ISSUE 221 • AUTUMN 2016

www.chilternsociety.org.uk • CHILTERN SOCIETY MAGAZINE

Save our woodland! Sponsorship opportunities Incredible edibles Foraging in the Chilterns Chilterns Dog Rescue Society

HERITAGE • CONSERVATION • ENVIRONMENT • WILDLIFE • LEISURE ISSUE 221 • AUTUMN 2016 www.chilternsociety.org.uk • CHILTERN SOCIETY MAGAZINE In this

Save our woodland! Sponsorship opportunities Incredible edibles Foraging in the Chilterns Chilterns Dog Rescue Society HERITAGE • CONSERVATION • ENVIRONMENT • WILDLIFE • LEISURE (Colin Drake) issue

NEWS & VIEWS

3 EDITOR

4 CHAIRMAN

5 HEAD OF MARKETING & MEMBERSHIP Sponsor Chiltern woodland!

14 HIGH SPEED TWO

16 PUTTING DOGS FIRST Bob Stuart visits Chilterns Dog Rescue Society

19 NEWS IN BRIEF THE OPENING OF LITTLE CHALFONT NATURE PARK 35 HIS TORIC FOOTPATH RECOVERED AT 24 A carved oak badger surveys the woodland meadow 38 LETTERS

SPECIAL MEMBER HERITAGE OFFERS see page 40 18 A TALENT UNFULFILLED The story of Dora Carrington and the murals

32 A THOUSAND YEARS OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY Watermills on the River Chess, part two

CONSERVATION

CHILTERN SOCIETY SITES 12 THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS 26 Checking sponsored bird boxes in Captain’s Wood Tony Marshall tells a sad story 15 HERTS CONSVOLS GET AROUND

24 A S NATURE INTENDED At Little Chalfont Nature Park

26 MANY HANDS MAKE SITES WORK The latest news about our conservation volunteers

30 HOW WAS IT FOR YOU? Asks a new recruit to the Path Maintenance Volunteers

31 HANDS ACROSS THE POND Ewelme’s recruits come from far and wide

WILDLIFE HISTORIC FOOTPATH RECOVERED 10 THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY AT TRING John Hockey investigates some 35 Walkers at the entrance to the reinstated path in Little Tring Road Chiltern escapees scan here for www.chilternsociety.org.uk 2 Chiltern 221 Nurturing nature From the Editor Richard Bradbury

On a rare warm day some weeks ago, while walking his dog in a field near his home, my ENVIRONMENT friend came across a bird of prey struggling on the ground. He called me, and, suitably equipped with a large cardboard box and protection for our hands, we set off on a 28 INCREDIBLE EDIBLES mercy mission, wondering if in the meantime the bird might have recovered and flown Foraging in the Chilterns, away. It was still there, however, flapping its wings rather pathetically. Getting hold of with Lorna Moore it and putting it in the box proved a lot easier than we anticipated – it was surprisingly 34 WHAT MAKES SP 997 156 SO compliant. SPECIAL? John Hockey reveals all We took it to Tiggywinkles Animal Hospital inadvertently, in Haddenham. On the journey there were for example signs that it was livening up a little, and by running when the nurse carefully removed it from over them LEISURE the box and identified it as a buzzard it in our cars, seemed remarkably alert, with no visible replacing 6 BLACK PARK WALK signs of injury. She speculated that it might hedges with have received some kind of head trauma fences, or which was beginning to wear off. Given cutting back where the bird was found we could only undergrowth think of one logical explanation – it had at the wrong crashed into the power cables that ran time of year. across the field, passing immediately over Even our Buzzard (Colin Drake) the path where my friend had been walking. well-meaning The buzzard was in good company. In attempts to help can backfire, as the the foyer at Tiggywinkles is a board listing increasing clamour for a cull of red kites all the animals and birds currently held in certain areas clearly shows. The poor there, some being treated with a view to birds are becoming victims of their own later release, others permanent residents success, because they’ve learned that by 8 CHILTERN SOCIETY EVENTS AND incapable of surviving in the wild. The congregating in places where there are lots ACTIVITIES Hospital was already playing host to well of people, they stand a very good chance Autumn/winter 2016 over 20 buzzards, along with sundry other of an endless supply of easy meals. Wild

20 COAST TO COAST creatures including red kites and other creatures adapt to survive, and that’s what With the Cycle Group smaller birds, deer of various descriptions, they’re doing, just like the urban foxes. badgers, foxes and, of course, hedgehogs. Thankfully there are many individuals 22 PHOTO OPPORTUNITY The numbers involved were huge! and organisations working locally and Do your photographs deserve a wider audience, asks Barry Hunt This incident made me reflect on our nationally to safeguard the future of our relationship with the natural world that wildlife (let’s not forget that the Chiltern 23 PUZZLE PICTURE enriches the lives of so many of us. The love Society is itself responsible for a number of 27 BOOK REVIEW and dedication of the Tiggywinkles staff nature reserves). Often a key part of their

36 THE NEW BEER REVOLUTION is inspiring, while the plight of its patients message is that we can all help, even in Martin Pearson charts the rise of touches our hearts; but at the same time the very small ways, such as by planting shrubs craft brewing activities and behaviour of human beings that will attract bees and butterflies. Here are a major contributor to the suffering of in the Chilterns we have outstanding flora 40 MEMBER OFFERS our animals and birds. I’m not referring to and fauna – some of it rare, if not unique – 42 WALKS PROGRAMME hunting here – that’s another debate entirely and it’s up to us to do whatever we can to – I’m thinking of the damage we cause protect and preserve it.

DEADLINES REPRODUCTION OF IMAGES It is not possible to guarantee that items received after The photographs in this magazine must not be the deadline will be included in the next issue, unless a reproduced elsewhere, except with the express prior arrangement has been made with the Editor. permission of the photographer via the Editor. If you do not wish your photographs to be used in other Published quarterly by The Chiltern Society SENDING COPY AND PHOTOGRAPHS Society publications, please make this clear when you Please email text as Word attachments. Pictures should send them. EDITOR: Richard Bradbury • 01494 793049 be sent as jpg attachments. High resolution images Email: [email protected] are required for publication, although low resolution The Society does not necessarily accept responsibility for the views of contributors or the ADVERTISING: Sophie Elkan images can be sent as samples in the first instance, if Email: [email protected] preferred. Please indicate the quality of images sent, claims of the advertisers. entitle your pictures and delete any numbers. DESIGN & TYPESET: Clickdraw • 01525 374270 PRINT: Hartgraph • on materials DEADLINE FOR ISSUE 222 (DECEMBER 2016) produced by environmentally friendly processes. Items to the Editor by: Monday 26 September • Published: Saturday 26 November email: [email protected] 3 Looking to the future From the Chairman David Harris

There rarely seems to be a dull moment in the Chiltern Society! The new Heritage We’re planning to work closely with Group is going from strength to strength, thanks to Jeffrey Newman and his the Chilterns Conservation Board on a enthusiastic team. Our revived partnership with the Wormsley Estate has provided number of new initiatives, which include some exciting new benefits for members, such as the opportunity to attend their cricket projects on protecting the Chiltern matches and explore the wonderful Getty library. Keep your eyes open for more! landscape and investigating Chiltern hill forts. We’ve also become a partner in the Regrettably two of our Trustees, Geoff offered to help in communications and new Ridgeway Partnership, a body that Lambert and Tom Rodwell, have decided events. We’re still looking for capable has taken over from Natural to they really don’t have the time they feel individuals who’d like to become Trustees maintain and improve The Ridgeway. To should be dedicated to the role, and have and help drive forward some elements of help fund all our work, while ensuring resigned. Roger Newman, who worked the Society’s work. If this interests you, that the underlying operations perform to tirelessly to obtain the new sites from please get in touch. plan, we’re launching a major fundraising Council and Bucks Over recent months we’ve made campaign which will last through next County Council, has moved house to be efforts to update our website, so that year. I hope members will rise to the closer to family and has resigned with it’s more user friendly for the ‘mobile’ challenge and support us in seeking effect from this year’s AGM. His efforts on user. These days more and more of the to maintain the Chilterns for future our behalf in the area of conservation will communication with the Society is via the generations. be greatly missed. website, and we have to move with the Over the longer term, an important All is not lost however! We’ve recruited times. We hope that you’ll be comfortable element of our funding comes from two new Trustees, Alison Barraclough with the changes. legacies. Anyone who mentions us in and Jane Peel. Not only will they bring The Society was in deficit last year, their will can join our Bluebell Guild. Keep new experience to the Board, they will following the rapid expansion in the your eyes open for more about this in also beneficially change the age and number of sites and the employment future issues, or call the office. gender profile! Alison has a background of our new Head of Conservation and Finally, don’t forget our AGM on in teaching/geography, and Jane in Development. This was broadly in line 15 October. I hope to see you there! programme production/commentary for with our Business Plan, which aims to the BBC. Alison is interested in reviving reduce the deficit over the next few AGENDA our efforts in education, while Jane has years, in order to return to breakeven. 10am start: for coffee, chat and visit to our book stall 10.30am: The Business Meeting

• Minutes of 2015 AGM, Annual Report prese ntation AGM and Annual Accounts • Election of Chairman, Annual General Meeting Vice Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer and 15 October 2016 Executive Council members (Trustees) Nominations for the above positions should be made in writing, with the candidate’s written consent included, to the General ALL members are invited to attend this Secretary at the Office not less than 14 days before the AGM. important yearly get-together in A form is available from the Office Manager (01494 771250). The Coach House at Green Park A list of nominations will be available by 3.10.16. Stablebridge Road, • The AGM will be followed Aston Clinton, Bucks by general discussion with members on the affairs FOR SATNAV: HP22 5NE and plans of the Society See map below

2pm: Guest speaker A41 A418 Speaker from the Woodland Trust speaking on

AYLESBURY Our woodlands under threat A41M THAME A41 A329 ASTON CLINTON A418 GREEN PARK 12.45pm: AGM LUNCH Youth & Community TRING Training Centre A4011 Bookable in advance ONLY. Please use form below, WENDOVER HIGH WYCOMBE or book online at www.chilternsociety.org. uk AMERSHAM PLEASE RETAIN THIS NOTICE FOR YOUR INFORMATION

AGM LUNCH Booking form for AGM lunch Please use the form opposite, and send on 15th October (capital letters please) it with your cheque and SAE to: Name (Mr/Mrs/other) Chiltern Society Office, White Hill Centre, Address White Hill, Chesham HP5 1AG by Wednesday 5th October latest AGM & Your AGM lunch will ONLY be served on Post presentation of the ticket(s). Email address: Menu includes fruit juice starter, XMAS hot or cold dishes with vegetarian I/We would like ...... tickets @ £15 each options, dessert and glass of wine. I/We would like ...... vegetarian options £15 per head Cheque enclosed payable to Chiltern SocietyCARDS I ENCLOSE SAE for my ticket(s) SEE INSERT

Walkers on The Ridgeway (Photo: Colin Drake)

PATRON: Rt Hon The Earl Howe HEAD OF CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT: Gavin Johnson PRESIDENT: Michael Rush HEAD OF MARKETING & MEMBERSHIP: Victoria Blane VICE PRESIDENTS: CHILTERN SOCIETY OFFICE: Tracey Read Lord Carrington KG PC CH KCMG MC White Hill Centre, White Hill, Chesham, Michael Colston Esq Bucks HP5 1AG Sir John Johnson Tel: 01494 771250 Geoffrey Legge • John Taylor Email: [email protected] CHAIRMAN: David Harris Please re-cycle this magazine Registered Charity number: 1085163 Company limited by guarantor number: 4138448 Share it with family, friends and work colleagues - before recycling!

4 Chiltern 221 Sponsor a special area of Chilterns woodland

From the Head of Marketing & Membership Victoria Blane

Next year the Society will be launching a number of special projects to help protect Chiltern a very limited number of acres available woodlands. Twenty-one per cent of the Chilterns is covered in woodland – double the national for sponsorship, and given that areas will average – and over half is that has been in existence since at least 1600. only be dedicated once, this is a unique Unfortunately, however, many difficult challenges including pests, disease, climate and poor opportunity for those who wish to invest in management pose major threats to its survival. If we’re to preserve local woodland properly and the preservation of their local countryside. encourage the native wildlife to thrive, it will require meticulous management and careful planning. In addition, we are offering our supporters the chance to sponsor a tree, We’re giving our supporters a very special simply celebrate your countryside. Your the proceeds from which will also help opportunity to help us do this by offering sponsorship will go a long way towards us to manage local Chiltern woodland the chance to sponsor some woodland at helping us manage the woodland properly effectively. one of our sites. You can choose either an and, in turn, provide local wildlife with the If you’d like to become a woodland area in ancient woodland, or an area of best possible habitat. sponsor, please complete the form below recently planted new woodland. When you sponsor an area of woodland and return it, together with payment to: It’s a wonderful way to mark a special it will remain in your name, or the name Chiltern Society, White Hill Centre, White occasion, remember a special person or of whoever you choose, forever. With only Hill, Chesham, Bucks HP5 1AG. v vm vm

Sponsor an acre Sponsor a tree Price: £1,000 Price: £20 l Choice of ancient l Map and picture of woodland to l Your choice of tree – beech, oak or ash or new woodland show your area of sponsorship l Choice of ancient or new woodland l Area will only be dedicated once l Private tour of woodland with l Certificate to verify your sponsorship l Plaque with personal conservation expert inscription ! My chosen site is: Woodland Sponsorship Bottom Wood, ancient woodland (nr ) n Captain’s Wood, ancient woodland (nr Chesham) n I/we would like to sponsor: Penn Jubilee Wood, new woodland site n An acre of woodland £1,000 n If you’d like to sponsor an area of woodland, we’ll contact you direct A tree: beech, oak, ash (please select) £20 n to discuss the plaque inscription. Your name(s): I’d like to pay by cheque/credit card (please delete as appropriate) Name of sponsor if different to above: Please make all cheques payable to ‘Chiltern Society’ (eg. if a gift, or dedication in memory) Your credit/debit card no:

Address: Start date* Expires Issue no* *Maestro only Telephone: Security no (3 digit code on reverse of card)

Email: Signed Date

www.chilternsociety.org.uk 5 AUTUMN WALK • BERKS

to Fulmer 4

Langley Corner Fulmer 3 walk Common Black Park Strawberry 2 WoodWood With Andrew Clark and Beeches WayWay to Heath Upton Pinewood Lake Studios Gordon Foster Queen’sQueen’s Drive Upton Farm What better way to enjoy an outing with the family than to go for a walk around Black Park? There’s something 1 for everyone. This walk passes through lovely woodland Peace Road 5 and open heathland, leaving enough time to relax at the Black Park Road café or have a picnic by the lake. Those who like a more Black Park challenging route can buy a copy of the orienteering map to Stoke Poges Country Park from the visitor information point next to the café.

START: Black Park pay & display car park, Black Park Rd, Start/Finish P SL3 6DS. Grid ref: TQ 005 832. (In June 2016 the 6 car park was in the process of being extended beyond the Black Park original start point of the walk) Lake DISTANCE: 3.4 miles/5.4km, with 150ft/45m of ascent TERRAIN: A flat, easy walk on good paths which takes advantage of the Go Ape marker posts for route finding to Iver Heath Rowley MAPS: OS Explorer 172, Chiltern Society 22 (part) Farm REFRESHMENTS: Café San Remo by the lake Colne ValleyValley TrailTrail A412 PUBLIC TRANSPORT: No public transport to the start point. The nearest bus routes stop in Iver Heath. Bus 7 runs between Langley Park Map: Glyn Kuhn and (Mon-Sat) and Bus 58 all week. Bus 582 Country Park Photos: Colin Drake & J Cano-Lopez runs between Windsor and Higher Denham on Saturdays. to Slough 0 0.5 1km

North Route 0 ½ mile½ mile Take the wide track immediately to the left of the main car park. 4. Turn right onto a wide track and follow it for 1km to a major Go past the park information board and continue along the junction, where the railings on the left end. woodland path, ignoring all paths to the left and right for 650m 5. At the junction go straight ahead, walk past post 20 on the left to an information board on the left. This describes the history and post 29 on the right. Shortly after post 29, bear right onto and the restoration project of this part of the ancient Fulmershe a smaller path lined with pine trees to reach a four-way path Heath. junction. Continue straight ahead through the bracken and bear 1. Continue on the same track for a further 250m past a right-hand right at a fork to a T-junction. (Notice the characteristic black hue bend to a junction of tracks. Turn left past post 5 towards a of the pine trees). Turn left along a major track, ignore the first house, Black Park Cottage. Pass the house and fork right towards turn to the right and continue ahead for a further 100m to a fork a kissing gate in a wooden fence. Go through it and proceed marked by a clump of smaller pine trees. along a rough path between the trees. Ahead is the gate to 6. Take the right fork to the next junction at post 26 and stay in the Heathfield Lodge. same direction to a further junction at post 25. Turn left, then 2. 100m before the gate, turn sharp right along an unmarked path bear immediately right over a grassed area and take the path to reach a fence line and gate. Go through the gate, turn left and past the stone sculpture. Proceed for 350m through the pine immediately right past post 7 and orienteering post 17. Continue trees to a major junction of paths. Turn right for a few paces to a T-junction and post 8. Turn left on a wide gravel track to the past the ‘Folly’ artwork by Richard James and go straight ahead, next junction and post 9. following the signs to the café and toilets. The café is a perfect 3. Continue straight ahead for 550m, past a Habitat Trail place for some well-earned refreshments. Take the footpath information board on the left, to a T-junction. Ahead are the round the left side of the lake, go over a wooden bridge and turn green railings of . left to return to the car park.

6 Chiltern 221 SOCIETY FOOTPATH MAPS Don’t leave home Black Park lake without them! Our footpath maps give comprehensive coverage of the Chilterns, from and Hexton at one end to Goring and Mapledurham at the other. n I would like to order Society footpath maps and enclose payment

Map ALL MAPS LAMINATED Cost Pub. Quantity Cost No. per map ordered 1 High Wycombe & Marlow £2.99 ’10 2 Henley & Nettlebed £2.99 ’08 3 Wendover & £2.99 ’10 4 Henley & Caversham £2.99 ’14 5 Bovingdon & Abbots Langley £2.99 ’10 6 Amersham & The Penn Country £2.99 ’08 7 & Princes Risborough £2.99 ’07 8 Chartridge & Cholesbury £2.99 ’09 9 Escarpment £2.99 ’09 10 Wallingford & Watlington £2.99 ’12 11 Valley £2.50 ’06 12 & £2.50 ’04 13 & district £2.99 ’12 14 Stokenchurch & Chinnor £2.99 ’14 15 Crowmarsh & Nuffield £2.50 ’04 16 Goring & Mapledurham £2.99 ’09 17 Chesham & Berkhamsted £2.99 ’07 Points of Interest 18 Tring & Wendover £2.50 ’04 Black Park was formed 450,000 years ago when melt 19 Ivinghoe & Ashridge £2.99 ’10 waters from glaciers scoured what is now the Thames 20 & the Gade Valley £1.95 ’02 Valley, leaving large deposits of clay and gravel. Black Park 21 Dunstable Downs & Caddington £2.99 ’12 was first mentioned in 1202, as part of the historic Langley 22 & Chalfont St Peter £1.95 ’02 Estate, when King John granted Richard Mountfitchet 100 23 Toddington & Houghton Regis £2.50 ’03 deer from Windsor to stock his park. It seems likely that the 24 & Stoke Poges £2.50 ’04 Estate existed before this, and formed part of the Forests 25 Sundon & Barton Hills £2.50 ’05 of Wradisbury – hunting grounds of Saxon Kings. It has 26 Hitchin & Hexton £2.50 ’06 been in the ownership of Henry VIII, Princess Elizabeth 27 Flamstead & Redbourn £2.50 ’06 and the 3rd and 4th Dukes of Marlborough. In the mid-18th 28 Rickmansworth & Chenies £2.99 ’07 century, Charles 3rd Duke of Marlborough, drained the park 29 Preston & Codicote £2.99 ’10 and planted coniferous trees, including a variety of black 30 Lilley & Breachwood Green £2.99 ’12 pine which can be seen on the walk. Just after WWII the 31 Wargrave & Remenham £2.99 ’14 Estate was acquired by Bucks County Council, who later 32 Cookham & Burchett’s Green £2.99 ’16 designated it one of the first Country Parks. These days Total number of maps ordered the park is busy and vibrant, attracting well in excess of Postage and packing £4.50 for all quantities 500,000 visitors a year to its wide range of activities. (Except for the complete set of 32 – P & P FREE) Filming: With Pinewood Studios next door, the park is constantly in use as a film set. Productions have included These maps are in full colour TOTAL COST Hammer Horror and Carry On films, James Bond, Robin Hood and Harry Potter. Name Flora and fauna: Black Park is an important site for wildlife Address and parts of it were declared an SSSI in 1990. It’s notable for bluebells, violets, wood sorrel and heather, as well as dwarf gorse, an evergreen shrub that sprouts pretty yellow flowers, Postcode Phone: recorded as being found on only 12 sites in . Insects abound – there are sun-loving tiger beetles, common Email: groundhoppers and the nationally rare Roessel’s bush- Please make cheques payable to Chiltern Society and forward with your order form cricket. Eighteen types of butterfly have been recorded in to: The Chiltern Society Office, White Hill Centre, White Hill, Chesham, Bucks HP5 the park. 1AG. Maps can be ordered on line at www.chilternsociety.org.uk 09.2016

email: [email protected] 7 Events & Activities Autumn/winter 2016

CHILTERN SOCIETY EVENTS Family Bushcraft (Colin Drake)

All our events are open to everyone, although we offer our members discounted prices.

Skill Building Learn a new skill, and have fun while doing Fri 2 Dec 1.30-3.30pm Cinnamon Square has kindly offered it, with our range of workshops. Mon 5 Dec 10am-12pm supporters of the Chiltern Society a very The Mediterranean Nursery, Bovingdon, special rate to attend this course. Herts Viewranger Non-members £25 per adult Hedge Laying Members £20 per adult – HOW TO MASTER THE APP Hedge laying is the ancient craft of creating a living, natural boundary to a livestock field The individual walks contained in our book, or garden. Using little more than a chopping 50 Great Walks in the Chilterns, are now Masterclass in tool called a billhook, an experienced available to download via Viewranger – an hedge-layer can create 20 metres of laid exciting app that allows you to access Breadmaking hedge in a day, the natural old fashioned trails and maps from your phone or tablet. The course objective is to learn how to way to stock-proof your field for sheep or Join us for a day of expert training on make traditional English tin bread by hand, cattle. On this very hands-on course, our how to use the app followed by a walk to using minimal equipment. You’ll also learn expert Ian Gosling will work alongside you test your new skills. Price includes tea or about the science behind the ingredients, to create a new laid hedge – everything coffee and biscuits throughout the day, recipe and method used. You’ll make an from preparing the ground, through cutting and lunch. oven bottom bloomer and plaited loaf wooden stakes and hazel bindings, to the Sat 29 Oct 10.30am-4pm using a prefermented dough and will also skilled art of ‘pleaching’ (slicing the stem of Clare Foundation, , Bucks learn about sourdough bread, taking a a tree just enough to keep it alive and make Non-members £34 per adult sample home to eat. The course is hosted it sufficiently supple to become part of the Members £28 per adult by Paul Barker who has 30 years of baking laid hedge). We’ll provide the equipment but experience. Coffee or tea is served on arrival you’ll need sturdy boots. Christmas Wreath and the price includes a buffet style meal Sat 10 Dec 10am-3pm and wine. You’ll leave the course with bags Workshop Penn Jubilee Wood, Penn, Bucks of your freshly baked bread! Learn how to create a beautiful festive Non-members £70 per adult Thu 8 Dec 9.30am-2.30pm wreath to hang in or outside your home. Members £55 per adult Cinnamon Square, Rickmansworth, Herts The session will finish with mulled wine and Non-members £120 per adult mince pies. Members £99 per adult

8 Chiltern 221 Family Fun Discovering the Chilterns Enjoy the great outdoors as a family with Discover the Chilterns, whether it’s on a walk, at a nature reserve our range of fun activities. or at a local brewery. Nether Winchendon Tring Brewery Tour House Private Tour & Tasting Join a private tour of this enchanting This relaxed but informative evening medieval and Tudor manor house deep in includes a tour covering the history of the the Bucks countryside, where time stands brewery, their beers and how they make still. Feel free to stay for the day and enjoy them. There’ll be fish and chips (other the gardens and the 13th century church. options available) half-way through the Price includes tea or coffee and biscuits. evening and beer flowing from the pumps Wed 28 Sept 11am all night long. Fungi Foraging Nether Winchendon House, Nr Thame, Thu 3 Nov 7.15-10.15pm Discover the wonderful world of Oxon Tring Brewery Co. Ltd, Tring, Herts mushrooms, toadstools and other fungi. Join Non-members £16.50 per adult Non-members £20 per adult us on this family hunt through the woodland Members £15 per adult Members £18 per adult at Marlow Common Nature Reserve. Expert Penny Cullington, from Bucks Fungus Group. Country Ramble Gin Tasting leads the walk. & Pub Lunch Experience the history and background of Tue 25 Oct 1.30pm-3pm the new Puddingstone Distillery, the gin Enjoy a gentle 5 mile walk across glorious Marlow Common, Marlow, Bucks making process, botanicals and how to taste Chiltern landscapes with our expert guide. Non-members £4 per adult £2 per child and serve gins. It includes two gin-based Finish with a delicious two course lunch at Members £2 per adult £1 per child drinks/cocktails per person, plus samples to The Black Horse, Chesham. illustrate gin styles over the last few hundred Fri 21 Oct 10.30am Family Bushcraft years. The Black Horse Inn, Chesham, Bucks Join us in Captain’s Wood to test your Thu 1 Dec 6.30-8pm Non-members £20 per adult survival skills. Working in family teams Puddingstone Distillery, Tring Members £15 per adult you’ll learn and practice bushcraft skills and Non-members £17.50 per adult techniques including fire lighting, shelter Members £15 per adult building and camp craft. Thu 27 Oct 10am-1pm Captain’s Wood, Chesham, Bucks Chiltern Society Sites Non-members £10 per adult £6 per child 1 Bottom Wood, ancient woodland HITCHIN Members £8 per adult £4 per child 2 Brush Hill Nature Reserve 3 Captain’s Wood, woodland & nature reserve

4 Cholesbury Camp, site of iron age hill fort HERTS Gin tasting DUNSTABLE LUTON How to book 5 Cobblers’ Pits, woodland near Wendover Arm canal 6 Ewelme Watercress Beds & nature reserve BEDS Booking is essential, as we have limited places available.7 Hampden Monument, For more memorial information to John Hampden and to book who opposed the King’s imposition of Ship Tax please go to www.chilternsociety.org.uk or call the office on 01494 771250. 8 Windmill, c.1650 BUCKS oldest smock mill in England TRING 9 Marlow Common (North) woodland common

10 Penn Jubilee Wood, meadow and woodland 5 HERTS on the Chiltern Way WENDOVER Chiltern Society11 Prestwood Nature Reserve sites BERKHAMSTED 12 , historic site, PRINCES 1 Bottom Wood, ancient woodland RISBOROUGH HEMEL chalk cross & nature reserve 4 HEMPSTEAD 2 Brush Hill Nature Reserve 12 Great CHESHAM 2 7 Missenden 3 3 Captain’s Wood, woodland and nature reserve 8 11 Prestwood AMERSHAM 4 Cholesbury Camp, site of iron age hill fort BUCKS RICKMANSWORTH 5 C obblers’ Pits, woodland near Wendover Arm canal 1 HIGH WYCOMBE Ewelme Watercress Beds and Nature Reserve River West 6 Thames Wycombe 10 CHILTERN OPEN 6 AIR MUSEUM 7 Hampden Monument, memorial to John Hampden who opposed the King’s BEACONSFIELD imposition of Ship Tax WALLINGFORD GERRARDS MARLOW CROSS 8 Lac ey Green Windmill, c1650 oldest 9 smock mill in England HENLEY GORING Key 9 Marlo w Common (North), woodland common Chiltern Society Area OXON Area of Outstanding 10  Penn Jubilee Wood, meadow and woodland River Natural Beauty Thames on the Chiltern Way Chiltern Way Chiltern Way Extension 11 Prestwood Nature Reserve CAVERSHAM River Loop Thames North Chiltern Trail 12 W hiteleaf Hill, historic site, chalk cross and nature reserve Chiltern Cycleway

8 Chiltern 221 www.chilternsociety.org.uk 9 The ones that got away

CHILTERN NATURE Photos: John Hockey John Hockey investigates some Chiltern escapees

If it happened today, the Rothschild family could be arrested and charged with contravening the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Part I, Section 14 – Introduction into the wild of species that are not native to Great Britain. They could face a possible fine of thousands of pounds, plus imprisonment. But as LP Hartley wrote: ‘The past is another country: they do things differently there.’

I’m talking here about the endearing Glis make up a large feral population. Owing to glis, a squirrel-like animal with a bushy tail their ability to breed year-round, they can and a ring of black hair round each eye. produce a single fawn every seven months dilutes diversity in an area and hence the It was introduced into in 1902 – and frequently do, leading to a quickly wider world, but if it’s replaced by another by Walter Lionel Rothschild and spread rising population. Having both rudimentary similar animal or plant, is it such a problem? into the surrounding area. Since then antlers as well as tusks, they commonly Let’s look at a few other species that were this creature, known to us as the edible damage ground flora and young trees. They once kept ‘behind bars’ but which have had dormouse (specially fattened ones were eat ivy, brambles, coppice shoots, flowers an undeniable effect on the wider landscape. eaten by the Romans), can still be found in and seeds, plus many fruits, all of which has a Wallabies which were once confined a fairly compact region radiating out from detrimental impact on birdlife. to zoos are now found in many parts of the original release site. Despite its lovable It sounds as if I’m having a go at wealthy Britain. True, they do relatively little harm appearance, the Glis glis causes considerable local landowners, but I’m not. As we know, and are certainly rather charming. They’re damage to trees and crops, and if it gets into the Rothschild family did much to enhance surprisingly tolerant of our British climate your house can feast on woodwork and even our knowledge and enjoyment of animals, and throughout the year I’ve seen a small electric cables. It has been blamed for several birds and insects here in the Chilterns. group on the golf course which abuts ZSL house fires. Likewise the Russell family (Dukes of Whipsnade Zoo, near Dunstable. You may Who would have thought that some of Bedford) still support conservation in the be surprised to learn that a population can the most respected and honourable families wild and they single-handedly ensured build up from one escaped pair, but this is in the Chilterns were indirectly responsible that another deer species, Père David’s exactly what happened on the Isle of Man, for escapes of troublesome animals into the deer, thrived again in China after the local where over 100 animals became established surrounding countryside? Take the small population there had died out. after two wallabies found their way out of a muntjac deer. First introduced to Woburn So there are plusses and minuses in wildlife park. Not too destructive perhaps, in the 19th century, some fled into the every situation and it prompts the question but certainly ‘odd’ and definitely non-native. surrounding countryside and together with ‘what is a native species anyway’? Losing The Chilterns are known for their crystal escapees from other introductions now any species is of course terrible, because it clear chalk streams and the rich variety of

10 Chiltern 221 wildlife that exist in them. The native species knotweed from the Olympic site in London also a matter of degree. Take azaleas for of crayfish is the white-clawed variety, and its cost an astonishing £80 million. example, which are generally of manageable numbers are under such threat that it’s now The bluebell is very special to the UK and size and admired for their free-flowering officially an endangered species. The decline the Chilterns in particular, being a well-loved habit. Rhododendrons are larger and more in stocks was originally due to a crayfish native plant that appears just before the ‘thuggish’, and when they’re as invasive as R. plague, so a new breed from North America, leaf canopy can shade out growth. Indeed, ponticum they have to be controlled, as the the signal crayfish, distinguished by its much half the world’s bluebells can be found in National Trust are doing in Western Scotland bigger claws, was introduced in order to the British Isles. We love the colour and the and Wales by stem injection of herbicide. remedy the situation and boost numbers. short season so much that when a survey Without control they’d quickly swamp the Too late in the day it became apparent that was held by the wild plant charity Plantlife whole area and have an adverse effect on this new breed also carried the plague but in 2004 to give each county in the UK its the number of earthworms, birds and other was itself unaffected, and the consequence own representative flower, the bluebell was plants. So a species that was introduced for our native breed has been devastating, not allowed to be nominated because it to provide cover for game birds in the 18th virtually wiping them out. had been chosen by so many respondents century now needs extensive measures just Himalayan balsam is a relative of the busy throughout the country in a previous poll. to stop it getting out of control. lizzie (Impatiens), but grows over two metres The characteristic of the native bluebell We must be careful not to get too worked high. It has green leaves and a not unpleasant Hyacinthus non-scriptus is the nodding up about non-native plants. I was recently pink flower, and is found on river and canal habit, with violet-blue flowers clustered on reminded that the beautiful sweet chestnut banks. Introduced to the UK in 1839, at one side. On the other hand Hyacinthus is not a native tree at all, but was introduced the same time as Japanese knotweed, it hispanicus, the Spanish bluebell, is a lighter by the Romans. Conversely we can, no doubt, reproduces by an explosive seed dispersal blue and has flowers on all sides of a more all think of other species that have proved system, whereby the plant’s ripe seedpod upright stem. I think it’s fair to say we don’t problematic when they’ve escaped into our fires up to 800 seeds several metres. As like the Spanish bluebell, primarily because countryside. Mink and grey squirrels come to it tolerates low light and is quite tall, it it’s ‘foreign’, less delicate and undermines mind – and what do we make of the possible effectively shades out most other native the time-honoured memories we hold dear. reintroduction of beavers and wolves? As a vegetation. The two plants were introduced It also readily hybridises with our native recent correspondent to Chiltern remarked as an opportunity for ordinary gardeners to species, which may be considered another on the subject of red kites ‘be careful what experience quick growing specimens like unattractive feature. you wish for.’ those seen in the large glasshouses that were In a way, this is all about our attempt to Now that reminds me, where’s my pet becoming popular. Eradicating Japanese control nature. As with so much in life, it’s parakeet? N I C H O L S O N S

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CHILTERN CONSERVATION Sheepwash, Prestwood just after restoration Photos: Tony Marshall Tony Marshall tells a sad story

As the Chilterns Conservation Board’s Commons Project reaches its official end, leaving a legacy of a better appreciation of the role of common lands in the Chilterns and hope for their future preservation (www.chilternsaonb.org/commons), it’s a good time to reflect on the reasons why we have so few commons now, and on a piece of economic history that totally changed every aspect of the Chilterns.

Commons were well named. Although without them. They were a continuation of they might, in some cases, technically a feature that characterised the very first belong to a major landowner, they were human settlements in the Chilterns. A space spaces that could be used by any member was cleared (usually in a more open area Gorse of the local community and any traveller of woodland, where wild animals like ox, passing through, with rights handed down boar and red deer had grazed, or where ponds for watering stock and washing from the times of earliest settlement as a marsh prevented the growth of large carts (and no doubt clothes and people part of a social contract between lords trees). Fields for crops were laid out on the too)! While farmed land was fenced, these and ordinary cottagers. Such contracts, best soils by removing stones and building last ‘rough’ areas were left unenclosed, for instance, allowed people to pasture drainage ditches; pasture was created in which meant they could be used by drovers animals, cut brushwood and bracken, less fertile parts, and the least good areas taking animals to market and gypsies gather wild foods and medicinal herbs, and for agriculture, especially on the clay tops travelling to satisfy the demands of seasonal remove wood for fencing and implements where soils were often waterlogged, were employment, such as picking fruit. The (although not usually to remove ‘large left to woodland. From the start a difference travellers found space to set up temporary timber’ trees). These feudal arrangements was established between farmland and camps, and ponds for watering and washing weren’t made out of the goodness of the land that provided other resources. Some their animals. Consequently common land lord’s heart – they were a vital part of the of the wooded or scrubby areas were ponds beside established drover routes system that, without the commons, couldn’t coppiced to make fence stakes and tool often became known as ‘sheepwash’ or have survived. It was in the lord’s interest, handles, part was used as supplementary similar names. These travellers were as therefore, to allow those who worked on his pasture, especially for pigs that ate the important a part of the economic system of fields and in his estate woodlands to have acorns and beech mast, and the whole the time as the resident labourers. resources that enabled them to survive by area was kept partially open to maintain It was a system that worked well their own efforts. It was, if you like, a form access for collecting wild foods and ferns economically, gave the Chilterns its scenic of wages. for bedding. Damp hollows in these areas patchwork character, and gave wild plants Commons were everywhere – no were also exploited by excavating and and animals somewhere to thrive. So what community, however small, could exist puddling them with clay to make permanent changed all that?

12 Chiltern 221 an old drove trees, scrub and infertile road came grassland performed for the commoners.

Heath bedstraw and heath milkwort down from To him this was ‘wasteland’ (the common the Midlands term used to describe proposed enclosures In the 18th and 19th centuries huge on the way to London, and where there for the purposes of Acts of Parliament). It swathes of common land began to was a large pond called Sheepwash, which was waste because it didn’t line the pockets disappear, enclosed by major landlords to survives to this day (recently restored by of rich men like himself and because it create more farmland. This was not easily Prestwood Nature with funding from the hindered the ‘progressive’ agricultural done. Commons rights were enshrined in Conservation Board and parish council). To ideas of the time. Lloyd published papers (appropriately) ‘common law’ and it needed the north was Little Hampden Common, on population issues, the poor laws and Acts of Parliament to repeal them and which was mainly woodland pasture. To so on, and was influential in the debate enclose each common. The cottagers didn’t the west were Hampden and Denner Hill about the value of common land, arguing take it lying down – their livelihoods were at Commons, and to the south Kingshill that common rights led to overgrazing stake. These were times of agricultural riots Common, (where there was another large and lack of good husbandry, an argument that saw many labourers indicted and sent pond by the drove road), which extended that became dubbed ‘The Tragedy of to colonise Australia. Landowners got away eastwards, via ‘Heath End’ to the vast the Commons’ and was used to support with this because many of them were also Wycombe Heath and enclosure. the MPs who had to pass the Acts, and local Common. Common lands were often called So each piece of common land was law enforcement was under their command. ‘heath’, from an ancient word for ‘open gradually taken from the poor and given The basic forces behind this change were unenclosed country’ – so ancient it fed into to the rich, drained, fenced and put to economic. The population was increasing, both Celtic and Germanic languages. It was cultivation or pasture. Unable to survive, especially in the towns and cities; demand not restricted, as now, to mean acid land agricultural labourers were forced to depart for agricultural produce was rising; cheaper with heathers. Nearby, on the other side of for the expanding towns in a massive wave imports from abroad were causing changes Great Missenden, were Hyde Heath (whose of rural depopulation at the start of the in the profitability of different products; and common still survives) and South Heath. 1900s – ‘Tragedy of the Commons’ indeed. pressures for greater efficiency were being Major transport routes usually ran through Within 50 years the world economy had answered by technological innovations such or alongside these commons. Nobody could changed and the value of these relatively as steam power and machines that reduced be unaware of their extent and prevalence, unproductive lands, even more depleted the need for labour. All this not only made least of all William Lloyd, whose house now by overstocking, became a liability the landowners hungry for more land, but stood at the very edge of one of the largest rather than a source of profit. Consequently, also increased the potential profitability (and whose grounds later enclosed one of during the 20th century they were gradually of more marginal land, while providing the old common ponds for watering stock). sold (more profit) as building land, and now the means for working it more effectively When he looked out of his windows, we have Prestwood in place of Prestwood and cutting costs by employing machinery what did he see? In spring, patches of gorse Common, instead of Kingshill rather than people. covered with coconut-scented, vivid yellow Common, and remnants exist only as Enter William Lloyd, graduate and flowers, and acid grassland sporting heath recreation grounds and allotments. Even Professor of Political Economy there from and common dog violet, lesser celandine those commons that have survived, such 1832. As a second country home away from and lady’s smock, petty whin and lesser as Hyde Heath, are now much degraded college, he built a new residence, Prestwood gorse. In summer, turf covered with yellow and lack most of their original flora and Lodge, on the edge of Prestwood Common. tormentil and trailing St John’s wort, blue fauna, because it’s now a long time since (The old house is gone now, demolished speedwell, harebell and heath milkwort, and commoners managed them sustainably – to build a special school currently known white heath bedstraw, most low-growing clear evidence that the lowly cottager knew as Prestwood Campus). Prestwood was and able to survive grazing. Then in late far more than the Oxford professor whose at that time a tiny community on a typical summer the landscape would have become convenient theories blinded him to the truth clay plateau cut by dry chalk valleys, up purple with heathers, betony and devil’s-bit lying outside his very window. the hill from the growing village of Great scabious. Most of the heathland plants mentioned Missenden. Prestwood Common was a But he didn’t see this, or, if he did, above are no longer common, most are vast area of 240 acres to the south of the he chose to despise it as ‘economically distinctly uncommon in the Chilterns, and eponymous village; at its northwest corner it worthless’, just as he didn’t want to see the some, like the heath dog violet, are no merged into Kiln Common, at a point where vital functions this messy patch of small longer to be found there at all. www.chilternsociety.org.uk 13 HIGH SPEED TWO The impact of HS2 Present indications are that despite all the powerful arguments put forward by those who oppose the high speed rail project, not to mention the possible financial implications of Brexit, the new Prime Minister and her Government are determined to press ahead with HS2. These aerial photographs, examples from a series taken by Keith Hoffmeister of the Chiltern Society’s campaign team, give a strong impression of how seriously the line will affect the landscape between Amersham and Wendover.

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14 Chiltern 221 CHILTERN CONSERVATION

Co-ed Independent Secondary School Chalfont St Giles

College Lake (Richard Bradbury) Herts ConsVols get around! From Barry Watson

Hertfordshire Conservation Volunteers are one of the Society’s ‘roving’ groups, working on a variety of projects in West Herts, as well as parts of Bucks and Beds, often in beautiful places full of wildlife.

In Hemel Hempstead we’ve worked in the lovely Bunkers Country Park with its wild flower meadow, hazel coppice, walks and views over the nearby woods and Longdean Nature Reserve. We’ve also spent time wading in the River Ver at At Newland College we harness students’ Redbournbury working on the willow banks, and tackled various tasks at Totternhoe Knolls with its chalk downland, natural curiosity and eagerness to learn. Class sizes medieval motte and bailey castle and great views across of 14 support our aim to develop adaptable and . BBOWT’s College Lake Nature Reserve at reflective learners, advocating an environment that Pitstone is another site where we’ve worked, painting the is accepting and encouraging. outside of the Castle Hide. We’ve tended the junipers on , scalloped the woodland edge to Our students, aged 11-16 years, follow the encourage butterflies in Bunkers Park and raked mown grass academically robust and globally-recognised to improve the wild flower meadow at Totternhoe. During this International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. summer we’ve been pulling out ragwort near Westbrook Hay. On Studham Common we prepared a hedgerow for planting They are encouraged to come up with their own ideas, up later in the autumn. At the new Halsey Field Local Wildlife rather than just relying on information from a text book, Site in Hemel Hempstead we installed a bench and cleared small ash regeneration. At the end of September we plan to laying the foundation for good reasoning skills. tend a pond on Chipperfield Common and will be cutting back ‘spiling’ at Rebournbury, as well helping to improve Open Days grassland at the Alpine Meadow Nature Reserve. After this Join us for our open days on Friday 7th October, we’ll be working at Tring Park, Halsey Field again and then Thursday 17th November, Friday 20th January doing streamside clearance at Millhoppers to encourage marsh marigolds. or Thursday 9th March from 9.15-11.30am, As you can see, we range far and wide and tackle a variety or for Welcome Wednesdays, 10.00-11.00am of tasks. We’re informally organised and all our members during term time. contribute ideas for places to work. We have a regular car share meeting place at Gadebridge Park and Ride in Hemel Hempstead, or you can go direct to site if it’s more convenient. We work on the second Wednesday of the month and one 01494 875502 | www.newlandcollege.co.uk Sunday later in the month. The Chiltern Society website always @newlandcollege | facebook.com/newlandcollege shows our programme. [email protected] email: [email protected] 15 Putting dogs first

NEWS & VIEWS

Linda Morris and family with Lotti and Scarlet Photos courtesy of CDRS Bob Stuart visits CDRS

A tangible air of optimism pervades Chilterns Dog Rescue Society (CDRS), where visitors are greeted by enthusiastic staff and welcomed by some wagging tails. The upbeat mood isn’t surprising, because at the Society’s centre near Tring happy outcomes are the order of the day. From here, dogs with problem pasts and uncertain futures often find a new lease of life with loving owners, who promise better times ahead for their newly acquired four-legged friends.

But it’s not just mistreated dogs that find the Society paid for dogs to be boarded their way onto the Society’s books. Changing at several local kennels. Eventually an with a variety of health issues which need domestic circumstances, such as moving arrangement was made that enabled all of to be addressed. ‘One dog arrived with house, a new baby, job loss or marriage them to be housed in one location, providing almost no fur from its neck downwards, breakdown for instance, can sometimes the ideal opportunity for the public to meet having scratched it all away,’ recalled CDRS mean a dim future for the family dog. In the all the dogs looking for new homes in a manager Sara Muncke, adding, ‘Others have past many such creatures would have been single visit. been malnourished or overfed, or just given put down or abandoned. Indeed it was one After 20 years based in Ashley Green an inappropriate diet – in one case having such event that spawned the founding of near Berkhamsted, and following much hard eaten nothing but takeaway food.’ Sara and the Society more than 50 years ago. It was work by many supporters, CDRS achieved her dedicated full-time team – supported 1963 when Dolly Bromley found a small dog its goal of acquiring its own premises, at by an army of volunteers – know that tied up in Amersham. Having failed to locate Chivery near Tring. The dream will be fully establishing and maintaining a proper diet is its owner she took it to the police, only to realised when the Society’s £1.3 million, key to returning dogs to health and vigour, be told – to her horror – that if the owner purpose-built rescue centre facilities and along with regular recreation, training and couldn’t be found, the animal would be put kennels are completed in the coming contact with people and other dogs – all down. Unable to keep the dog herself, Dolly months. The new centre boasts the best of underpinned by extensive veterinary care. phoned her friends and found it a new home, sustainable green technologies, such as a The staff’s long experience and specialist a situation that highlighted the need to help bio-mass heating system and a rainwater- knowledge is also vital in helping to solve other dogs in distress. gathering process. Spacious kennels will behavioural problems exhibited by some As a result of that chance encounter, the benefit from natural light, underfloor heating dogs, sometimes a legacy of previous Society’s forerunner, the Amersham and and other practical amenities, all of which mistreatment or ignorance. Learning best Chesham Dog Rescue and Welfare Society, serve to underline the motto of CDRS, practice extends to people too, and to aid was formed. Word of their activities quickly ‘Putting Dogs First’. the education process, new and potential spread and soon all lost and unwanted Achieving the objective of a healthy, owners are offered training courses with dogs in the area were referred to them for happy dog can sometimes have their new dogs, under the watchful eye of rehoming. As an early, temporary measure, unpromising beginnings. Dogs can arrive accredited trainers and behaviourists.

16 Chiltern 221 Although the net of CDRS extends endless energy or just quiet and gentle. throughout neighbouring counties – even After the Society has trawled its extensive as far as South Wales – it can also have an database for suitable animals, applicants international dimension. Some dogs arrive are invited to meet and greet selected having spent time abroad, in Europe or dogs that match the applicant’s profile. occasionally even Africa. By the same token, They’ll be required to attend the centre, dogs that settle with their new owners spending valuable time getting to know and sometimes turn up in unexpected corners. socialising with their prospective dog prior One recently surfaced in the Canadian to adoption, a process that could include Rockies and was pictured in high spirits at least one training session. It’s a tribute helping with the local logging activities! to their success that ‘serial adopters’ often Naturally, the ultimate aim of improving return, some of them three or four times. any dog’s wellbeing is to find it a new owner One retired vet is happy to home elderly in a happy and stimulating environment. In dogs whose life expectancy is limited. that respect CDRS can be justifiably proud Indeed, over the years she’s adopted no of its record – since 1963 it has rehomed fewer than 30 dogs. Interestingly, she’s 105 more than 18,000 dogs. Sadly, fashion fads years old and still proud to have a CDRS are responsible for a number of unwanted dog! animals. As Sara said, ‘People see celebrities With each dog costing up to £1,000 with dogs as fashion accessories, such as to care for and rehome, CDRS relies on chihuahuas or pugs – the current favourite – an army of volunteers to support a small, only to become tired of them a year later.’ permanent staff. To meet such needs there’s Matching a customer’s needs with an a busy fundraising programme that helps CDRS Manager Sara Muncke with Benny, the Jack Russell individual dog is a rigorous process and to supplement grants, such as £50,000 applicants must provide details of their recently awarded by the Support Adoption helping the Society fulfil a role forged over home environment, such as garden facilities for Pets organisation. Then there’s the more than 50 years. That is, as always, and what exercise will be offered. Potential Society’s annual sponsored walk, popular ‘Putting Dogs First’. owners are also expected to be fairly quiz nights and legacy donations. Their Chilterns Dog Rescue Society can specific about the kind of dog required – stand is also a regular sight at local events. be contacted on 01296 623885 or at pedigree or crossbreed, big or small, with All these initiatives have a part to play in [email protected].

16 Chiltern 221 www.chilternsociety.org.uk 17 CHILTERN HERITAGE A talent unfulfilled

Photos courtesy of Ashridge House

Jenny Reynolds tells the story of Dora Carrington and the Ashridge murals

An extraordinary story lies behind the murals on one of the walls of what was an old almost eat them they are so luscious,’ she coach house at Ashridge House, near Berkhamsted. This neogothic pile was once the wrote to her friend, the artist John Nash. The ancestral home of the Earls of Bridgewater, but since 1959 has housed Ashridge, the two young women were given the bare wall leading international business school. The story is one of devotion, unfulfilled artistic of what was then known as Brownlow House, talent and tragedy. a collection of stables and coach houses. The Ashridge estate workers enthusiastically The three pastoral scenes were painted She was never his lover because Strachey joined in the project, putting up scaffolding by Dora Carrington (1893-1932), who is was gay, but she lived in an unconventional and teaching the girls how to do plastering. best known today for her association with ménage à trois with him and her husband As Jane Brown in her book Spirits of Place the intellectually élite and unconventional . When Strachey became ill writes: ‘For Carrington it was heaven: , whose members with cancer, she nursed him until he died in they outlined the life around them, the included Virginia and Leonard Woolf, 1932. Grief stricken and unable to imagine landscape and the big elms, Lane painting Virginia’s sister , John Maynard life without him, she shot herself, reportedly a sheep shearing, Carrington hay-making Keynes, Roger Fry and many others. The attempting to make it look like an accident. and gardening scenes. She felt like Giotto; Group lasted from the early years of the The Ashridge murals were probably she loved being in charge of her army of 20th century until WWII. commissioned by Adelaide, 3rd Countess workmen.’ The two young artists would walk Carrington, who trained at the Slade Brownlow. They are actually buon frescoes, home to Nettleden in the summer evenings, School of Art, was a talented artist who painted in water colour on wet plaster, happy with their day’s work, exhausted – it never fulfilled her potential, although she a medium more usually used in warmer was physically hard work – and covered from left behind an exceptional body of work climates, particularly in Italy. Indeed, when head to toe in white plaster dust. ‘About and two of her landscapes are exhibited Dora brought her husband Ralph down to six workmen are running about erecting at Tate Britain. She believed art was the Ashridge to see the frescoes 12 years later, she scaffolding and carrying buckets. Lane and highest achievement to which a woman was delighted that they were in such good me feel like great masters controlling this could aspire. She also believed in the condition. ‘They are still intact, and haven’t band of men and having the big wall to cover equality of the sexes and that motherhood fallen down or changed colour which just with our works of art,’ she wrote to Nash. and artistic achievement were incompatible. proves that frescoes can last in England which Today the frescoes are still in very good She wore her hair bobbed and liked to be everyone always denies,’ she wrote to a friend. condition. They capture the essence of a called by her surname. Among her closest The frescoes were painted in the summer time gone by in rural England, a simpler, friends were some of the most talented of 1913 when Dora was only 20 years old. seemingly happier age, giving no hint of artists of the time – Augustus John, Stanley It was one of the happiest times of her life. the complications and tragedy which would Spencer and Paul Nash. In the end, however, She was staying with her friend and fellow beset Dora Carrington later in her life. she’s remembered more for her intimate student Constance ‘Cooie’ Lane at Lane’s friendship with , the literary mother’s cottage in nearby Nettleden. She For images relating to Ashridge critic and leading light in the Bloomsbury loved the gardens at Ashridge and was House and Estate please use the Group. She lived with him for 16 years, enchanted by the beauty of the surrounding following link to our PhotoGroup’s acting as his housekeeper and hostess to his countryside. ‘You should just see the trees, website: www.chilternphoto.org.uk/ many distinguished, mostly literary, guests. and the green fields like lettuces, you could index/category/30.

18 Chiltern 221 email: [email protected] 19 NEWS IN BRIEF Phantom hoverfly Precious found in the Chilterns memories

A hoverfly species so rare it was named the ‘phantom’ was spotted in June near Lindengate, the charity offering Ivinghoe Beacon on the National Trust’s Ashridge Estate. It’s believed to be the therapeutic gardening activities, is first recorded sighting in the Chilterns. continuing to develop and enhance the service it provides at its base It was discovered by National Trust plants like the cowslip for its food and just outside Wendover. One of its entomologist Peter Brash, and satisfied is one of the most rapidly declining latest projects is ‘Memory Pathways’, a lifelong ambition for the insect butterflies in the UK. which provides individual and group expert. ‘I first saw a picture of the Lawrence Trowbridge, Lead Ranger support for people with memory loss, confusion phantom hoverfly 23 years ago and on the Ashridge Estate, said: ‘Chalk or dementia and their carers. Users will be able immediately wanted to see it. Nobody grassland is like our very own tropical to participate in a range of indoor and outdoor knows much about this enigmatic rain forest, it’s a grassland jungle and activities that combine Lindengate’s three hoverfly. Some say it only survives for literally teeming with life. Knowing key elements of gardening, cooking and art & around ten days as an adult, whilst what species we have is key, and craft, with the aim of stimulating access to past others say that it stays in the tree surveys carried out by experts like memories to encourage positive impacts on canopy and only descends to the Pete enable us to consider how our emotional wellbeing and physical health. Memory ground to breed.’ conservation work can benefit these Pathways will initially operate as a free-to-join The Ashridge Estate is managed for rare creatures.’ monthly drop-in service lasting three hours and conservation and to create a diverse The hoverfly(Doros profuges), is including a social lunch. range of habitats. The rangers there 1.5cm long, with an elegant narrow Plans are now well advanced for a large have created the perfect conditions waist and black and yellow bands (24m2) sensory garden, which will benefit both for the phantom hoverfly, which lives across its body. It’s listed as a Lindengate’s existing gardeners and cater for on chalk grassland, favouring shaded priority species on the Government’s the needs of broader groups, including people areas near scrub. Much of the chalk Biodiversity Action Plan. Sightings in on the autistic spectrum and those dealing with downland habitat at Ashridge is the UK rarely add up to more than one the many types of memory loss. The garden managed with the Duke of Burgundy or two a year. will be fully accessible, and will feature a wide butterfly in mind, because it relies on variety of planting, sculptures and art displays, seating areas, landscaping, water features, wildlife areas and much more. Accessibility has Whipsnade Zoo been improved elsewhere on the site too, with the construction of wheelchair-friendly paths loses its bottles linking the entrance gate to both the ‘Gardeners Lodge’ and the two polytunnels. There’s funding Whipsnade Zoo has stopped selling plastic water bottles, as part of a new campaign available to extend the paths further, and this is called ‘Lose your Bottle’ led by the Zoological Society of London. Visitors will be expected to happen later in the year. able to choose from a new drinking water range that uses sustainable paperboard Lindengate’s Autumn Fair takes place on water boxes, and will be also able to refill their reusable bottles free at the Zoo’s Saturday 1 October at 2pm. The charity can catering outlets. Used just once, often for less than ten minutes, disposable plastic be found at The Old Allotment Site, Wyevale water bottles account for a huge proportion of the plastic waste in the world’s Garden Centre, Aylesbury Road, Wendover, oceans, which takes hundreds of years to break down. In 2015 more than 35,000 Bucks HP22 6BD. Website: www.lindengate.org. single-use plastic water bottles were sold at Whipsnade. uk, email: [email protected].

cholesbury PETER BRADFORD ARCHITECTS tree fellers local family business established 30 years chesham based • all aspects of tree surgery undertaken • • woodchips supplied • • contractor to local authority • RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS mulch supplied, ideal for water retention NEW HOUSES • EXTENSIONS and weed suppressor BARN & FARM CONVERSIONS tel: 01494 771180 30 High Street, Wendover, Bucks HP22 6EA mob: 07939 135056 07971 294880 • [email protected] email: [email protected] 19 CYCLE GROUP Coast to coast

Ken Davies reports on an out-of-Chilterns experience

Our first away trip this year involved 11 of us going north to follow the C2C (Coast to Coast) route running from Whitehaven to Tynemouth, about 140 miles of superb scenery taking in the northern Lake District and North Pennines. Nine of us did the three day crossing (Graham, George M, Penny and Derek, John J, had been destroyed in the winter floods. Pat, Les C, Phil and Ken) with two selecting the four day option (Andy and Sheila). The route We took a diversion involving a 400ft climb, was developed by Sustrans in partnership with many local authorities and opened in 1994. It which brought us to the 5,000 year-old uses traffic-free paths (mostly disused railway lines) and minor roads, with only short sections Castlerigg stone circle and a welcome ice on main roads through urban areas. We found the signposting first class and had no difficulty cream stop. A few miles later we rejoined following the route which, we were told, is used by up to 25,000 cyclists each year. the main route and after a few ups and downs we reached Penrith and our first In the weeks leading up to our trip we were the first disused railway track through the overnight stop – 52 miles and over 4,000ft becoming concerned as the medium term former coal mining and industrial lands completed. Our hosts recommended a weather forecast indicated the likelihood of of West Cumbria. The first 10 miles was nice Italian restaurant and we enjoyed our snow, sleet, cold and a northeasterly wind a gentle climb reaching 800ft, before we evening meal together. for our west to east crossing, and indeed enjoyed our first couple of descents, passing We set off at 9am on day two, that was the weather during the week Loweswater and catching glimpses of appreciating the first 13 miles of relatively before we went. Fortunately, as time went Ennerdale Water and Crummock Water in flat riding, which included the Eden Valley, by the forecast improved and we actually the distance. This was the beginning of the until we reached Renwick. Somewhere enjoyed almost perfect cycling weather. stunning Lake District scenery and after 20 along here, masterminded by Derek, Although we normally organise our miles we came to our first real climb up to we stopped to rescue a sheep that had own away trips, this time we decided to Whinlatter Pass (1,100ft), stopping to enjoy managed to tangle itself in some fencing. use Saddle Skedaddle who booked the a well-earned rest at the Visitor Centre café. When we found it it wasn’t moving, and accommodation, took us to the start point, Part way up the hill Phil suffered the one we weren’t quite sure how badly injured it transported our luggage and then provided and only puncture of the ride, which was was. Fortunately it only had some minor us with maps and the itinerary, enabling soon fixed. cuts, and it was good to see it run off to us to complete the route ‘unguided’. Their Suitably refreshed, we picked up the fast join the flock. After Renwick we started the organisation and service was excellent, as downhill track through Whinlatter Forest steady 4 mile and 1,250ft climb to Hartside were the B&Bs they arranged for us. and were grateful that we had all brought and the highest café in England, where we We met in Newcastle on the Tuesday and our hybrid bikes, although Penny, whose enjoyed another well-earned rest. Here we after an evening meal, a good night’s sleep bike had narrower tyres, had a few hair- took advantage of the photo opportunity and a hearty breakfast were driven across raising moments. A couple of miles later we by the summit sign before continuing onto to Whitehaven ready to start the challenge. emerged from the forest and took roads for the unspoilt Northern Pennines, ‘the roof The first task was to find the C2C sign and the 5 mile ride into Keswick. There should of England’. We followed an undulating quickly take some photos. It was a bit grey then have been a gentle climb up another route including some great descents and and chilly, but at 10.45am we set off along old railway track, but a couple of bridges steep climbs, passing many old lead mining

20 Chiltern 221 Future Thursday Group Rides

If you’d like to join one of our popular cycle rides, come along to one of those listed below. We usually start at a pub and return there for lunch. We meet at 10am to place food orders, for a 10.30 start. If numbers are large, some riders will often leave at 10.15, with the main group following at 10.30.

1 September Meet at The Cricketers, East Common, Redbourn (Grid Ref: TL 104 120, postcode AL3 7ND). The ride is 21 miles long and heads north towards Kinsbourne Green, Markyate and Dunstable Downs Visitor Centre, returning through Studham and Gaddesden Row. It’s suitable for all types of bike. Ride leader: David Batchelor 01923 220044 and 07966 villages including Nenthead and Rookhope, as well as reaching the 492589. highest point on the C2C at Black Hill (2,000ft). When we stopped for the occasional rest it was nice to hear (and sometimes see) curlew and lapwing, plus a few birds we didn’t recognise. 6 October At Nenthead we had our second incident, when the hydraulic disc Meet at The Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne, near Tring brakes on Graham’s bike started binding. Luckily we found a quaint (Grid ref: SP 932 136, postcode HP23 5QE). This 22 mile old bike shop where a temporary repair was carried out. At Allenheads ride is almost exclusively on quiet country roads, with we stopped at the Heritage Centre café for a late snack in the warm some exceptional views. It includes Marsworth, Long sunshine. We then had just over 10 miles down to our overnight stop Marston, Wingrave, Aston Abbotts, Cublington, Wing, in Stanhope – 45 miles and a further 5,000ft or so completed. We met Mentmore and Cheddington. The route has a modest up with Andy and Sheila, and enjoyed an evening meal together at The 950ft of ascent and is suitable for all types of bike. Bonny Moorhen pub in the village. Ride leader: John Pulsinelli 01494 866373 and 07974 On day three we decided to set off at 8.30am, because we had 237810. arranged an early collection at Tynemouth. The first 2 miles involved an 800ft climb up to Parkhead, where we joined the disused railway path which took us gently down to the old steel town of Consett – we 3 November were careful to find the left turn and not end up in Sunderland! We then Meet at The Royal Standard, Common followed the Derwent Valley down to the River Tyne at Blaydon, stopping (Grid ref: SU 923 876, postcode HP10 0JS). This is an for a snack at The Red Kite a couple of miles before the river. Having interesting, reasonably flat 22 mile ride through four of reached the Tyne, with another 15 miles to go, we decided to take the Buckinghamshire’s beautiful parks. We start by riding route along the south of the river, crossing at the Millennium Bridge. Just to Black Park cafe for a hot chocolate, then down to before the crossing we had our third incident of the ride, when Penny Langley Park, up to Stoke Park, across to Burnham fell off, having not seen a very badly marked kerb. A short rest and a Beeches and back for lunch. plaster helped her recovery and, although a bit shaken, we all carried on Ride leader: Dennis Keeling 01494 863344 and 07584 to Tynemouth, arriving just after 1.30pm – 40 miles and some 2,000ft 571439. completed. We couldn’t see a sign to indicate the end of the C2C, so we lined Rides are open to Society members and non- up for a final photo with the ruins of the priory in the background. Our members. All ride at their own risk and should be 14 years or older unless accompanied by an adult. Bring drivers arrived very shortly after us and the bikes were quickly loaded a drink for roadside stops. It is strongly recommended onto the vehicles enabling us to get back to the hotel, collect our that riders wear a helmet for all rides and carry their luggage, have a quick shower and get on the road soon after 3pm. own first aid kit. It was good to be able to enjoy a rest over the weekend and our legs had just about recovered by the following Monday! This ride is recognised as being one of the most popular routes in the UK and we would all endorse that. It’s challenging, but the dramatic scenery of the northern Lake District and the Northumberland moors are just reward. Opposite page left: the start at Whitehaven; The freedom to be out on your bike on the open moors in the sunshine, right: preparing for the descent from Hartside looking around and seeing nothing but wilderness for miles, was This page top: approaching Hartside summit; bottom: the finish at Tynemouth unforgettable. Photos: Ken Davies www.chilternsociety.org.uk 21 PHOTOGROUP NEWS Photo opportunity Above: May Day morris dance at Red Lion, Penn (M King) Water lily (B Hunt) Do your photos deserve a Right, top to bottom: Cobwebs, Marlow (P Davis) Barry Hunt Hughenden Valley (S Cook) wider audience, asks St John the Baptist, Little Missenden (K Hoffmeister)

Your latest photos, taken somewhere in the UK, could include a stunning sunset, a The unedited images depicted here dramatic land or seascape, or an interesting street scene. You may well feel very are as submitted, and reflect the five pleased with them. So why not increase their public exposure and show them in our classes: Buildings, Flora/Fauna, Heritage, Online Photographic Exhibition? Now in its thirteenth year, it’s a ‘must see’ event for Landscape and Other. anyone who enjoys fine photography.

‘The autumn issue of the magazine The Online Exhibition will be available Diary dates provides a timely opportunity to remind on the Chiltern Society’s PhotoGroup On Thursday 22 September from 10.30 readers about the 2017 edition of the website from 1 January to 31 December we have an outdoor event in the Lane Exhibition well ahead of the submission 2017 (see ‘Special Collections’). End area (details to be confirmed). The deadline of 20 November,’ said Exhibition Remember, it’s not a competition, so PhotoGroup’s AGM on Saturday 22 October editor Chris Smith. ‘It’s open to all Chiltern there are no prizes, but it’s open to all will be followed by a presentation from Society members. Entries must be recorded Society members who own a device Allen Beechey of the Rivers & Wetlands within the UK including, of course, the that captures digital images. We hope Group about chalk rivers and streams in the Chilterns. Images may be taken using a to match, or even exceed, 2016’s entries, Chilterns. digital camera, a smartphone, an iPad or which comprise a record number of 305 Indoor meetings are held from 10.30am similar device. There are five classes of images from 22 authors, about a third to 12.30pm in The Lounge, Amersham photos, and up to fifteen photographs of which were taken in the Chilterns. Community Centre, Chiltern Avenue, can be entered, with a maximum of six Once again, Stan McCartin – a renowned Amersham HP6 5AH. Free parking is photos in any one class. Full details on regional camera club judge – will provide available at weekends in the nearby council how to submit them can be found at his informed comments on selected offices car park, south of the Centre on the www.chilternphoto.org.uk.’ images. south side of King George V Road.

22 Chiltern 221 email: [email protected] 23 Photogroup competition Puzzle picture: 82

This house is near an airfield. Where is it and who had it built? Send your entry to Ian Bullock, 11 The Willows, Amersham, Bucks HP6 5NT or to [email protected]. If using email, please include your postal address so that, if you win, your prize can be sent to you. The draw will take place on 17 September. The winner will receive £10. Photo: M Bowker Puzzle picture: 81 The answer

The picture shows an unusual angle on Holy Trinity Church, , High Wycombe. It dates from 1845 and is built in neo-Norman style. The winner was Betty Hardy of Lacey Green. Photo: B Hunt

22 Chiltern 221 email: [email protected] 23 CHILTERN CONSERVATION As nature intended

Enjoying the view in the Nature Park (Keith Hoffmeister) Above: Evie Vennix, Head Girl at Dr Challoner’s High School cuts the ribbon to open Little Chalfont Come and discover Little Chalfont Nature Park (Tim Hunt) Nature Park, says Tim Hunt

Little Chalfont now has its own Nature Park in the very heart of the village. On 11 June, five years of hard work culminated in the official opening of a unique little space of peace and tranquillity for the benefit of all the local community.

The Park measures only 4.6 acres, but funds for development of the land, in order scheme has also been initiated, which within it is a rare natural meadow of grass to make it safe and attractive for community includes lime, wild cherry, hazel, hornbeam, and wild flowers, bordered on one side by use. Voluntary help was coordinated to rowan and field maple. semi-natural ancient woodland. The old create ‘Friends of the Nature Park’, and after In the future, when funds allow, the Park cherry trees give an insight into its past as much hard work by them, as well as many will also have a sensory area for the very a farm, while the clay pits supplied a nearby other people and businesses, the area was young, the very old and the visually or brickworks. The site used to be part of Snell’s carefully regenerated and preserved as it can aurally impaired, planted with bright colours, Farm and the survival of the land in such a be seen today. interesting shapes, scents, sounds and natural state is due to generations of farm The central feature, the wild flower textures. A natural play area is also planned, owners managing it as unimproved grassland meadow, known as MG5 Grassland or ‘Old made from oak tree trunks bolted together, and orchard. No chemicals, insecticides or Meadow’ was once commonplace in England, where old-fashioned climbing, balancing and herbicides have ever been used on it. but is now extremely rare, having declined jumping will be encouraged. The Park will become a valuable learning by 97% since the 1930s. It contains many The local community, via the Trust, has resource, providing educational opportunities different types of plants and supports rich raised an incredible £280,000, which covered particularly for children, and it was fitting insect life, particularly the endangered the cost of buying the land, and getting the that local children played a major part in British bee population. The woodland, a Nature Park up and running. This completes its opening ceremony. Young people from segment of larger ancient semi-natural the first phase of the project. Much work both the village and youth groups supported woodland, Snell’s Wood, hadn’t been remains to be done, however, and the second Evie Vennix, Head Girl at Dr Challoner’s High managed for over 50 years. John Morris of phase will comprise laying hard paths so that School, who represented all the children by the Chiltern Woodlands Project prepared a everyone, including those who are infirm or cutting the ribbon to declare the Park open. comprehensive Management Plan in 2013, disabled, can use the park, and constructing In 2010 the land which makes up the detailing everything that needed to be both the sensory and play areas. A further present Park was advertised for sale. The done including protection, maintenance and appeal for funds to allow this work to go Little Chalfont Community Association work programmes. A considerable amount ahead has been launched by the Trust. (LCCA) realised that this could be a great of tree work was required to make it safe The entrance to Little Chalfont Nature local asset and approached the owners who for visitors. It’s now complete apart from Park is off the access road to Dr Challoner’s agreed to consider selling to the community. routine inspections, and the woodland looks High School. It’s open from dawn to dusk. Following a public appeal, the newly formed very different. It was very dense with holly, Do come and visit this hidden gem in the Little Chalfont Charitable Trust raised but much of this has been removed, the Chilterns. The Park’s website is: http:// sufficient funds to complete the purchase. trunks used to line woodland paths and the naturepark.littlechalfont.org.uk, or you can An Action Group was formed to raise further chippings used to fill them. A replanting visit it on Facebook.

24 Chiltern 221 www.chilternsociety.org.uk 25 Chiltern Society Magazine A4 Advert_Layout 1 19/04/2016 15:52 Page 1

As nature intended

Celebrate the Journey

Set in 72 acres of beautiful mixed woodland close to Beaconsfield, our uniquely enchanting venue makes GreenAcres the perfect location for all celebrations.

We invite you to Celebrate your Journey at GreenAcres with your friends, colleagues or family. Our beautiful surroundings are available to mark any occasion, such as naming ceremonies, weddings, funerals or business meetings.

GreenAcres Chiltern Potkiln Lane, Jordans, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire HP9 2XB t: 01494 872158 e: [email protected] w: www.greenacrescelebrate.co.uk/chiltern facebook.com/greenacreschiltern 24 Chiltern 221 www.chilternsociety.org.uk 25 Many hands make sites work

CHILTERN SOCIETY SITES Above: Nature Reserve (Colin Drake) Right: Volunteers clearing mist-netting at Brush Hill (Caroline Bridgman) As ever, there’s plenty of room for more volunteers!

Captain’s Wood Marlow Common No work parties were held after the Six weeks ago there were plenty of open because they seem to enjoy pulling the end of March, because the bird nesting spaces on Marlow Common. Now it’s bracken stalks out of the ground! There’s season was upon us. We have, however, looking its best, with masses of greenery an underlying clay soil here, which is why held a series of ad hoc monitoring of all sorts. The recent wet weather has there are clay pits that once provided parties, checking on the 25 tit nesting really benefited plant growth. While this raw material for the brick and pottery boxes and the 3 tawny owl boxes. means the Common is a wonderful place industry. Unfortunately this soil tends to Apart from one major upset, the to visit, it’s giving our volunteers a great hold water, at times making our footpaths results are very positive. By the end of deal of work. Brambles are encroaching on very muddy. We’ve found that layering cut May, 14 of the original boxes had been the footpaths, and the open glades we’ve bracken stalks along the paths makes a successfully used. Fifty-seven chicks carefully developed since the Society took temporary bridge over the mud, so at least were ringed, plus three adult birds. over management here are starting to fill it has some use. With all this work, we In addition, 15 chicks were too big to up with bracken and brambles. At present could certainly do with more volunteers. ring, as they were well on the way to all the clearing has to be done manually, If anyone has free time, please consider fledging. Some nests contained chicks because motorised brush cutting could offering some of it to Marlow Common. that were too small. How many will still disturb nesting birds. Indeed, many Contact: [email protected] have survived will remain unclear until tasks can only be done by hand, but we the nests are cleaned out later in the have some dedicated volunteers who get year. Unfortunately one box was stolen, down on their hands and knees and very Chesham Bois complete with nine chicks (a news carefully clear all the invading growth from Earlier in the year we continued clearing report can be found at: www.getbucks. our heather patches, enabling them to holly and laurel on the Common and in co.uk/news/local-news/baby-birds-die- thrive and expand. We’ve tried a variety Tenterden Spinney for Chesham Bois after-vandals-11445354). We also held of bracken-clearing methods, but still Parish Council, but then stopped for one off-site work party at the Wormsley haven’t decided which is best. We recently the bird nesting season. We hope to Estate, near Stokenchurch, where we acquired a scythe and this is proving to be restart near the end of the year, provided laid a footpath and removed numerous effective at cutting through the stems near the Council has prepared a long-term tree guards, followed by a light lunch at ground level. One of our most efficient management plan by then, with the help a local pub. methods has been to entertain a cub troop of John Morris. Contact: [email protected] working towards an environmental badge, Contact: [email protected]

26 Chiltern 221 Wendover Woods The past few months have seen the group BOOKS visiting the usual range of places, some new and some familiar: Wormsley Estate, Weedon Hill, Dancersend, Wendover Review by Nigel Agar Woods, Great Baldwin’s Wood, Lindengate allotments and College Lake. Weedon Hill is a wood where the group did a good deal of The Wood for work some years ago, after a shooting lease expired. It’s now generally in good condition, the Trees but there are still old fences – we removed Richard Fortey a section of one of them. At Wormsley, on a William Collins joint party organised by the Captain’s Wood 320pp £22 group, we resurfaced a path and planted a ISBN 10: 0008104662 considerable number of trees. We extended Nest box in Captain’s Wood a coppiced area and created a clearing How many of us really by one of the paths through Dancersend pride in this small woodland. Litter and dog know the Chilterns? Nature Reserve. In Wendover we returned to fouling have been removed by some good The problem is that the hill fort, continuing to clear small trees souls. After waiting since the beginning they run from south- and regeneration. We also carried out more of the year for drier weather, the public west to northeast clearance work at Lindengate and College footpath near the bottom gate has been across South East Lake. At Great Baldwin’s Wood we worked restored. The tenant farmer of the adjacent England, while all the on a plantation, replanting and restaking field opened the gates to allow a large, major routes in the tree supports. Meetings are as still on the low, open trailer to be towed to an opening region head north out of London, first and third Tuesday of the month. Details near the bottom of the wood. A small with the sole exception of the ancient are emailed to all group members the week caterpillar tractor was unloaded and used Icknield Way which is only a dual before. Numbers on work parties remain to take crushed road planings to the path carriageway of motorway standard steady – usually the low to mid-twenties. As restoration site. A vibrator machine was between Hitchin and Luton. It takes always, new members are very welcome. then carried to the area to flatten and level an age to get from Hitchin to High Contact: john_rennie@btopenworld the new pathway. Volunteers demonstrated Wycombe! It doesn’t help that the their fence repair capabilities when an old Chilterns cover four counties and our three-barred wooden fence at the top of open spaces are administered by every Brush Hill and Whiteleaf Hill the wood was repaired by replacing three known environment agency, including There was no work party in May, but a bird rotten posts with three new 1.8m ones. New The National Trust, Woodland Trust, mist-netting session was completed. We ‘dead’ or ‘dry’ hedges were constructed to RSPB and several county Wildlife recorded a 90% occupancy rate for the bird one side of the entrance gate at the top of Trusts. boxes installed at Brush Hill in 2014 and we the wood and similarly to one side of the Perhaps the answer is to get to know ringed the chicks, including a tawny owl. entrance gate at the bottom. The hedges a bit of the Chilterns really well. This We also recaptured birds originally trapped are made from branches fashioned into long is what Richard Fortey has done. He in 2012 and 2014 – so the resident birds sharpened stakes driven into the ground to lives just off the southwestern end, must like the work we’re doing! In June, form two parallel rows about 40cm apart. near Henley-on-Thames. It seems he we installed a replacement bench near the Old branches are then stacked between spent the proceeds of a lecture tour viewpoint in the grassland area of Brush the rows to create a narrow hedge about on a hectare of Chiltern woodland, Hill, and cleared the mist-netting area and 1.8m high. Wire holds the stakes in place. which he describes in this book. the picnic area at Whiteleaf Hill car park. The hedges are designed to prevent cyclists He’s better known as a broadcaster A work party also worked on the glades in lifting their bikes over the fences before about paleontology, but he seems to the lime plantation and improved the new walking through the gates. We hope this will know about everything. He’s just as path from the bottom of the reserve to the discourage cyclists from using the wood. authoritative about centipedes as he dell we created in 2014. Two more sponsored bird boxes were is about hill forts. He can interpret the Contact: [email protected] positioned in the wood, making a total of way holly bushes grow on earthworks. seven, five of which were occupied. An He sees the pattern of human inspection of the boxes was made earlier settlements in Chiltern valleys and the Cobbler’s Pits in the year. A planned bird ringing and distribution of moths and butterflies. The volunteer sessions over the spring/ identification session didn’t take place, but Perhaps we should follow his summer months have seen the completion we hope to add at least seven more bird example. We can’t all buy a piece of of the new permissive path. Marker posts boxes and perhaps bat and owl boxes later the Chilterns, but we can examine an were installed at each end and additional this year. Inevitably some destruction of the area of woodland or chalk grassland notices were attached to them announcing wood occurred when contractors cleared and get to know every flower, that the path was open to the public. trees and shrubs that had encroached onto butterfly, breeding bird and badger Encouragingly, locals and other walkers the low-level power lines which run parallel to sett within it. This book shows what have been using the new path and have the canal at the bottom section of the wood. can be done. expressed their appreciation. It’s noticeable Contact: David Lawrence (basltd@hotmail. that visitors are taking more interest and co.uk) email: [email protected] 27 Incredible edibles

FORAGING IN THE CHILTERNS Jack by the hedge pesto Modern day researcher and gatherer Lorna Moore extols the virtues of foraging

How did I get into foraging? I guess I’ve been a forager since way back when… picking apples, blackberries, pears and all the other obvious edibles we come across growing up in both the urban and rural environment. I was brought up in Liverpool and although there were no actual fruit trees around where I lived, when I did come across one I’d be amazed by its free offering. My mother was always dabbling in herbs, making teas, infusions, decoctions and tinctures. We had a large cupboard in our house full from top to bottom with my mother’s seeping herbs soaked in alcohol. If any of us (I’m one of three children) had an ailment the tinctures came out – and I’m still here to tell the tale!

As I got older I used to scoff at my mother the opportunity to forage with me. when she tried her best to teach me all she I’m delighted by the quantity of foraged knew about her lotions and potions. Well, freebies you can find in the Dunstable area. I’m glad to say some of that knowledge Most of the ingredients for my recipes stuck and now later in my life I’m almost a are sourced locally – except the coastal replica of my mother. I moved to Dunstable edibles. I’m always poking my nose into a couple of years ago after completing my other people’s gardens and having a quick PhD and I’ve really got back into making all glance at what they have (from a distance Elderflower cordial kinds of wonderful treats including jams, of course). There are so many gardens with preserves, chutneys, cordials, pestos, sauces, incredible edibles. I feel the urge to knock I thought it best to get rid of some of my teas, salads, soups, broths, butters, salsa and tell you what you can do with your overgrown greens and most of them were verdes and many more. I also make all my sumach, for example, (sumach lemonade edible, so I was coerced into using the own face serums and face creams using only – yum!), your wood sorrel (which would dandelion leaves and roots, as well as the natural ingredients. make a fabulous sauce for fish), your rowan hairy bittercress to make my evening meal My blog covers most of what I’ve been berries (chilli rowan berry chutney or jelly… (see my blog for recipes). busy making over the seasons. It has only absolutely stunning) – not to mention I love being outdoors and I’m always been up and running since January, so my the miso soup from the fungi (‘jelly ears’) curious to see what I can find on my way autumnal foraging in 2015, including my growing on your elder trees… the list is to the local shop. Even when I’m in the car, rosehip, guelder rose, rowan berry and endless. I find it almost impossible to do I’m on the lookout. You might see me on hawthorn berry recipes are not on there. I any gardening. I’m not a good gardener, my knees with my glasses on, peering at want to keep my blog as close as possible to but I hate to throw away my wild greens an edible. If you do, please stop and say the seasons and in real time, giving people for the sake of tidiness. Only the other day hello, because I’m always happy to explain

28 Chiltern 221 Left to right: Nettle soup, cramp bark tea made from guelder rose tree bark, and sorrel

what I’m doing. I always forage responsibly It’s a garlic/mustard green edible, tasting you to get out and have a go at foraging. and only ever take what I need. It’s a bit of more of mustard than garlic. The smell is to There are so many areas to explore. Get a curse being only 5ft tall, because most keep creatures away (even humans if you yourself a pocket guide to foraging and try of the fat fruits are beyond my reach. It’s don’t like garlic). When I forage I feel I’m some of the really safe edibles to begin with. always best to collect your edibles from going back to my natural ancestral instincts I can’t tell you how rewarding it is. Why not above knee height to avoid contamination and that I’m connected to and grounded take a look at my blog for some ideas? I can from those adorable waggy-tailed creatures in my surroundings, free of preservatives promise you won’t be disappointed. (dogs), and also to stay away from busy and plastic packaging, which I abhor. My Dr Lorna Moore is an international traffic. I don’t think I’ve paid for my salad partner and I love being wined and dined, artist who forages as a hobby. She runs greens all year – even in winter there’s but sometimes when I go to restaurants I various walks and courses related to plenty about. think that my pesto would really enhance foraging, plus a creative art course. For What’s amazing about foraging is that the meal. It’s so satisfying creating new more information email her on lornam77@ a lot of the edibles you gather, you can’t and exciting recipes that no one else has… gmail.com, or use her blog to contact buy. I do a stunning ‘jack by the hedge’ it’s worth the effort of climbing a tree and her http://philosophicalforager.blogspot. salsa verde… there’s no way your local catching your jumper on twigs on the way co.uk. Website http://lornam77.wix.com/ superstore would have that. I bet most of down! lornamooreartist#!biography/c13dn.

you have good old ‘jack’ in your garden! If you love the outdoors, I’d encourage Photos: Lorna Moore

28 Chiltern 221 www.chilternsociety.org.uk 29 RIGHTS OF WAY GROUP How was it for you? George Westropp’s first impressions of the Path Maintenance Volunteers

The have some of the most beautiful beech woods in Europe. If I previously suspected this to be true, I know it for a fact after my first six months as a Path Maintenance Volunteer in Buckinghamshire.

Back in October 2015, I was having a quick Then there’s replacing or installing waymark pint in The Swan in Great Kimble one posts and nailing on the Bucks County lunchtime when a dozen or so senior, fit- Council directional discs. This last task can looking men settled round a table. There was be surprisingly tricky and involves much soon a buzz of conviviality and some friendly discussion as to the exact direction in which banter between them. The landlord saw my to point the walking public. Good committee interest and told me that the men were the work, I reckon, but they are simple enough Chiltern Society PMV group and that they to ease off and swivel if the consensus is for came down from the hills to his pub about a slight adjustment. once a month, having spent the morning Your heart can sink when the Day replacing old stiles with gates (‘Access for Leader’s instructions to each of the four All’ etc), opening up overgrown footpaths or five teams include carrying quite heavy and putting up waymark posts to stop tools, like posts, thumpers for gate posts or walkers getting lost. Intrigued, I introduced iron easing bars over quite long distances myself to one of the men, exchanged email up and down hills to the scheduled job. At addresses and within a week was invited to other times the task is right by the road or New members Sid Balaam (l) and George Westropp join one of the teams to experience path parking place, so hefting tools is, of course, (r) admiring their repaired steps maintenance volunteering for a morning. no hardship at all. Luck of the draw, really, Photo: Stuart Gulliman Approaching 73, I was nervous that I and the jobs are never too far away to make a personal viewpoint, I’ve now seen the wouldn’t be fit enough to keep pace with the the carrying extreme. Working on PMV tasks Buckinghamshire Chilterns in autumn, winter, thin, energetic-looking chaps I’d met in the isn’t rocket science. Good practical common spring and early summer and each season pub. Would I have the stamina for any lifting, sense, combined with the volunteers’ many has been a revelation. Frosty mornings make carrying, digging and cutting that the work years’ experience of all ground conditions, for firmer pathways, bluebells create swathes entailed? I needn’t have worried. Some of make the challenges seem relatively easy. of bluey-purple in unexpected dells and the them are undoubtedly super-fit, but others Newcomers need to watch, listen and copy new beech leaves in the May sunshine are aren’t. It emerged that I was somewhere in how the experienced men set about the job. breathtaking. The scenery is amazing and, the middle of the volunteers’ fitness range. Some of the volunteers have been in the combined with the pleasure of completing Digging post holes in flint and chalky PMV for two decades and they’ve seen and a neat and tidy gate installation, provides a ground for gate legs, clearing impenetrably done it all over the years. glow of satisfaction at the end of each PMV overgrown paths, breaking up ancient and The PMV meet one day a week morning. Best of all is the friendly, collegiate wonky stiles and replacing them with metal starting on a Monday, then the following feel of the PMV and the welcome given to or wooden kissing gates – these are some Tuesday and so on – followed by a week a retired ex-City man with, initially anyway, of the tougher jobs which the volunteers off after the Friday session. It’s hardly few skills or experience for the tasks to be undertake in a three or four hour morning. time-consuming and never a chore. From undertaken.

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30 Chiltern 221 EWELME WATERCRESS BEDS • OXON Hands across the pond Ewelme’s volunteers come from far and wide, write Tom Stevenson and Ann Truesdale

The wild flower meadow has amazed us all this year. Approximately 63 orchids have appeared – at least four times the number recorded in previous years. Following the early flowering of 18 green-winged orchids in May, there were common spotted, southern marsh, bee and a lone pyramidal orchid in flower in June.

Great progress has been made with the stream is a lovely suntrap and a convivial new pond on the lower site – the next job place for a break. Please contact Tom being to complete the construction of a Stevenson on 01491 836888 or thomas. dipping platform. This will be used to take [email protected] for more details, water samples and investigate the wildlife. or to be added to the email circulation list. We have microscopes in the Centre and Alternatively you can just turn up. Bring it will be fascinating to follow the life of a wellies if you’d like to get into the stream. new pond, especially when we have visits Paul Mason, one of the Chiltern Society’s from schools and other groups of young Trustees, is retiring from his role as chair people. Even though it’s very early days, of our Management Team, a position he’s several dragonflies have been investigating held since the beginning of 2014. We’re the new water and we’re very hopeful for extremely sorry to see him go, because the future. As the lower site is open to the he’s served us very well and taken a keen Bee orchid public, we ask dog walkers not to let their interest in the work we’re doing. Paul Photos Tom Stevenson dog go in the pond, because if they do it has also joined in with many of our work a wonderful place for children and during can significantly damage the invertebrates. mornings, helping to maintain the watercress the summer we’ve had visits from Benson We’re very grateful for the financial support beds for their heritage value and develop Rainbows and Watlington Brownies, as well of TOE (Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment) our nature reserve. He even persuaded his holding our ever-popular Dr Anne Millar and funding partner Grundon Waste fellow Society Trustees, who hold one of day. There will be a Family Activity event Management Ltd, without whose support their meetings at Ewelme each year, to put on a Friday evening in the autumn term for this project would not have been possible. on their wellies and work in the beds. We children aged 7-12 years. Please contact We had a very successful July workday look forward to seeing him at occasional Margaret Connnolly on 07879 461593, with a good turnout. New volunteers workdays in the future and wish him well. [email protected], or Ann Truesdale included a local family with their three If you haven’t visited the site, why not on 01491 835173. It’s important to book as children and some young people from come and see us on the first Sunday of places are given on a first-come, first-served the USA. Maybe the free lunch generously the month. The last of the season’s Open basis. provided by the Friends of the Watercress Afternoons takes place on 4 September (any Beds did the trick! Work mornings are held time from 2-4.30pm). Morning guided walks For more images relating to on the first Saturday and third Wednesday resume from October and continue until Ewelme Watercress Beds and every month from 9.30am to 12.30pm. April – please be at the Watercress Centre village, please use the following There’s a really interesting range of tasks for a 10.30am start. Entrance is £3 for adults, link to our PhotoGroup’s website: to be carried out. It’s not all work – the but free for accompanied children and www.chilternphoto.org.uk/index/ area outside the Centre alongside the members of the Chiltern Society. The site is category/196

Common spotted orchid Pyramidal orchid Southern marsh orchid

email: [email protected] 31 CHILTERN HERITAGE A thousand years of sustainable energy near the bridge over the Chess at Sarratt Bottom, other than the miller’s house, the oldest part of which dates from c1680. It’s thought to have lain on a Roman road crossing the Chess Valley and was possibly the site of Roman and Saxon mills, but the first known written evidence of a corn mill is in a conveyance of 1538. It had an undershot water wheel, with a reputed flow of 11,000-14,000 gallons per day. It was converted to paper-making in the early 1700s, and in 1742 was insured for £300 by papermaker Christopher Phipps. Charles Stephens, son-in-law of George Dodd of Chenies Mill, leased Sarratt Mill in 1776. In 1806 Thomas Curtis acquired the lease for £500 and sent his son Alfred as apprentice Scotsbridge Mill (Will Templeton) to Stephens, who stayed on as miller. Alfred married Stephens’ granddaughter Henrietta Will Templeton concludes his study in 1834, and became a full partner in the business. By 1861 he was employing 44 men, of watermills on the Chess but nevertheless the mill was put up for sale the next year. It doesn’t appear to have An account of 1323 records the existence of two watermills on the Chess in Latimer Manor: a been sold, and the 1871 census finds Alfred, corn mill leased for 60 shillings and a fulling mill leased for 28 shillings. There’s no mention described as a retired papermaker, living of them after 1335, but old Chesham parish registers record the death of Thomas, miller of there with his wife and daughter. Latimer, in 1563. The 9th Duke of Bedford bought the mill in 1882 for use as a fishing lodge and in There’s no trace of a mill in Latimer today, after the lease was bought by the Dodd the 1920s it became a refuge for the ‘Flying but the diary of John Larkin, born in 1732, family in 1740, and the sign proclaiming Duchess’, Mary, wife of the 11th Duke. She records his move with his father James from this name was clearly visible in one episode bought a small single-engined plane and Blackwell Mill to Latimer Mill in 1743 to assist of Midsomer Murders, when John Nettles flew all over the world with an experienced miller John Wilson. The mill was the property and his colleague are seen coming out of pilot, making record breaking return flights of Lord James Cavendish of Latimer the yard gate. George Dodd married Mary to India and South Africa. She became a fully House and appears to have stood near the Boughton in 1797, their son John was born in qualified pilot at the age of 65 and clocked spot now occupied by the weir known as 1798 and the mill was converted to paper- up nearly 200 hours of solo flying. In March Neptune Falls, at the eastern end of Great making c1800. Following George’s death in 1937 she set off to fly to Cambridge and Water, which may have been formed by 1857, his widow Mary and her cousin Sarah was never seen again – small fragments of enlarging the original millpond. After Wilson Boughton continued to run the mill and the her plane were washed up on the east coast left Latimer in 1746, James Larkin bought adjoining farm, reverting to corn milling and four days later. In WWII the mill house was the stock and the remaining 19 years of later turning to animal feed production. The used as a Christian Socialist boarding school the lease from him, and spent about £100 increasing burden of this work prompted for children from the East End of London. on repairs to the mill and miller’s house Sarah to appeal for help to her brother Following the death of the 12th Duke in during his tenancy. James Cavendish died Thomas, who sent her nephew John Henry 1953 from a gunshot wound (possibly in 1752, leaving the estate to his daughter Boughton to her aid. John Henry married self-inflicted), the burden of death duties Elizabeth, who made many changes to the Kate Harper in 1871, moving into Manor forced the Russell family to sell the mill. The property and created the lake. In 1758 she Farm, and when Sarah died in 1881 he took property is now owned by the Coleman beautified the mill, turned the pastures into over the tenancy of Chenies Mill and Mill family, who live in the mill house. Only traces parkland, and built the cascade. The mill was Farm. He died in 1915, aged 73, leaving five of the mill workings survive on the site. demolished in October 1763, in the space of children. In 1933 the mill was closed by its Soles (later Solesbridge) Mill in ten days, and the Larkins had to leave. owner, the Duke of Bedford, and in 1970 it Chorleywood lay where Solesbridge Lane The first recorded mention of Chenies was bought for £16,500 by John Henry’s now crosses the M25, and archaeologists Mill was in the 12th century, and in 1323 grandson, Trafford Boughton. The granary, have uncovered the remains of a Roman the mill rent was £3 per annum. Originally built over the mill race, and the miller’s mill on the site. Originally a corn mill, it was a corn mill, it became a fulling mill in the house both survive, though much altered. bought in 1746 by George Andrews and 16th century. It was known as Dodd’s Mill Little is left of Sarratt Mill, which stood immediately became the first of the Chess

32 Chiltern 221 www.chilternsociety.org.uk 33 mills to be converted to paper-making. mansion, Glen Chess, next to the mill. In 1856 It changed hands another seven times he became MP for Boston, and was later before being acquired by George Austin in implicated in a shares scandal but acquitted the 1820s. At that time it had four beating of any crime. He and his son were tragically engines and employed 18 men, 14 women killed in a steamship collision on the Great and 3 boys, who all worked a 6 days a Lakes while on a publicity tour for the paper week – 12 hours a day for men and 9 for in the USA and Canada. The mill was later the others, the boys earning 4 shillings per bought by William McMurray and continued week. The mill ceased production in 1902. to produce paper until 1881. Nothing remains The site was bought in 1982 and became of the mill other than Glen Chess, now a Solesbridge Mill Water Gardens, suppliers of block of luxury apartments, and the (much water features and ornamental fish, which modernised) miller’s house. closed in 2012. The elegant Grade II listed Mentioned in the Domesday Book, Chenies (Dodd’s) Mill (Will Templeton) mill house, built in the late 17th century and the last of the Chess mills stands at the extended in the 18th and 19th centuries, bottom of Scots Hill in Rickmansworth. In be used as raw materials, and an unfortunate survives, together with a sluice and various common with all the others, Scotsbridge leakage of chlorine into the river led to the outbuildings. Mill would have started life as a corn mill. compulsory closure of both Loudwater Like all its Chess neighbours, Loudwater Domesday refers to ‘1 mill rendering 5s 4d’, and Scotsbridge Mills in 1881. The main mill Mill in Chorleywood started life as a corn mill, worth about £150 today. This would have building still stands today, much altered and but by 1692 had become a fulling mill, and been the notional annual income, in cash modernised, and houses a restaurant. in 1755 it was converted to paper-making. or kind, from payments by tenants of the Its work done, the Chess dives under the It was bought in 1848 by Herbert Ingram. manor bringing their corn to be ground into A412 and the Metropolitan Line and threads A printer’s apprentice at 14, he went on to flour. Scotsbridge worked as a fulling mill its way through marshland to join the River start his own business in 1834 as a printer from 1692 to 1755, and was converted to Colne and the Grand Union Canal near and stationer in his native Boston, Lincs. In paper-making in 1757. It became famous for Batchworth Lock. 1842 he had become owner of the Illustrated supplying paper to the Illustrated London London News, a popular paper specialising News, based at neighbouring Loudwater For more images relating to the Chess in crime reporting and illustrated with Mill, and continued to produce handmade and its mills, please use the following woodcuts. The mill became the headquarters paper for 124 years. The 19th century saw link to our PhotoGroup’s website: of the publication and made the paper on the introduction of chlorine as a bleach, to www.chilternphoto.org.uk/index/ which it was printed. Ingram built himself a allow rags, wood pulp and esparto grass to category/147.

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www.chilternsociety.org.uk 33 CHILTERN ENVIRONMENT What makes SP 997 152

Dagnall

so special? Trail Chiltern Way Icknield Way

John Hockey explains! BUCKS

Point where Bucks, BEDS Beds and Herts meet HERTS

Above: Map of the area

Left: The Gade Valley. The three counties meet at the far right of the picture on the A4146, which, although not visible in this photograph, runs alongside the bottom edge of the field of rape. (Photo: John Hockey)

Along the Gade Valley, not far from Dagnall, lies a spot where the three counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and all come together. Like convoluted jigsaw pieces, the three shires perfectly interlock at the romantically named SP 997 152, just past the Bucks! To find Hertfordshire you have to travel sewage works on the country road known as Main Road South. a short way down the road to this special place. Postal addresses are meant to be The small rural community of Dagnall lies in Herts’. In fact none of the complex lies in helpful aren’t they? Bucks, though Whipsnade Park Golf Club, just Hertfordshire, it’s nowhere near Berkhamsted Despite all this, on a sunny morning the a short distance up the hill from the village, and a footpath which crosses the course view down the Gade Valley near this unique has as its address ‘… Dagnall, Berkhamsted, follows the boundary between Beds and location is nothing short of breathtaking.

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34 Chiltern 221 NEWS & VIEWS Historic footpath recovered at Tring

A report by John Savage of the Rights of Way Group

When I organised a claim for a public footpath, for a route from The Icknield Way, Tring, to the Wendover Arm Canal, based on user evidence, little did I realise that it would lead to the discovery of another long-disused path.

While dealing with the claimed route, however, that the path was legally created Inclosures Map 1804 – path marked by dotted line (Extract reproduced courtesy of Hertfordshire County Council found that in 1799, that the route shown on the 1804 Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies) there was another path shown on the map depicted the said path and that it had Tring Inclosure Map of 1804 and set out never been legally extinguished. The Order Award. The Inclosure route probably in the Inclosure Award of 1799 (which was therefore duly confirmed and the path fell into disuse soon afterwards and has followed the Tring Inclosure Act of 1797). has now been re-established for public remained unknown (including to all map Although this path had not appeared on use as Public Footpath No. 98, Tring Town, makers) for the past 200 years. If you’re any subsequent map, and was not known in following the installation of gates and a in the Tring area, do take the opportunity living memory, it had never been removed flight of steps, and the marking of the route to walk it – it runs from The Icknield Way, by law. The County therefore decided to across arable fields. almost opposite New Road, to Little Tring add it to the Order for the claimed route, How did the path come to be lost? Road, a short distance from the canal and add both of them to the Definitive Map. The likely explanation is that following bridge. Objections from the owners of land the completion of the Wendover Arm of The moral of the story? Inclosure Acts crossed by the Inclosure path led to a the Grand Junction Canal in 1797 people and their associated maps are potentially a public enquiry, at which a barrister argued took to walking beside it, rather than on valuable historic source for identifying ‘lost’ their case. The Inspector was satisfied, the direct route set out in the Inclosure rights of way!

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For appointments or information call:- Thame Amersham www.pennykay.co.uk 01844 396057 01494 733840 07432 643670 www.astonhearing.co.uk email: [email protected] 35 FOOD AND DRINK The new beer revolution Amersham. In the Berkhamsted shop I met manager Tim Hickford, who has been with the company since the opening of the Chesham store. The Berkhamsted shop is at the southern end of the high street and consists of a downstairs bar with a selection of cask and keg ales available to take away or drink on the premises, shelves stacked with more than 150 bottled beers for sale, a few seats round the bar and an upstairs lounge with an eclectic range of furniture. There’s also a decked outdoor area to the side of the shop. ‘We offer a mix of traditional cask ales and premium craft keg beers,’ Tim explained. ‘Our best seller is APA (American Pale Ale) made with American hops. On a bad week 600 pints of the stuff will leave this shop or be drunk on the premises.’ Tim certainly knows his beer. He’s one of only 150 Accredited Beer Sommeliers in the UK and is extremely discerning about which non-Red Squirrel beers are offered for sale in the shops. ‘We look for beers from the best independent brewers in the UK, but we Martin Pearson won’t offer anything found on supermarket charts the rise of shelves.’ Despite some misgivings from local craft brewing publicans about Red Squirrel’s presence in the town, Tim believes that pubs and How times have changed. In 2016 most of the pubs have disappeared and, for many beer shops appeal to different types of consumers, ‘shops’ exist only in cyberspace, entered through the screens of our PCs, customers, in that most pubs offer food as laptops and smart phones. High streets are now dominated by pound shops, betting shops, well as a variety of alcoholic and soft drinks, charity shops, coffee shops and chain restaurants. whereas the primary purpose of a beer shop is to sell beer. Tim predicts that Red As traditional stores continue to close there exhibited. Specialist beer shops can now be Squirrel’s main competition will come from is one specialist retailer bucking the trend. found in most US towns and cities. out-of-town superstores and the growing It’s called the craft beer shop. We now have In the past five years the craft beer range of speciality beers that line their a number of them in the Chilterns. Their revolution has hopped back across the shelves. origins can be traced back to the beer Atlantic and the UK has seen a huge While it can be argued that the formation revolution that took place in the 1970s, upsurge in the number of small brewing of CAMRA and the real ale revolution helped when the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) concerns creating radically new flavours create craft beer, the relationship between was formed and Michael Jackson wrote The and styles – based on heritage, tradition CAMRA and craft brewing is a slightly World Guide to Beer, which was translated and, most importantly, taste. This new breed uneasy one. When CAMRA was formed in into 10 languages and spawned a TV series, of artisan brewers have adopted a fresh 1971 it made a clear distinction between The Beer Hunter, that was broadcast in 15 approach to promoting their wares. Many good and bad beer. Good beer was fresh, countries – including the USA. Jackson offer tasting tours and merchandise, and unpasteurised and served from a traditional championed ‘beer styles’ and his ideas were some have installed bars where, at certain cask. Bad beer was filtered, artificially particularly popular in student towns and times, customers can sample the range of fizzy and served from pressurized kegs. cities across the USA, where pioneering beers on offer. Others have gone one step Consequently some CAMRA members have beer makers started to grow their own hops. further and opened craft beer shops, where frowned on keg beer because the added The original US hops were Cascade – this town centre customers can both try and carbonation makes it fizzier than cask ales. variety still provides the hallmark taste and buy. Red Squirrel describe all their beers as aroma of American craft beers. In 1982 the Potten End brewer, Red Squirrel, opened ‘craft’ and Tim believes that a skilled brewer Great American Beer Festival launched with their first tasting bar and shop crossover in will use the formula that best suits each just 20 independent brewers showcasing Chesham in 2013 and have since launched brew. ‘Our original cask ale, Mr Squirrel, in a 35 ales. In 2015 more than 2,000 brewers similar enterprises in Berkhamsted and keg would be an abomination, but many ales

36 Chiltern 221 www.chilternsociety.org.uk 37 benefit from being served colder and having an added zip of carbonation that cuts Recipe through the heaviness. It’s really a question of taste. For example, we make two versions Chicken kebabs with of our best sellers, Hopfest and APA – one is a cask ale and one in keg format. The cask Turkish spices ales are served at 10o, the keg at 6o. Our customers can decide which version they prefer.’ ‘Craft’ appears to have become an all-encompassing term to describe beers brewed by smaller independent brewers. For example, Haresfoot in Berkhamsted and The Leighton Buzzard brewery position themselves as craft brewers, even though their output is almost exclusively cask rather than keg beer. On the other hand, Tring Brewery uses Cascade, the classic American craft beer hop, in two of their finest cask ales, Moongazing and Side Pocket. Increased public demand for products that are made sustainably and produced locally means that the question asked by most consumers will not be ‘is it cask or keg?’ but instead, ‘is the product local, well made and does it taste good?’ Before putting the barbecue back in the shed, try this incredibly simple recipe, Recently some CAMRA members have inspired by numerous trips to my second home in Fethiye, Turkey. You may need to softened their stance and Mid Chiltern buy one or two of the spices, but they’re all available in supermarkets and I promise branch chairman, Dave Badminton, said you that once you’ve used them you’ll use them again and again. If you prefer, you that he had grown to live with the new can use your grill instead. You’ll need something to combine the spices, such as a keg beers, commenting ‘If craft beer gets pestle and mortar. people interested in better beer generally, it’s a good thing.’ He does, however, share some of the reservations expressed by Ingredients – serves 2 (dinner) or 4 (light lunch) Berkhamsted publicans about beer shops l 4 wooden skewers approx 10ins long l 3 tbsp rapeseed oil opening up in towns where pubs are already l 2 large chicken breasts cut into approx l 1 tsp cumin struggling. 1in square chunks l 2 tsp paprika Red Squirrel don’t have a monopoly l 1 red pepper cut into at least twenty 1in l 2 tsp sumac on beer shops in the Chilterns. In Little squares l 2 tsp garlic salt Chalfont, beer enthusiast Mick French has l 4 small mushrooms – sliced l 1 tsp coriander opened The Craft Beer shop, which sells a l 1 red onion, cut into approx 1in squares l 1 tsp marjoram range of beers made by local brewers. In l Optional – 12 cherry tomatoes (if you l Pinch of cinnamon, pinch of pepper, Henley-on-Thames, Lovibonds brews its own want to use more vegetables and less pinch of chili flakes range of year-round and limited-release meat) beers, opening to the public from Friday to Sunday. At the northern end of the area there’s talk of a craft beer shop opening in Method Hitchin. l Place the chicken and vegetables in a l Moisten the skewers (to stop them Recently Red Squirrel raised £500,000 bowl burning) and thread the onions, through crowd funding. Many of the shares l Combine the spices using a pestle and peppers, chicken and mushrooms onto were bought by employees and the sum mortar or something similar them, as shown in the photograph raised will go towards building a new l Pour the oil over the chicken, then add l Cook on the barbecue for 3-4 minutes, brewery on their existing site, enabling them the spices. Mix it well with your hands, then turn and repeat for 3 minutes. to triple their output. Currently there are cover with clingfilm and let the chicken If you’re using a grill, cook for 8-10 plans to open a new shop in High Wycombe marinate in the fridge overnight if minutes each side at a medium/high and then look at other sites in the Chilterns. possible, but for at least 2 hours temperature It therefore seems that craft beer shops l Half an hour before you’re ready to l Remove and rest it for 5 minutes are here to stay and whatever your take on cook, take the chicken from the fridge l Serve with rice and a salad of lettuce, craft, cask and keg, it’s encouraging to see so it returns to near room temperature chopped cucumber, chopped tomato a Chilterns-based company at the vanguard and fresh coriander. of this movement, and to find a new type of Photo opposite: Courtesy of Red Squirrel independent retailer in our town and village Recipe photo: Martin Pearson centres.

36 Chiltern 221 www.chilternsociety.org.uk 37 LETTERS Society volunteers on the Wormsley Estate Chris Hall, by email On page 5 of Chiltern 220 you reported that Chiltern Society volunteers had planted more than 2,000 (mostly box) trees beside a footpath above the Valley. The volunteers, you also reported, resurfaced 200m of the same path ‘to help improve access’ through the new plantations. (The path is no 5 at grid reference SU 763 919). I walk it more or less daily.

Your report notes that the land here mention the handful of SSSIs (sites of belongs to the Getty family. According special scientific interest) on the Estate, to the Forbes 2015 list of America’s whose notification is of course down to wealthiest families, the Gettys’ net worth, Natural England which also directs how mainly derived from oil, is estimated at they shall be managed. There is also a lot $5.4bn. Do these very fat cats need the of, no doubt lucrative, game-shooting. free labour of a local charity to plant However, the Estate has a poor record their trees? The surfacing of the perfectly on rights of way. For instance Ibstone 5 usable path was unnecessary and the crosses a field immediately northwest of Volunteers on the Wormsley Estate (Colin Drake) unsightly imported grey stone chips used Turville and is regularly ploughed out. It is are at odds with the woodland setting. not clear that this is necessary for proper with little regard for hapless walkers If there are to be any dealings agricultural use of the field; the Wormsley and riders – and none for the peace of between the Society and the Gettys, Estate has to be reminded every year to this beautiful route. Further down the surely they should be subsidising us? reinstate it, as the Highways Act 1980 valley Stokenchurch FP 22 (GR SU 742 I admire our volunteers, but there are requires, and when the path is grudgingly 932) west of Hales Wood is regularly better uses for their time and enthusiasm and belatedly restored, this is not always cultivated and restoration is haphazard to than to plant trees and suburbanise done satisfactorily. say the least. paths for multi-multi-millionaires. There Stokenchurch 7, a bridleway, runs The wealthy Wormsley Estate are plenty of places where their muscles past Wormsley Park itself, but don’t welcomes the paying public to its money- and enthusiasm would be more fruitfully try walking or riding it when one the making enterprises, but the Estate’s employed. Estate’s commercial attractions, cricket attitude is different to non-payers who Your report claims that the 2,500 and opera, is in action. (For these exercise their right to walk or ride public acre Wormsley Estate ‘has a history of activities the Estate has made a cricket paths – and now it has the effrontery to helping regionally important biodiversity ground modelled on Kennington Oval employ free labour supplied by a charity projects’. Really? Apart from the and an excruciatingly alien steel and to plant its trees and suburbanise a introduction of the red kites 27 years ago glass opera house, which was designed footpath. by the RSPB which your report mentions, to ‘float above the landscape’ and thus what are these projects? There is nothing achieve maximum visibility). On the about them on Wormsley’s remarkably bridleway you will be mixing with streams self-satisfied website; this does not even of vehicles going to or from the event

Response from Society Chairman, David Harris The work done on the Wormsley Estate by cricket and opera, and the potential for our volunteers was somewhat overstated further Lottery funding for an extension by the earlier article. We ‘helped to plant’ of their box-planting project (an more than 2,000 trees and ‘helped to important biodiversity project on an ideal resurface’ a track, contributing perhaps site for box, supported by the Forestry 20% of the overall effort. Commission and various funding bodies), We did think long and hard about this, we decided to go ahead. It also provided but having previously received a £5,000 an excellent and enjoyable opportunity donation from the Estate and been for our volunteers, used to clearing promised a lot of ‘in kind’ donations such vegetation, to plant new trees. Such as use of the Estate, visits to the house, opportunities don’t arise very often. Wormsley Estate (Colin Drake)

38 Chiltern 221 email: [email protected] 39 Affordability of housing Geoffrey Copas, by email

I read Merrin Molesworth’s comments in Chiltern 220 with interest.

Supply and demand of everything affects the cost to the purchaser. Houses are no different. Today, the cost of a building plot is usually 30% of the cost of a house. The granting of planning permission increases the value of agricultural land from £10,000/acre to £2,000,000/acre. If more planning permissions were granted, the cost of a building plot would decrease. This would reduce the cost of the house whether it’s located on (in my order of preference) brownfield, greenfield, countryside, green belt or AONB. For all greenfield sites, the approval should be judged on the impact of the proposal on its surrounding area, not because at one time it was considered to satisfy green belt or AONB designation – and on whether those designations are still justified in the light of the changes that have occurred since. Using brownfield sites is not always the answer. Building on sites in the green belt that are 100% affordable can reduce the cost of housing, because landowners may well be happy to sell the site at a greatly reduced price, ie. £660,000/acre, thereby reducing the cost of the house by 20%. Also, Housing Associations building affordable houses reduce their cost because they don’t seek the same level of profit as property developers. My family have been involved successfully with one green belt site, and are presently involved with two others, one of which is in the Chiltern AONB and about which I was approached by a district councillor, and another where I was approached by a parish council. I suggest a visit to the site of the affordable homes constructed Nettles at Hambleden in the AONB, which had no detrimental effect. My family will only sell land for affordable housing with a covenant that ensures it’s affordable in John Hockey, perpetuity and for local people. Merrin Molesworth suggests increasing density; I would remind her that by email England, of all the European countries, builds new houses with the smallest rooms. I completely agree with removing VAT on conversions, which are a form of recycling. I would also reintroduce the tax advantage that I, as an old age pensioner, had when acquiring my first home. However, she cites other countries where renting and apartment living are more prevalent, but both require living accommodation. We have an increasing population – we need more accommodation. Merrin also states that the Society’s published manifesto is against development, but it doesn’t say that those of us fortunate to have good housing should prevent others from having the same. The Society is concerned for the habitat of bats, slowworms and newts so they can live and reproduce – surely humans deserve the same advantages.

Merrin Molesworth replies Red Admiral on nettles (Tony Marshall) Dear Geoffrey, your letter in response to mine in Chiltern 220 has been passed to me for reply. You will agree that readers would be bored with an exchange of detail After reading Tony Marshall’s piece between us, but I wish to explain my thinking. Affordability is to be encouraged on nettle beds (Chiltern 220), I was and I mentioned other means (including use of brownfield sites). immediately taken back to a short poem Using the countryside in this small country is not sustainable. If existing land by the 18th century English writer Aaron was de-restricted it would be to the detriment of recreational and open space, Hill, The Nettle’s Lesson: historic setting and landscape, wildlife and biodiversity, global warming soak-up and dark skies. These attributes are necessary to human life and by definition do Tender-handed stroke a nettle not work on pocket handkerchief-sized areas. I applaud your efforts to covenant And it stings you for your pains; housing in perpetuity as I’ve heard covenants can be overturned. I deplore any Grasp it like a man of mettle elected councillors putting you under pressure to nibble at land protections put And it soft as silk remains. in place for long-term benefit. Good design can increase density of dwellings in appropriate areas. It is unfortunate that developers here are not held to minimum Good advice then and still worth room sizes, as are stipulated elsewhere. However rooms do not need to be remembering today! impractically small for a whole site to be developed more densely, by use of shared facilities, parking underneath etc. We shall have to agree to disagree!

38 Chiltern 221 email: [email protected] 39 YOU MUST PRESENT YOUR VALID MEMBERSHIP CARD TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE OFFERS. Member The membership card is not transferable. Members who pay an annual subscription to the Chiltern Society will receive their new cards when they renew their membership. For latest information on discounts please offers check our website: www.chilternsociety.org.uk.

4pm in Oct). Exclusions are Bank Holiday (cheapest goes free). Award-winning Chiltern Society sites Mondays and Halloween Spectacular on 28 museum for 6-12 year-olds and their l Single members get one free adult entry Oct. Not to be used in conjunction with any families. Two fun and fact-packed l Family members get free entry for two other offer. biographical galleries, fantabulous adults and up to three children under 18. interactive Story Centre. Not to be used Ford End Watermill in conjunction with any other offer. Not Ewelme Watercress Beds Ivinghoe, Bucks LU7 9EA valid for workshops. See website for full High St, Ewelme, Oxon OX10 6HQ www.fordendwatermill.co.uk terms and conditions. Historic watercress beds and local nature 01442 825421 reserve. Open Days 2-5pm on the first Buckinghamshire’s only working watermill Wendover Woods Sunday of each month May-Sept. Guided with original machinery – milling The Forestry Commission offer CS walks on the first Sunday of each month demonstrations. members a free parking voucher (see Oct-Apr. Start 10.30am. opposite). Please cut it out and display Free entry for Society members. See website it on your windscreen. Members can Lacey Green Windmill for next Open Afternoons. also buy a Wendover Woods Discovery Lacey Green, Bucks HP27 0PG Leighton Buzzard Railway Pass for £33 (normal price £42), giving The oldest surviving smock mill in the UK. a year’s free parking plus other benefits. Page’s Park Station, Billington Road, Open 2-5pm on Sundays and Bank Holiday Details from www.forestry.gov.uk/pass, Mondays from Easter Sunday 27 Mar until Leighton Buzzard, Beds LU7 4TN 01296 625825, or Forestry Commission 25 Sept. www.buzzrail.co.uk Office, Upper Icknield Way, Aston Clinton 01525 373888 HP22 5NF. One free adult, senior or child ticket with Other sites and every full-paying adult. Not available on attractions special events days and Xmas trains in Dec. See website for details. A wonderful Theatre and dining Amersham Museum example of low speed rail, ambling between the houses and out onto the Greensand 49 High St, Amersham, Bucks HP7 0DP Café in the Woods Ridge, with great views of the Chilterns. www.amershammuseum.org Wendover Woods, Bucks 01494 723700 Pitstone Green Museum www.cafeinthewoods.co.uk 01296 620294 Adult entry £2.50, children free. Open Mar to Vicarage Rd, Pitstone, Bucks LU7 9EY Discount of 10% to Chiltern Society Aug, 2-4.30 Thu, Fri & Sun, plus Sat 10am- www.pitstonemuseum.co.uk members on production of their 4.30pm. Town walks every Sun 2.30pm, 01582 605464 Martyrs’ walks on last Sat of month Apr- membership card. One child ticket free with two full-paying Sept. Walks £2.50 adults, children free. adults (one per family). Open 11am-5pm, Hartwell House, Hotel, Bekonscot Model Village 29 Aug, 11 Sept, 9 Oct. Restaurant & Spa Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2PL River & Rowing Museum Oxford Rd, Aylesbury, Bucks HP17 8NR www.bekonscot.com Mill Meadows, Henley-on-Thames, www.hartwell-house.com 01494 672919 Berks RG9 1BF 01296 747444 ‘The world’s oldest model village’. One child www.rrm.co.uk Magnificent stately home, just 2 miles from ticket free with two full paying adults (one the town, within the Vale of Aylesbury 01491 415600 per family) – a saving of £6. Valid 13 Feb to and set in 90 acres of parkland. Enjoy a Two adult tickets for the price of one. Open 29 Oct. (Not to be used in conjunction with 10% discount on all lunches and dinners, daily, 10am-5pm. Three galleries dedicated concessionary prices). excluding drinks. (Offer does not apply to to rowing, rivers and the history of Henley, Sat dinner and Sun lunch). Please quote British Schools Museum plus Wind in the Willows exhibition. Contemporary art and photography ‘Chiltern Society offer’ when booking. 41/42 Queen St, Hitchin, Herts SG4 9TS exhibitions, and calendar of nature trails, www.britishschoolsmuseum.org.uk The Black Horse Inn NEW! craft workshops and family days. 01462 420144 The Vale, Chesham, Bucks HP5 3NS The museum where learning comes to life. Stonor www.theblackhorsechesham.co.uk One free adult or child ticket when you Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames, 01494 784656 buy a full price adult ticket 16 Feb-29 Nov, Oxon RG9 6HF Your classic country pub! Traditional, hearty excluding special events/activity days. www.stonor.com and wholesome pub food, great ales. Pies a Buckinghamshire Railway 01491 638587 speciality. Discount of 10% on all food and drink purchased at the pub, on production Centre One of England’s oldest manor houses – 850 of valid CS membership card. Quainton, near Aylesbury HP22 4BY years of family history. Two adult tickets for the price of one. Open Suns from 27 Mar to www.bucksrailcentre.org 25 Sept, & Bank Holiday Mons. Also Weds The Black Horse Pub and 01296 655720 & Thurs in Aug; Weds in Sept, Sats in Aug. Eating House Two adult tickets for the price of one. Valid House open 1.30-5.30pm, last entry 4.30. Aylesbury Rd, Great Missenden, to 29/10/16 (excludes ‘Day out with Thomas’ Gardens, chapel & tearoom open 12-5.30pm. Bucks HP16 9AX events). Gift shop 1.30-5.30pm. www.theblackhorsegreatmissenden.com Chiltern Open Air Museum The Roald Dahl Museum 01494 862537 Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, and Story Centre Tastefully refurbished traditional pub, located on CS maps 8 & 12. Dog, child and Chalfont St Giles, Bucks HP8 4AB 81-83 High St, Great Missenden, muddy boots-friendly. Large gardens, secure www.coam.org.uk Bucks HP16 0AL children’s play area, five-a-side football 01494 872163 www.roalddahlmuseum.org pitch, two good-sized car parks, field Two adult tickets for the price of one. Open 01494 892192 for events and hot air balloon flights. CS daily 10am-5pm, 25 Mar-28 Oct. (Closing at Two tickets for the price of one members get 10% off lunches Tue-Fri.

40 Chiltern 221

The Chequers Buckinghamshire Nurseries Not applicable to sale items, but discount & Garden Centre will be made up to 10/12% if sale reduction Berrick Salome, Wallingford, is less. Discount applies to parts fitted but Oxon OX10 6JN Tingewick Rd, Buckingham MK18 4AE not to labour on repairs. Priority repairs for www.chequersberricksalome.co.uk www.buckinghamgardencentre.co.uk CS members. 01865 891118 01280 822133 A beautiful brick and flint pub in a delightful Independent garden centre offering a wide Fox’s Outdoor and historic village. Dog and horse-friendly, range of bare root hedging, trees and fruit London Rd, Amersham, Bucks HP7 OHE with a large garden, children’s play area plus a superb selection of container grown www.foxsoutdoor.co.uk and good-sized car park. CS members will stock. Large garden shop and excellent 01494 431431 restaurant/coffee shop. Dog friendly and receive a 10% discount on food orders. 15% off goods in store and online – quote fully accessible to wheelchair users. Mail discount code CS-01 (online orders only) order available. 10% discount on all outdoor The Chequers or present your valid membership card in 171 Sharpenhoe Rd, Streatley, plants collected until end July 2017. store. This offer does not apply to sale or Beds LU3 3PS Chilterns Electric Bike Tour, discounted lines. 01582 882072 Hemel Hempstead, Herts Local pub near Sharpenhoe Clappers, Rowan Garden Centre Tel: 01442 927522 ideal for walking in the north Chilterns. Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Explore the Chilterns countryside on an Complimentary dessert and coffee with all Bucks HP8 4AB electric bike. Enjoy a half day circular guided main course meals purchased. www.rowangardencentre.co.uk bike ride discovering the northern Chilterns, The Crown Inn, visiting Berkhamsted, Tring, Aldbury, Ashridge 01494 872335 Old Amersham and the Frithsden Vineyard for refreshments. Independent garden centre offering a large All equipment provided. Groups welcome, selection of quality plants, many grown on 16 High St, Amersham, Bucks HP7 0DH book two tickets and save £20. Operates site, and a range of products and services. www.thecrownamersham.com April-Sept. Limited places, so book early. 10% off all outdoor plants. Free refill of 01494 721541 tea or coffee in The Rowan Café. Excludes Locally-sourced food of fantastic quality, Cotswold Outdoor other offers. Dog friendly. Check website simply served. Seasonal produce from www.cotswoldoutdoor.com for opening hours and directions. hand-picked suppliers dictates constantly 01666 575500 The Mediterranean Nursery changing menus. Restaurant open for dinner Cotswold Outdoor provides the widest Mon-Sat and Sun lunchtimes. Receive a free range of outdoor clothing and equipment Flaunden Lane, Bovingdon, Herts HP3 0RL bottle of house wine on your first visit when from leading brands such as The North Face, 01442 832482 you register for our loyalty card. Quote Berghaus and Rab. Receive 15% discount* by Open 10am-4pm every day except ‘Chiltern Society’ when booking. presenting your Society membership card Wednesday. We can also be found every in store, or online using the discount code Saturday at the Town Hall Market, Old – please call the Society on 01494 771250 Amersham, Bucks. CS members receive Retail for the promotional code. *Not to be used in 10% off all plants, shrubs and selected conjunction with any other offer or discount. gifts from the new gift shop. Drinks and Beechdean Ice Cream home-made cakes available at our café. Group Cycle Care Dog friendly. Beechdean Dairies, Old House Farm, 225 Desborough Rd, High Wycombe, Speen Rd, North Dean, High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 2QW Tring Market Auctions Bucks HP14 4NL www.cyclecare.co.uk 01494 447908 Brook St, Tring, Herts HP23 5EF www.beechdean.co.uk 10% discount on bikes/clothing/accessories/ www.tringmarketauctions.co.uk 01494 563980 energy food and drinks – basically 10% off 01442 826446 Come to reception at Beechdean Dairies everything except for Garmin and GoPro Specialist Fine Art sales, 20th Century Arts and get 10% off your take-home tubs! Shop products. Please use our own free car park! & Decorative sales, regular general sales. open 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri. Purchase our Dairy One year’s free subscription for CS members Ice Cream in 1 litre or 130ml tubs including Dees of Amersham to Fine Art & 20th Century sale catalogues vanilla, double chocolate, strawberry, mint 39 Hill Avenue, Amersham, Bucks HP6 5BX mailed to your home. Please phone or email choc chip, sticky toffee fudge, and honey www.deescycles.com 01494 727165 [email protected] quoting & ginger – all made fresh on our farm with 10% discount on all goods and cycles up to your membership number, name & address. Jersey milk and rich double cream. £2,200 inc. VAT. Over £2,200, 12% discount. Visit website for auction calendar. ! VOUCHER Peterley Manor Farm FREE PARKING PYO & Autumn Bedding Plants - PYO season continues with autumn raspberries as well as beetroot, chard, At Wendover Woods kale and carrots. We also have a wide range of Autumn bedding plants and shrubs in the nursery. Farm Shop - Open all Year - Fully stocked with homegrown and local artisan food products. Now in store local ales and premium wines. Date this voucher & display clearly in your vehicle windscreen. Wild Strawberry Cafe “in the yurt” - Open for homemade Breakfast, Lunch and Cakes Tuesday-Saturday; Sunday Breakfast only till 12 noon. / /2016

01494 863 566 [email protected] www.peterleymanorfarm.co.uk Not valid unless dated. Not valid during Opening Times: Tues-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm. Sat 8.30am -5pm. Sun 9am-1pm. Address: Peterley Manor Farm, Peterley Lane, HP16 0HH school holidays. Valid for one use only.

www.chilternsociety.org.uk 41 SUNDAY Walks start at 10.00am, unless stated. SOCIETY WALKS Usually about 5 or 6 miles, allow 2.5 hours. WEEKDAY Walks start at 10.30am. About 5 miles, allow 2.5 hours. These walks are open to all members. Non-members are welcome to NB. Variations from this will be indicated in the walk description. join us as guests for two or three walks, though if you walk with the ENQUIRIES regarding the walks should be directed to: 1) Walk leader where telephone number is given, or group regularly you will be expected to join the Chiltern Society to 2) Paul Weller 01628 486328 support our work in caring for the Chilterns. CS = CHILTERN SOCIETY MAP NO.

SEPTEMBER O/S GRID REF OCTOBER O/S GRID REF Sun 4 Meet in the Hell Fire Caves car park (old Garden 175-826947 Sun 9 Meet at Chorleywood Common car park. Walk 166-034966 Centre) in West Wycombe. This car park is CS Map 7 beside the River Chess to Sarratt, along the CS Map 28 located off the A40 at West Wycombe on the Bucks village green and past the mainly Norman church Herts road signposted to and is approx 100 one mile from the village centre. Fine views. yards down this road on the left-hand side. The Jane Taylor 01753 886879 walk starts by climbing West Wycombe Hill and Meet at The Half Moon pub, Wilstone HP23 4PD. then continues to Bradenham and back. Approx 5 Wed 12 165-904141 miles, with a few stiles. If not staying for lunch, please park in the lane. A CS Map 18 Bucks Mike Timms 01494 716802/07936 883248 scenic 4.7 mile walk taking the towpath through Marsworth, Bulbourne, Tring Wharf, Wilstone Wed 7 Meet at , Ashridge and 165-970130 and Gubblecote. An easy, tranquil and quiet walk walk via Northchurch Common and Prince's CS Map 19 Riding. About 5.5 miles. Herts exploring the waterways around Tring. Ken Barry 01525 372036 Ken Steward 01494 775935 Sun 11 Meet at The Lions of Bledlow pub, HP27 9PE for 165-776020 Sun 16 Meet at Rowan Garden Centre and Cafe, 176-010933 a 5.8 mile walk mainly along The Ridgeway and CS Maps Gorelands Lane, (off B4442) Chalfont St Giles CS Map 28 Chiltern Way. Good views across the Risborough 14,7 HP8 4AB (near Chiltern Open Air Museum). Bucks/Herts Gap from Lodge Hill. Pass Lord Carrington’s Lyde Bucks Please park in the overflow car park. A gently Garden in Bledlow. Please let me know if you want undulating walk via Bullsland Farm and the lunch at the pub, so that I can pre-book. Swillett to Ladywalk Woods, past historic 16th Mike Fox 01844 344356/07836 262766 century Woodoakes Farm Barn and back via Wed 14 Meet at The Maltsters Arms, Rotherfield Greys 175-726824 Bottom Wood. RG9 4QD for a fine, mainly woodland, 5 mile CS Map 2 Brian Tordoff 01494 870549/07887 620519 walk in the vicinity of the Greys Court Estate. Oxon Wed 19 Meet at Whiteleaf Hill car park off Peters Lane. 165-824036 Includes Lambridge Wood, featured in Richard From the A4010 from Princes Risborough towards CS Map 3 Fortey’s recent book The Wood for the Trees. Aylesbury, turn right up Peters Lane towards Bucks Some short but steep ascents and descents. Hampden. The car park at the top of Whiteleaf Please let me know in advance if you want lunch Hill on the left. About 5.6 miles among woods at this popular pub. Bob Parry 0118 9620405/07722 350210 and downs visiting The Hangings and Churchill’s Avenue. Some steep slopes. Sun 18 Meet at the public car park in Lane End next to 175-807917 John Roberts 01844 343849 the controlled crossing. This 6 mile walk crosses CS Map 11 and End Commons, then Bucks Sun 23 Meet at church RG9 6QD for a walk of 175-777912 drops down into Fingest. We then walk along The 6-7miles via Ibstone, Turville Heath and Turville. CS Map 11 Chiltern Way up into Fingest Woods and return Possibility of coffee at the walkers’/cyclists’ barn. Bucks/Oxon across Moor Common. There should be a good Please only park in The Chequers car park if display of wild flowers and some great views. booked to lunch there. Otherwise use the lane Sue Brinn 01628 483639 beside the church. Wed 21 Meet at The Harte and Magpies pub on the 175-955941 Deirdre Philpott 07973 271474 Amersham to Beaconsfield Road HP7 0LU. Walk CS Map 6 Wed 26 Meet at Harpenden Common car park opposite 166-136138 to Winchmore Hill and Penn Woods. Fields, hills Bucks The Silver Cup pub AL5 2JF. Walk south over Herts and views. Harpenden Common, then towards Redbournbury Jan Sawyer 01753 885741 (Mobile on the day Watermill, Hammond's End returning via only 07986 817981) Rothamstead Estate and The Chiltern Way. Sun 25 Meet at Lane End public car park, located off 175-806917 Reasonably flat, with one or two stiles. the B482 just NW of Church Road. Walk towards CS Map 11 Rob Saunders 07885 663816 Fingest via Hanover Hill, returning through Bucks Mousells Wood. A 5 mile walk with 4 stiles, 1 Sun 30 Meet at 11am at Wendover library car park (off 165-867077 ascent and 1 brief descent. Very attractive views. High Street) HP22 6DU (Free parking on Sunday). CS Map 3 Stephen Groves 01494 684880/07843 381971 A walk of over 7 miles along The Icknield Way Bucks to Wendover Woods, stopping at the café for Wed 28 Meet at The Blue Ball pub, Asheridge HP5 2UX 165-937046 for a 5 mile walk across the fields and woods of CS Map 8 refreshments (or packed lunch), then back Asheridge, Bellingdon and Chartridge. May be Bucks through Halton, past Halton House and along the muddy. A few stiles and one steep climb at the Grand Union Junction canal. Dogs welcome. end. Please only use pub car park if staying for John Briggs 07742 918642 lunch. Diana Shaw 07799 530611 NOVEMBER Wed 2 Meet at NT car park, Cookham Moor (free); 175-893853 OCTOBER nearest postcode SL6 9SB. Approx 5.5 mile walk CS Map 32 Sun 2 Meet outside the Old Town Hall in Berkhamsted 165-990079 visiting the thousands of Copas turkeys at Kings Berks (now a Carluccios restaurant), for a 5.5 mile walk CS Maps Coppice Farm, Cookham Dean before they depart to the castle, then to view the WWI trenches on 17,19,20 for Christmas. Good views of the Thames from Berkhamsted Common, returning via Frithsden Herts Winter Hill. No stiles, one short but very steep Beeches. One climb, no stiles. Several car parks in climb. Berkhamsted. Dogs welcome. David Vick 01494 673875 John Lavender 07546 245847 Sun 6 Meet at Ewelme in the car park on the common, 175-648913 Wed 5 Meet at the car park of The King William pub, 175-642858 postcode OX10 6PG, which is High Street, CS Map 10 Hailey OX10 6AD (follow the brown signs off the CS Map 15 Oxon A4074 Wallingford/Reading road). The walk is a Oxon Ewelme. (If using satnav it’s the crossing with 5 mile loop in rolling hills, following woods and Parson’s Lane). A delightful walk starting from the fields south of The Ridgeway with some lovely quintessentially English village of Ewelme. Great views. Please contact me in advance if you want views. Some hills. Dogs welcome. lunch at the pub afterwards. Paul Wisdell 07906 698372/Maggie Templeman Rita Gregory 01491 681877/07768 253456 07831 878679

42 Chiltern 221 ISSUE 214 • WINTER 2014 ISSUE 215 • SPRING 2 015

www.chilternsoci www.chilternsociety.org.uk • CHILTE RN SOCIETY MAGAZI ety.org.uk • CHILTERN S NE OCIETY MAGAZINE

Members and non-members join the walks at their own risk, and are advised Focus on the new season

Are you r eady for the to carry their own first aid kit, and ensure that their clothes and footwear gardening year ahead?

Come and s are appropriate. The Society has public liability insurance for claims made ee for yourself! Why custom ers choose us Getting bac k to nature against it, its staff and authorised volunteers undertaking work on its behalf. Society’s Chalking up 50 years new sites 01494 872335 Hambleden www.rowanga rdencentre. co.uk – valley of flowers Tea Shop Awards Society pub awards PLEASE NOTE: Walks may occasionally be changed or cancelled at Activities & events for the winter HERITAGE • CONSERVATION • ENVI HERITAGE • CONS ERVATION • ENVIRONMENT • W RONMENT • WILDLIFE • LEISURE short notice. If you can, please check our website for updates. ILDLIFE • LEISURE JOIN US TODAY NOVEMBER O/S GRID REF Wed 9 Meet in the car park on Studham Common 166-026155 and get all this… (Byslips Road) for a 5/6 mile walk to the South CS Map 20 of Studham, via Beechwood School, Jockey End, Herts l A free Chiltern Society footpath map of your choice Widmore Farm and Clements End. Lunch at The l Chiltern magazine, exclusive to members, packed with great Red Lion, just half a mile the other side of the common. features, news and views, delivered to your door four times David Betterton 01525 222135 (Mobile on the a year day only 07899 798840) l Fantastic offers at over 30 visitor attractions, pubs, cafes Sun 13 Meet at the west end of the car park at Court 175-848862 and shops Gardens, Pound Lane, Marlow SL7 2AE (pay at CS Map 1 exit). The 6 mile walk proceeds up the Thames Bucks l A selection of walking and cycling maps allowing you to towards Temple, then through the Harleyford discover the beauty of the Chilterns Estate to Danesfield, returning via Marlow l Common and Bovingdon Green. Fairly flat terrain Early access to our exciting events programme and special with no stiles. (This walk is included in the CS member discounts book 50 Great Walks in the Chilterns). l The satisfaction that comes from knowing you are helping Paul Weller 01628 486328 (Mobile on the day only 07961 227140) to conserve and care for the Chilterns. Wed 16 Meet at Ballinger Common/cricket ground HP16 165-913031 To join, call us on 01494 771250, visit our website 9LQ. Park in the car park by the cricket pitch. CS Map 8 www.chilternsociety.org.uk, or come to see us during office Bucks A 5 mile walk from Ballinger Bottom towards hours at the White Hill Centre, Chesham – address on p 4 Chartridge, through the woods to Lee Clump with glorious views towards Buckland, onwards to Lee Gate, then return to Ballinger. Some hills and stiles. Reporting path problems Melissa Laing 01494 778518 In normal circumstances please report any path problem to our Sun 20 Start from the roadside opposite The Fox 175-752938 Rights of Way Group Area Secretary covering the parish, who at Ibstone Common HP14 3XT. A moderate, CS Map 9 will then either take remedial action or prompt the appropriate undulating 6 mile walk via Turville Heath, Turville Bucks Highway Authority to do it. Information about the Area and Park Wood. Two short steep climbs, 3 stiles. Secretaries is shown on the Society’s website. Valerie Friend 07848 690032 If however you come across something which you feel is a Wed 23 Meet at The Queen's Head pub in 175-873879 safety hazard needing to be handled with special urgency SL7 3SR, parking in the pub car park if lunching, CS Map 13 please make that known direct to the Highway Authority Bucks or in the village. A 6 mile walk starting with a responsible for the location (their details are shown below). If gentle climb to Bloom Woods, briefly joining you do inform the Highway Authority direct, it would greatly The Chiltern Way, then descending down to the help if you also informed our Area Secretary. Thames, passing a wildfowl nature reserve lake, then following the Thames Path for about 1 mile, Central Bedfordshire CC 0300 300 8085 and finally returning to the pub. No stiles. Flat or Priory House, Monk’s Walk, Chicksands, Shefford SG17 5TQ downhill after the first mile, which is not steep. [email protected]; Beautiful views across the Thames Valley. online at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/environment/ Mary Nash 07982 246667 countryside/public-rights-of-way/ (where the download Sun 27 Park roadside near The Dashwood Arms pub 175-808943 ‘Rights of Way Contacts Map’ gives further information). at Piddington HP14 3BH. Use the pub car park CS Map 7 if patronising the pub after the walk. A 6.5 mile Bucks Luton BC 01582 546508 circular walk through Bottom Wood to John Maple, Transportation Strategy, Town Hall, George St, Common, returning along the ridge above Luton LU1 2BQ Bradenham. [email protected]. Richard Boas 01628 527978 (Mobile on the day Hertfordshire CC (excluding Dacorum) 01992 555279 only 07757 482293) Rights of Way, County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford SG13 8DN Wed 30 Meet at Penn Pond HP10 8LF. A 5.5 mile walk 175-923940 [email protected]. through woods and open countryside via CS Map 6 Winchmore Hill and Penn Street. No stiles. Bucks Hertfordshire (Dacorum BC) 01442 228356 Elizabeth Kerry 01494 812926 Countryside Access Officer, Cupid Green Depot, Redbourn Rd, Hemel Hempstead HP2 7BA DECEMBER [email protected]. Sun 4 Meet in the car park of The Royal Standard at 175-923877 Buckinghamshire CC 0845 230 2882 Wooburn Common HP10 0JS. A 6 mile walk CS Map 13 Rights of Way (Operations), County Hall, across farmland on good tracks to the ancient Bucks woodlands of Egypt Woods and Burnham Walton St. Aylesbury HP20 lUY Beeches. Return via . No [email protected] – but preferably online at: significant ascents. transportforbucks.net/report-it-prow.aspx Sue Brown 07815 310552 Oxfordshire CC Wed 7 Meet in Village Lane, Hedgerley a few yards 175-970874 The Oxfordshire Chilterns only: 01865 810201 south of The White Horse pub SL2 3UY (please CS Maps Jonathan Beale, Field Officer (South East) don’t use the small pub car park). A 5 mile walk 13,24 Preferably by email: [email protected]. through Bottom and Egypt Woods with Bucks a hill, 10 stiles and some road and lane walking. Any other part of the county: 01865 810226 Well-behaved dogs on a lead welcome on the Countryside Access, Signal Court, Old Station Way, walk and in parts of the pub. Eynsham, Oxford OX29 4TL Andy Smith 07903 727696 Please see www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/report- Wed 14 Christmas walk and lunch. Information available problem-public-right-way for details of the Field Officer for in October. the district concerned. z

email: [email protected] 43 0000 Rowan Autumn CS ad:Layout 1 19/7/16 11:19 Page 1

Discover at Rowan…

seasonal colours in violas and pansies for spring flowering flowers and foliage pots and baskets bulbs for planting

Autumn is a wonderful time of year at Rowan. Come and see our fabulous trees and shrubs with stunning seasonal colour. You'll be spoilt for choice. Pansies and violas will offer cheer throughout the winter. We've pots and hanging baskets, and offer a bespoke service. Spring flowering bulbs are in stock, so whether you want to naturalise some under trees or brighten your borders and pots, come and see what we've got. Of course we can help you choose. We look forward to seeing you soon. The Rowan Team

Gorelands Lane • Chalfont St Giles • HP8 4AB www.rowangardencentre.co.uk