be presented with t-shirts and children will be given medals for participating.

All walkers are urged to wear suitable footwear and to take along their own refreshments with them. Entry fees are £8 (£10 on the day), £5 for juniors (under 12 years of age) and £24 for a family of four. The 12-mile walk begins at 10am on June 7, the eight-mile at 10.30am, the five-mile at 11am, the three-mile at 11.15am and the one-mile at 11.30am.

Organiser Nicole Harris said she hoped as many people as possible would take part in the event which raised more than £8,000 for Bromsgrove Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research last year.

For more on the Forget Me Not Walk, call Nicole Harris on 01527 878493 for an entry form or visit: http://www.llrbromsgrove.org.uk/forget-me-not-walk.html – there you can see the course map, download the form online and enter the event. Nicole can also be contacted via e-mail at [email protected] or by post at Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research Bromsgrove, 71 Redditch Road, Bromsgrove. B60 4JP.

The Bromsgrove branch of the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research is on Facebook – search for ‘Bromsgrove Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research’ to find the page – and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LLRBromsgrove N

Here are three of the walks on offer:

The Hedgelayers Walk – at five miles – enables strollers to explore in-depth the trees, shrubs and hedgerow plants that were vital to everyday life in the middle ages. The route goes across farmland to Dodford, via ancient lanes and tracks, crossing streams and passing two country pubs.

The Chartists Walk – which is eight miles – goes through rolling hills, which are dotted with farms, houses and ancient woodland. There are quiet lanes, byways, medieval tracks and footpaths to use to get you to the end.

The Foresters Walk – at 12 miles – explores impressive remnants of the Royal Hunting Forest of Feckenham and goes through traditional wildflower meadows. Chaddesley Wood Nature Reserve can also be explored on this route – it is home to important species of plants, animals, birds and insects. Oak trees dominate the woodland and there are carpets of bluebells to see.