Journal of the Ramblers and North Middlesex Area

Issue 59 June 2021

WALKS READER TO ENJOY SURVEY A fully-described Have your say on route in North Herts your Area journal Stile June 2021

In this issue Editorial 3 Area news 4 Massive new ‘green lungs’ woodland for Enfield 4 DLYW: District 5 General Council 2021: two views 7 Living Streets comes to Hertfordshire 9 Hertfordshire Walker: 120+ free walks 10 Herts CC CRoW Service: 11 The impact of Covid-19 on the RoW network 11

Definitive Map update 13 Reader survey 15 Achievements: Virtual group walks 19 Opinion: Thoughts from a ploughed right of way 20 Walks to enjoy: and Lavender Farm 24 : One woman’s hunt for a rare and mysterious stone 28 Letters 29

Information: Area, Groups, footpath problems 30 For the young (or young at heart): I Spy 32 About Stile Stile is the journal of the Hertfordshire and North Middlesex Area of the Ramblers. Articles printed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of the Area or the Ramblers.

Moving home? Please do not write to the Editor. Just inform Central Office via https://www.ramblers.org.uk using the link in the Members Area, or write to: Ramblers, 1 Clink Street, 3rd Floor, SE1 9DG Say which Group you wish to belong to—you’ll receive the right Group/Area news.

The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity ( & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 1 Clink Street, 3rd Floor, London SE1 9DG.

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Editorial Have your say with our The time is right Reader Survey! for readers to Not long ago I showed an early issue of have their say. Stile to a former member of the Editorial Please help us by Team. He was struck by ‘how many completing the authors are still active … and how we short survey in are still preoccupied with the same the centre pages, things’. Contributors who stay faithful or online at over many years provide stability, https://tinyurl.com/47nf43y8 certainly. And rights of way problems, Discussions within the Team are alas, change only a little if at all. always lively, especially now it has a Meanwhile the ‘Area journal’ (as we wider range of ages, skills and interests. still call it) has evolved steadily since its But it doesn’t represent the entire launch in 1992. Most recently, however, membership, and inevitably personal the arrival of new (and younger) talent preferences tend to predominate. We on the Team has brought welcome need to hear from as many readers as changes to its appearance and, to some possible. degree, content. With more space I’d give you some And the debate about the future of background facts, so your answers Stile has been revived—and broadened. could be well informed; but perhaps it’s Should it remain a ‘journal’ with plenty better not to influence you. Take Stile as of serious stuff, or be more entertaining you see it and tell us what you think. like a magazine? Almost everyone Thanks to Patricia Segui and Claire wants to see more pictures, and we did Wainwright for putting the survey make an effort in the last issue. But can together—and to everyone for taking we keep it up? part! Justin Lumley

Editor: Justin Lumley 46 Hilltop House, 117 Hornsey Lane, London N6 5NW 020 7561 1976 (home) 07773 103 839 (mobile) [email protected]

As a member of Herts and North Middlesex Area Ramblers, you will always receive Walk magazine and Stile (which includes AGM information in the December issue). You must opt in to receive email information. Preferences can be changed by registering or logging in at https://ramblers.org.uk/login.aspx Stile is also available in PDF form on our website (see below) If you do not wish to receive a printed version please contact the Area Membership Secretary at [email protected]

www.ramblers.org.uk/hertfordshire-north-middlesex

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Area news Massive new ‘green lungs’ effectively giving Enfield a new set of woodland for Enfield lungs, which will with other Up to 100,000 trees are being planted in environmental measures help to Enfield to create a huge new woodland improve the air quality in the the size of Greenwich Park in London. surrounding area. We are also mindful Over 60 hectares of new native tree of the historical context of the area species will be planted at Enfield Chase, which will be preserved and enhanced.’ once dense forest, with the first phase Thames21 Natural Flood Management costing in the region of £1.3m. 3km of Programme Manager, Stephen footpaths are also to be improved, Haywood, said: ‘As well as using connecting Trent Park to Forty Hall. natural processes and planting to Enfield Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr reduce risk of flooding, the new trees Ian Barnes, said: ‘The Enfield Chase will stabilise the soils, preventing their woodland creation project will deliver a erosion, with benefits felt as far away as wide range of environmental, economic the Olympic Park. The project also and social benefits that will reduce the creates a series of mini-wetlands which impact of climate change and flooding will help prevent pollution from while also creating a beautiful area to reaching the river.’ support wildlife and recreation. By Information supplied by Claire Wainwright planting thousands of trees we are

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CONGRATULATIONS Rebecca Dawson Chair of Stag Walkers and former Area Co-Chair on being elected Chair of the Ramblers Board of Trustees (report—see page 7)

Don’t Lose Your Way: useful purpose in current St Albans District circumstances. Some routes did make it Phil Escritt and Libby Martin onto the initial definitive maps in the Ramblers made their map of historic 1950s but have subsequently been routes available for public access in diverted or extinguished. The group is January. Since then, it has been studied now in the process of looking for by local Footpath Secretaries. It shows additional historical evidence from the footpaths and bridleways that sources such as the historical Drury and appeared on the OS maps of 1900 but Andrews and Bryant maps for which not on the current OS maps (which facsimile copies are available, and they should reflect the current Definitive are beginning to search through the CD Map of Rights of Way). versions of the Tithe Maps. The next St Albans and District Footpaths stage will be to examine the Inland Society (a Ramblers affiliated Revenue maps from 1910 to see where organisation) had been carrying out the landowners claimed tax exemption their own map-checking exercise for for a right of way. Photos of these are some time, concentrating on the 10 available online in our Area Archive for parishes in the St Albans District. The Don’t Lose Your Way, though Ramblers historic OS comparison map supplementary information from the came out at a good time for them to Tax Officers’ Field Books may be check it against their own findings. As it needed from the National Archive at was not yet possible to annotate the Kew. Ramblers map, they prepared a An initial estimate suggests that of PowerPoint file for each parish using some 400+ initial candidates perhaps extracts copied from the Ramblers map, only about 80 will be really worth annotated to give a reference number pursuing much further. for every route together with some You can see the Ramblers historic OS initial comments on their likely comparison map at: https:// potential. They created a dontloseyourway.ramblers.org.uk/ comprehensive spreadsheet to build up Log in with the email address and the information on each route as it is password you normally use for investigated. Ramblers. (If you don’t have an email It was immediately possible to rule out address registered with Ramblers, those routes that have been built over or you’ll need to register. Non-members irrevocably severed by motorways. A can also view the map.) I hope that by few others could be ruled out on the the time you read this, the map will be basis that they would not serve any updateable so that you can put comments on any of the routes.

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Hertfordshire and North Middlesex Area Walks Day Saturday 9 October 2021 Based at Common near – postcode WD4 9BS A chance to meet members from other Groups and a special welcome to individuals who do not walk with local groups. Make a note in your diary for the date! A good walking area close to the Chess Valley (see photo), woodlands, open fields and on the Hertfordshire Way. Access to the Village Hall from 12.30 – 2.30pm for use of toilets and providing drinks and indoor picnic facilities. Bring your own food. The village has a large green, public car parks, two cafés and three pubs within half a mile. At the time of writing we have seven morning and afternoon walks offered, starting at various times, which can be combined to offer a full day’s walk for those who want it. Final walk details will be put on the Area website: https://www.ramblers.org.uk/ hertfordshire-north-middlesex and sent to Area and Group officials nearer the time. If you have signed up to receive emails on the national site (www.ramblers.org.uk) you may also get an email about the event. We hope to see you for pleasant walking in the early autumn.

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General Council 2021: two views This year’s General Council was attended by Area Chair Patricia Segui and former Chair Roger Bangs. Here are their two personal views.

Patricia Segui—Area Chair new trustees; despite the presence of a On Saturday 17 April I attended my few candidates only one with an ethnic second Ramblers’ General Council as a background (his word) was elected for delegate of our Area; like last year it five positions available. was held virtually, however this time Let’s hope to see improvements in this on-the-day voting could take place and area at all levels of our organisation motions be discussed. Our other soon. delegate was Roger Bangs but, as last The outgoing Chair of the Board of year, the meeting did not allow for Trustees, Kate Ashbrook, was visitors. appointed a Trustee for another year, The motions discussion is a part that I which should provide some continuity found most fascinating. The while the new Chair, elected with a introduction by the proposer turned out landslide majority of 79% of votes, to be very valuable (as indeed I had settles in. Our Area knows the new misread one of them), when they kept chair really well as she has been a to the topic, but it was clear that not all member of this council for many years proposers of motions understood their and was the co-Chair last year: Rebecca purpose. Many motions were Dawson. requesting procedures, policies or tools To read General Council papers or already in place and one appeared watch the candidates video visit simply to be a quest to discover www.ramblers.org.uk/gc whether an issue was unique to an Roger Bangs—former Area Chair Area. Out of the seven motions, three I thought the 2021 Zoom—General were not approved, one of which was a Council meeting was well organised request to have all RoW applications to and effective. Kate Ashbrook, as usual be pre-approved by an Area or Group was a really good Chair. I was pleased which could have increased the she was re-elected as a Trustee for the workload of the organisation and forthcoming year. potentially caused a bottleneck for Stuart Maconie as President gave applications. another interesting opening address, Recently Ramblers have been working reminding us that it was 70 years since on increasing diversity amongst the first National Park was opened in members, but it was pointed out by an the Peak District, a major achievement attendee how disappointingly un- for early Ramblers campaigning. diverse the meeting was with a poorer I was happy with the new Trustees women-to-men ratio than in previous who were elected. Congratulations to years and many ethnic backgrounds Rebecca, a member of this Area, who is under-represented if at all. This lack of now Chair of the Trustees. diversity translated in the election of the (Continued on page 8)

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There were seven motions discussed; I relevant as it demonstrated the was content with the outcomes. frustrations of many Groups and Areas Motion 3 was about ‘Clusters, in not having use of effective IT communities and special interest systems, making it difficult to groups’ which I found interesting as it communicate effectively with members. was identifying possible organisational The motion was carried although it was changes for the future. not supported by the Board. Motion 4, on IT development, was

Slow Ways website and the next step in the project is for launched people to check these routes on the Al Maceachern ground. Do you know the best way to get from To find a route you wish to walk, visit Hatfield to , St Albans to www.slowways.uk and search by place or from your own town to or postcode. You can then select a any other? nearby Slow Way. These are named You might drive if you can, or take a using the first three letters of the places train or a bus if these options are they connect, running west to east; for available. Or you could travel on foot— instance, the Slow Way between if you have a suitable route! Hatfield and Hertford is called ‘Hather’. This is where Slow Ways comes in—a The route can be downloaded as a GPX not-for-profit project which aims to find file for use on your favoured mobile the most suitable routes for walking navigation app or the map can be from one place to another. The routes printed via www.inkatlas.com. are designed to be reasonably direct, After walking a Slow Way, you can safe, accessible and enjoyable, and to write a review and give a star rating—a encourage walking as an alternative to bit like on Amazon or eBay. The more other means of transport. reviews and higher rating a route gets, Slow Ways could be used to plan a the more trusted the route will be by long hike with stopping points, or to other walkers. If you walk a Slow Way walk to a nearby town for work or and find it unsuitable, you can devise leisure. Using existing rights of way an alternative using your preferred and avoiding roads as much as mapping website and upload a new possible, the routes connect all of Great GPX. Britain's towns and cities and From personal experience testing Slow thousands of villages. Ways I have found some routes I feel More than 7,000 Slow Ways routes could be improved by local knowledge have been devised by volunteers and some pleasant paths which I had including members of Ramblers, other never walked before. Why not try groups and individuals, and are checking all the Slow Ways routes available to view at www.slowways.uk. between your own hometown and The website was launched in April neighbouring places?

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Living Streets comes to • restoring pavements that were Hertfordshire planned but never completed, or From the Campaign Manager that existed but were buried Living Streets, the charity for everyday • flood relief for walking has started a South Herts Local Bridleway 71 subway under the Group. Their main concern is with M25 at Wash Lane. walking on footways by roads rather You can find the Group’s web page than public footpaths across country. here: South Herts Living Streets Group is https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/get- about to launch its Walking In South involved/local-groups/south-herts Herts (WISH) campaign. You can download the South Herts South Herts Living Streets Group Living Streets Local Group Manifesto campaigns for: which gives further details but quite a • removing obstructions to lot has happened since it was written in walking on pavements, clearing March 2020. overgrown and impassable Anyone can join South Herts Living pavements, removing locked Streets Local Group and can receive our gates on public highways and local group news by email. From the replacing missing bus stops Group’s web page, click on the ‘Receive • replacing walking routes that our Local Group News’ button. When have been lost due to past emails go out to the Local Group, no motorway building, where no names or email addresses will be visible provision was made for non- to recipients of the email. motorway traffic including You can also sign up for information pedestrians about wider Living Streets news and • restoring walking routes that campaigns by email and you can hear have been lost due to past about ways to support Living Streets motorway building through donations but both are optional.

Have a great idea for a news story? If you have a brilliant idea for a newsworthy local story that might be of interest to our Herts media contacts, and will help attract new Ramblers’ members, please contact Claire Wainwright at: [email protected] News editors like to hear about stories that are timely, unique in content, interesting or quirky, and that have great images to go with them.

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Hertfordshire Walker: 120+ free walks! David Brewer

www.hertfordshirewalker.uk

Hertfordshire Walker is a website devoted to walks in Hertfordshire. It has more than 120 walks that are all free to download and enjoy. Another 10 new walks are being added during the spring/summer of 2021. Each walk has detailed directions, maps, and photographs. There are GPX and KML files for those who want to follow the walks using a GPS mobile device, and there are compass points and distances between stages for those who prefer to follow a map and use a compass. Each page of directions includes the right of way parish name and number for those interested in checking routes against the Hertfordshire Rights of Way map. All directions can be printed, and, to save trees, the site has installed a ‘PrintFriendly’ button at the bottom of each page (a small green printer icon) so that walkers can delete any photos prior to printing in order to save on paper and ink. Each walk page has a comment box at the bottom for walkers to share any experiences that might benefit other walkers or offer feedback. The site has some tips for walkers and a page where all the start and finish points are plotted on one interactive map of Hertfordshire. Hertfordshire Walker is run by Dave and Ellie Brewer who live in Hertfordshire. There is no membership required, the site is totally free to access. All the content is released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0, which means that anyone is free to copy the walks for non-commercial purposes as long as full accreditation is given and the copy is published under the same conditions.

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Herts CC: Countryside & Rights of Way service Addressing the impact of Covid-19 on the RoW network Tony Bradford, Head of Countryside & Rights of Way, Herts CC (CRoW)

In my first article for Stile written as the They are predicting this statistic will new Head of Countryside and Rights of remain higher than pre-Covid times Way I set out my three key aspirations despite lifting of some restrictions for the service in the years ahead. One planned for the coming months. of these was that the Rights of Way This position is similarly reflected in network would be playing an even greater Hertfordshire. The ParksHerts group role in helping more people get about in which brings together the county’s their local community.….. to see more greenspace managers reports that people choosing active travel as a means to during the first lockdown, footfall at having a healthier population and easing parks was 450% of the annual average traffic pressure. and for the whole year, 250% of usual Over the last year it is clear that access footfall. Strava, an internet application to green spaces has been more for tracking exercise, provides data to important for people than ever. local authorities. Their reports for Undoubtedly the significant influence Hertfordshire show a 268% increase in on increased usage has been Covid-19 leisure walking and an 83% increase in and the ensuing Government action commuter walking compared to which has: February last year. • restricted travel, access to Government advice to choose active leisure, hospitality and retail travel (cycling and walking) over facilities private motor vehicles and public • promoted physical activity transport also accords with outdoors and close to home for Hertfordshire County Council’s own long term health benefits, in aspirations set out in the Local particular walking, running and Transport Plan and Sustainable cycling Hertfordshire Strategy. • encouraged active travel as a It is hugely encouraging to see so healthy alternative to the use of many people enjoying the outdoors for private vehicles and public recreation and as a means to undertake transport short, everyday journeys, many of • recommended being outdoors to whom may not have been doing so to limit spread when in social this extent previously. This increase in groups and to benefit wellbeing. user numbers does however bring Nationally, Defra surveys over challenges with it—the subject of November to January reported that conversation amongst members at the almost two thirds of the adult most recent Local Access Forum. population had visited a green and From September to February, natural space in the previous 14 days. Hertfordshire also experienced

11 Stile June 2021 unusually high levels of rainfall (170% posted on this in future reports. above annual average) and for most of Use of the Google ‘MyMap’ of public this period the soil has been completely rights of way in Hertfordshire, saturated (see photo). This, coupled published by the Council less than two with the higher usage of our Rights of years ago, really took off during the first Way, has led to significant additional lockdown. Its availability on the Herts wear and tear, especially on paths CC RoW web pages has been promoted closest to where people live. through CRoW’s Hertfordshire Walking In recognition of the vital part the eNews letter and other media. The map network has and continues to play in can be easily loaded onto a smartphone, maintaining our health and wellbeing making it simple to follow your during the pandemic, Hertfordshire position on a map as you go. For those County Council has just announced that less experienced with more traditional it is to invest an additional £1m over the wayfinding tools (map and compass) next 12 months. We will keep you this is the perfect way to help people

12 Stile June 2021 find and follow routes close to home or Staff changes to explore over 3,000km of rights of way Definitive Map & Enforcement Team across the county. As I write this has Steven Whiting, Enforcement Officer— now been viewed more than one million joined. times. David Bambury, Technical Officer— To find the Google map and try it out, resigned; replaced by Jacqueline visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ Turner. rowmap Countryside Management Team Megan Pinner, Projects Officer, Health Walks—joined. Definitive Map update Hertfordshire Archives and Local Tony Bradford Studies Centre (HALS) and/or the There are six Definitive Map Officers in Public Records Office at Kew, has been the team covering the whole county, restricted to scans their staff can two of whom are new recruits. New provide on request. case investigations have been The closure of District/Borough and constrained due to this staff turnover. Parish Council offices restricts the Case progress has also been affected Definitive Map and Enforcement Team by the ongoing severe impacts of the in fulfilling its statutory advertising/ Covid-19 restrictions on the Definitive publicity obligations for Orders; this has Map Order-making processes. Case also restricted the public from seeing meetings have continued where these documents, other than online. possible, but progress has been This factor alone has been the biggest significantly impacted by travel constraint on case progress. restrictions, stopping statutory Staff time has been prioritised to consultees from visiting sites to assess mapping activity, TCPA Orders proposed Orders. associated with Planning Applications Access to key historical documentation and processing time-constrained for staff and consultees, via the Commons investigations. Current applications at end March 2021: Backlog Under Type (previous ¼) investigation Total Modification applications from customers 315 (308) 52 (50) 369 (often path users) Discovered evidence cases (incomplete 106 (106) 2 (2) 108 applications or identified by offcers) Public Path Order applications from customers 78 (75) 44 (44) 122 (often landowners or developers) Commons + Village Greens applications 13 (14) 12 (7) 25 See next page for recent Definitive Map activity

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Recent activity on Definitive Map Orders, Commons and Village Greens registrations:

07/07/2020 Country Park Inquiry/Hearing/ MOD/DISC PINS submission Reps HTM/205/MOD 16/07/2020 Packhorse Lane statement Inquiry/Hearing/ DIV of case Reps HTM/203/DIV 29/09/2020 BR4 Diversion Make Order DIV Decision Decision EH/473/DIV 30/09/2020 Little BR18 Make Order MOD/DISC (Judicial Review) Decision EH/481/MOD 19/10/2020 Boxmoor Trust FP Dedica- No Order Decision DED tion, DAC/165/DED 02/12/2020 FP15 TCPA Make Order DIV-TCPA Diversion Decision EH/487/DIV TBC Chipperfield Common Registered Commons Exchange CL210 16/12/2020 Proposal to amend register Make Order VG for VG68 Green Decision VGP007 22/12/2020 Decision not to make a No Order Decision Commons proposal re Kings Meads, CL004 etc Hertford 02/02/2021 Broxbourne Common— Inquiry/Hearing/ Commons statement of grounds for Reps CLP034 hearing 23/02/2021 Heath exchange Registered CLP057A land

Near : a small part of CRoW’s remit. Photo by Roger Bangs

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STILE READER SURVEY

We are interested in the views of our readers! What do you like about Stile, and what could we do better? What else would you like to read about? Please complete our reader survey at: https://tinyurl.com/47nf43y8 Or if you prefer, fill in the same survey below and post to: Claire Wainwright, 14 Clifton Street, St Albans AL1 3RY. You do NOT have to answer all questions.

1. Please describe how you read Stile: I usually read all or most of it. I generally glance through it and might read the odd article. I might take a look if I remember before the next issue arrives. Stile usually goes straight in the recycling box.

2. Which age range are you in? This is to help us determine how well Stile caters for particular age groups. Under 18 70s 18 to 29 80s 30s 90s 40s 100 or over 50s 60s

3. Are you a registered Ramblers volunteer (e.g. FP secretary, walk leader, committee member)? Yes No

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4. What do you like best about Stile?

5. What do you like least about Stile?

6. What topics not currently covered in Stile would you like to see included?

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7. Please circle the number for each of the following statements according to how strongly you agree or disagree: 1 = strongly agree 2 = somewhat agree 3 = neither agree nor disagree 4 = somewhat disagree 5 = strongly disagree A I’m mainly a Ramblers member for the walking and social interaction 1 2 3 4 5 B I’m mainly a Ramblers member to support rights of way / campaigns 1 2 3 4 5 C Stile is relevant to me and my involvement with Ramblers 1 2 3 4 5 D I like Stile as it is—long may it continue to be published 1 2 3 4 5 E Stile talks mainly to dedicated campaigners and those in the know— it’s not really for me 1 2 3 4 5 F I’d prefer Stile to be more of an informal newsletter than the current ‘journal’ format (e.g. shorter articles, more chatty style, larger print, more pictures, social news roundup etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 G I’m never going to read Stile—why not just put everything on the website? 1 2 3 4 5 H I find Stile easy to read 1 2 3 4 5 I The articles are about the right length 1 2 3 4 5 J The articles are too long 1 2 3 4 5 K The content is too serious 1 2 3 4 5 L I’d like to see more rights of way / campaign related content 1 2 3 4 5 M I’d like to be able to see past issues of Stile online 1 2 3 4 5

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8. Should Stile have a new name? If so, what do you suggest?

9. Have you any other comments you’d like to add?

10. The Editorial Team is always looking for more members to help produce Stile. If you have skills or an interest in journalism, copywriting, design or publishing, or feel you could help coordinate the content of Stile, please provide your email address below and the areas you think you could help with, and someone will contact you. Alternatively, please email [email protected]

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Achievements Virtual group walks 1,060 miles together in just 11 days! Al Maceachern Taking a tip from West Herts, Stag While unable to walk together during Walkers’ second virtual walk was a the Covid lockdown from January to collaborative effort also covering the March, two Groups in our Area LEJOG. The team challenge meant that organised virtual walk challenges. walkers could join in who didn’t have Stag Walkers brought back their time for long distances. Stags members Challenge which the and guests typed their walk details into pandemic had halted in 2020—but this a Google Form, then progress was time in virtual form. Rather than announced on the Group’s Facebook walking the 114-mile path from pages. Thirty-one walkers took part. Ivinghoe to Thetford, the goal was to They were unable to beat West Herts’ cover the same distance within six record time but on the final day beat weeks by adding up the their own target: in 16 miles walked in days together they did participants’ local areas. A 1,233 miles. spreadsheet was available West Herts’ next virtual for walkers on which they Group walk was yet more could list their lockdown ambitious: a tour of walks, with ‘milestones’ at European cities! The corresponding points of virtual route went the Icknield Way. Ten took through Paris, Bordeaux, part, with five each Madrid, Valencia, walking 114 miles and Barcelona, Monaco and another five extending the Rome, finishing in challenge along the virtual Vienna. On their —160 miles Facebook group, in total, to the virtual Norfolk coast. members shared photos and memories Meanwhile, West Herts Ramblers went from pre-pandemic days. The virtual further: walking the equivalent distance walk also sparked ideas for holidays from Land’s End to John O’Groats when restrictions end! They walked (’LEJOG’). This was a team effort 2,821 miles in 43 days. whereby each member’s walks moved These virtual walks were a fun way to the whole Group along the route. A participate in Group activities while we form was added to the Group’s website couldn’t meet in person. For a number on which members input their miles of walkers, they were also an incentive walked; the total distance walked by the to get out during the winter months. Group was updated daily, progress This surely brought benefits to being shown on a map from the participants’ health. Additionally, Stag Ramblers-Web library. Thirty-three Walkers offered a medal for those who walkers joined in and walked the full wanted a more tangible souvenir!

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Opinion Thoughts from a ploughed right of way, or: Please use your way! Roger Tester

I am sure I am not alone in finding one ‘Active Travel’. Hertfordshire will of the biggest impediments to pleasant receive £6.4m for Phase 2 (£7.6m walking is the number of rights of way overall). It is all part of a wider £2bn crossing fields that have been ploughed strategy package to encourage walking and absolutely no action taken to and cycling. However, the focus is on reinstate the path, making it extremely schemes and projects to encourage unpleasant to use, and sometimes, in people to make walking and cycling large fields, difficult to find the route. part of their daily routine for travel to And of course, if nothing is done once work and education and mostly in the crop grows, then, navigation and urban areas dealing with small areas ease of use is equally compromised. and stretches of road. There is little or How many of us have had the dire no recognition of the importance of the experience of walking through a field of existing rights of way (RoW) network. rape seed on a wet day? The past year has seen many more It has been superficially encouraging people walking their local RoW. Too to see there are now many campaigns often most stick to well-trodden and and initiatives extolling and promoting accessible routes. We see some paths the benefits of walking and outdoor over-used with the result that gates and activity and seeking to extend access to stiles become quagmires. This is in part the countryside and nature. And some because these ‘new’ walkers are of the initiatives carry quite extensive deterred, through lack of knowledge of funding with them: £217m has been routes, ground conditions or their allocated across England to fund health if faced with a ploughed field. I

Do you agree with everything Ramblers does? • Think things should be done differently? • Have ideas for improving Ramblers in our Area? Would you like to

share your ideas?

• Want to make a difference? If so, the Area Editorial Team would like you to join them. It isn’t as formal as it sounds—very lively in fact. The team decides the content of Stile and the Area website and generally sees members are kept informed. We are looking for people who can help with production, write an article, provide pictures and come up with new ideas. If you would like to know more, please email the Editor (see page 3).

20 Stile June 2021 have a friend who is valiantly trying to tracks across fields sometimes at a regain fitness after cancer treatment shallow angle to the right of way where whose walking choices are a main road the spraying runs are conducted. Just a or a ploughed field and the ploughed small realignment of these runs would field is ruled out until it has been make the right of way clear and smoothed out by the feet of other improve ease of use, and for the walkers as it is never done by the landowner, reduce the risk of landowner. inadvertent trespass and off-piste The legislation on reinstatement after excursions from confused walkers. We ploughing and on keeping crops clear of probably don’t need any more rights of way is clear and places a legislation. What we do need is better responsibility on the landowner to do education of walkers as to their right to this promptly after disturbance. (In use cross-field paths, and of landowners summary, the legislation states that in an to comply with the legislation. Local arable field, reinstatement to ensure a clear authorities have a duty to enforce, but path is visible, must take place after a they probably need continual prodding maximum of 14 days from the initial to push this aspect of their work up the disturbance—less for subsequent list of competing agendas. disturbances—and similarly, crops are kept There are some risks if we do not clear of rights of way.) With modern farm highlight the issue and secure improved machinery, it is not an onerous task and (Continued on page 22) ironically, there are frequently clear

Not only ploughed but cultivated too! How do we get from this...

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Stile June 2021 compliance with existing legislation or What can we do as individuals and find that usage of these ‘difficult’ rights groups of walkers? It is probable the of way remains low. These include: lone voice will be ignored, but if many • Government and local lone voices make a similar point, then authorities will point to the they are no longer a lone voice. expenditure on initiatives like Campaigns do work if they attract ‘Active Travel’ as evidence that sufficient support and keep going over they are working for walkers time. Here are six things you can do... and the position overall is good First, report paths that have not been and improving. reinstated adequately or are obstructed • If existing RoW are accessed by crops to the county council; in infrequently, even if it is due to Hertfordshire it can be done online difficulties caused by non- using: https://tinyurl.com/9tmxd34 reinstatement, we may see this Second, write to your MP and county lack of use cited as a reason for councillor if there is a persistent not extending the RoW system problem with specific rights of way and when landowners see claims for a lack of action after reports to the new paths under Don’t Lose county council, and make the point that Your Way. cycling and walking strategies and initiatives should not forget the

… to this?

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Stile June 2021 maintenance and accessibility of the Fifth, if there are any relevant existing RoW network. consultations in progress, make a Third, if you ever see someone who is representation. For example, there was responsible for the land, point out the a recent consultation regarding problem. Sometimes they are genuinely updating the Countryside Code, and I unaware there is a right of way or of suggested some short wording changes their legal responsibilities and take that covered walkers’ rights and action. landowners’ responsibilities. Fourth, remind Ramblers HQ that this Sixth, and most importantly, walk is an issue for many walkers and that these rights of way even if it is not easy they need to ensure it is on the agenda to do. Other walkers will be encouraged in their regular meeting with DEFRA if they see footprints, and if trodden, and the landowners and farmers routes become easier. The landowner associations. Perhaps a ‘Please Use Your might also realise there is likely to be Way’ campaign including signs for less damage to crops if they have walkers to put up that parody the reinstated the right of way adequately plethora of signs we currently see (e.g. and there is significant use. But do stick ‘Private, no right of way’) erected on to the right of way, and don’t use a field some land with our own ‘Public Right edge if that isn’t the right of way even if of Way—landowner in breach of the it looks more inviting. Some field edges Rights of Way Act 1990’! are for wild flowers and nature.

Become a Local Footpath Secretary!

YOU could make a real contribution to the Ramblers’ work.

If you can: walk your local paths regularly, report any problems to the Rights of Way Service at County Hall or the relevant London Borough and react to any proposed path orders (but these are rare)

then your help is needed to keep our rights of way open and in good order. You will be supplied with maps and comprehensive guidance.

Local Footpath Secretaries are currently needed in:

Hemel Hempstead Bayford Bramfield

Enfield LB Liberty Albury

Much Hadham

Sawbridgeworth

BUT... wherever you live or walk, your District or Borough Footpath Secretary would like to hear from you. Do get in touch—see page 30 for contacts, or email: [email protected]

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Walks to enjoy Ickleford and Hitchin Lavender Farm (4 miles) Walk description by Al Maceachern (Stag Walkers) Start point: Upper Green, Ickleford, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 3YD. On-street parking should be available on Upper Green or in front of St Katharine’s Church, just along Arlesey Road, SG5 3YJ. This walk starts in the village of Ickleford, just outside Hitchin in . The route goes past a major attraction in the area, Hitchin Lavender at Cadwell Farm. It is an especially enjoyable walk on a summer evening with the lavender in bloom, but the pleasant countryside and wide-ranging views make this a route worth walking at any time of year. Boots are advised for the muddier paths in winter but the terrain is mostly easy, with just one gentle climb uphill; however, stairs up and down at the Cadwell Crossing railway bridge may mean that a diversion is required for anyone with pushchairs or wheelchairs. The walk begins at Upper Green, one of bank of the River Hiz. The four-mile two greens in the village. Upper Green route described here follows small parts is bordered in part by St Katharine's of the 114-mile and Church, dating back to the 12th century, of two local trails, the 11-mile Hicca and by the Victorian village school. On Way which follows the course of the the Green you can also see the village Hiz and the 12-mile Hitchin Outer sign depicting travellers at the ford Orbital Path (HOOP). from which the name of the village is From Upper Green, use the zebra derived; Ickleford lies on the route of crossing and turn right, passing the bus the Icknield Way, the ancient long- stop (to the right of the bus stop, you distance trackway, and on the western may see an information board for the

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Crown copyright & database OS licence: 100033886

Hicca Way). Turn left at the signpost cautionary tale if you wish to visit one which indicates 1¼ miles to Wilbury of the village hostelries after your walk. Hill and is marked with signs for the Just after Gerry's Hole, with trees on Icknield Way; the track becomes each side the track rises gradually as it unsurfaced as you approach a grassy approaches the pedestrian bridge over field. Keep to the left and follow the East Coast mainline. On the other waymarkers for the Icknield Way and side of the bridge, after a few minutes the HOOP. A bridge takes you over the walking on a tree-lined path the view River Hiz where the ford used to be. opens up with Wilbury Hill and Keep straight on with an old willow ahead, while to the right are plantation to your right and you will arable fields and the flyover carrying pass remnants of the Hitchin-Bedford trains on the Cambridge line. Continue railway line which closed in the 1960s; straight on here, ascending the chalk on your left is the brick abutment for a path up the hill. bridge which used to take trains over At the top of Wilbury Hill, it is worth the byway, and on your right is an looking back to enjoy the view across embankment converted to a wooded Hitchin with the easterly nature reserve. A small pond here is beyond (as pictured on the front cover known as Gerry's Hole: the pond was of this issue). From here, the Icknield dug out when earth was moved for the Way continues into Letchworth, railway works, and the story goes that becoming a residential street of the sadly Gerry the navvy fell in and same name; but our route turns left drowned after a night in the pub... a through a small wood. Keeping to the

25 Stile June 2021 left as the path winds through the trees, continue straight on through the we come to a bench erected by NHRG. farmyard, passing the farm exit on your The route then continues through the right; just after this, turn left along a woods until a junction where we leave track between a large barn and a stable. the HOOP and turn left again. We This bridleway is known as Plum continue with an arable field on our left Pudding Lane due to its muddy nature. and trees and hedgerows to the right. Continue along this track for a short Through gaps in the hedge we can see time; you may wish to admire the rows Arlesey and its Blue and Green Lagoons of lavender uphill to your left, but keep and the towers of the former Fairfield an eye out for a kissing-gate on your Hospital. right. Go through the kissing-gate into a We enjoy a wider view ahead across field and turn right, following the the plain as we continue footpath in a straight line, through past a wood named Fox Covert; then as another metal gate and an additional the route descends further downhill the kissing-gate at the far end (there may lavender fields can be seen in front of us also be some temporary paddock (in flowering season, from mid-June to fencing in use within these fields, with a mid-August you may catch its scent on further temporary gate). Continue the breeze from the top of Wilbury straight on between two houses to a Hill). At a choice of paths, take the left, small pond, then turn right, towards the which runs directly alongside the road. The road passes under a railway lavender field. At the bottom of the hill, bridge where care must be taken,

26 Stile June 2021 because there is no footway under the between some trees, follow a kink in the bridge and it comes after a bend in the route to the right and almost road. However, there is a button you immediately left again, in the direction can press to activate a light warning of a footpath signposted to Holwell. On cars to go under the bridge with a summer evening, this part of the route caution. Past the railway bridge, is a good spot to stop and watch bats continue onto the pavement and over dart along the tree-lined path and back another bridge crossing the River Hiz. again. For a shorter walk, returning through the Another reminder of railway history village (total 3 miles), you may wish to can be seen here: a bench marks the site detour here: just after crossing the river, of the Three Arches Bridge, which took cross the road and take a footpath the path across the Hitchin-Bedford (signposted) across Christmas Common, line. The railway cutting was which takes you onto Arlesey Road; apparently used for landfill and continue along the pavement in the same covered over, so there is little sign of it southwesterly direction, passing The now left on the ground. Cricketers pub, to return to the start point Just after the bench, turn left down a at Upper Green. footpath between two crop fields; this is For the 4-mile route, coincidentally the flattest part of the route, with wide mapping a rough boot shape around open skies above. This path leads back the village, the route extends around to the village, mostly in a straight line; the fields north of Ickleford. Rather than after passing more horse paddocks, crossing the road, follow Arlesey Road ignore a byway to the left and a until you reach the second of Ickleford's footpath to the right and keep heading greens: look out for a post with a Hicca in the same direction towards Ickleford. Way sign, indicating a track to take After the path cuts between some trees, across Lower Green. Pass a riding beyond a meadow on your left you may school to your right and join the wide once again see the colourful slopes of avenue between chestnut trees. This the lavender farm. Continuing straight becomes a bridleway; continue along it, on, the footpath narrows as it passes the past a few houses on the left giving way village burial ground, then runs to paddocks, with Ickleford Common alongside a row of terraced houses on the right. before emerging at the top of Upper Keep going along the bridleway as it Green and the end of the walk. curves round to the left and the ground For post-walk refreshments, The Plume of becomes more rough underfoot. Feathers is well-placed on Upper Green and Continue in a straight line, ignoring a The Old George is just a minute's walk farm track to your right and a away on Arlesey Road next to St bridleway to the left; the path here Katharine's Church. There is a cafe and becomes more open, with arable land shop at Hitchin Lavender where you can on your left and trees to the right, and also pay a visit to walk in the fields and pick the ground rising slightly. Ignore a your own lavender. Additionally there is a cross-field footpath on the left; continue village convenience store opposite the straight ahead. Where the path goes church.

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Hertfordshire Way

One woman’s hunt for a Hertfordshire’s ancient churches in rare and mysterious stone centuries past, to ward off the devil. Claire Wainwright Walk a slow circuit of any ancient I was at the start of a great adventure— church in Hertfordshire, and often, if to walk the nearly 200 -mile you look very carefully, usually high up Hertfordshire Way—when I first heard where it can’t be reached, you will find of puddingstone. Working full time and a piece of golden puddingstone hidden with two young children, the walk was amidst the flint. I know this from to take me several years to complete. experience—I have searched the walls That spring day, I learned two things. of many ancient Hertfordshire churches Firstly, our county is the only place looking for such treasure. where Hertfordshire puddingstone is With puddingstone inlaid in so many found, bar a few spots in the London church walls, surely, I reasoned, it basin—so it’s rare. would be easy to find in the ground. Secondly, such was its reputation as a But, as we tramped along the powerful protector against evil that a Hertfordshire Way, scanning the paths piece of puddingstone was often for the illusive stone, it became clear: mortared into the walls of there was none to be found. As the

Claire with puddingstone—a conglomerate sedimentary rock composed of rounded flint pebbles cemented in silica quartz, and over 50 million years old!

28 Stile June 2021 months and miles rolled by, I turned Cross-section of puddingstone. over countless lumps of aggregate, and Photo by Chris Beney examined thousands of possible specimens, each time holding my breath—was this finally puddingstone? It never was. By then, the hunt had become a myth—part of my children’s childhood. We searched for bears and fairies in the woods, and puddingstone too. One day, word reached me of a wood where the golden puddingstone could be found. One weekend we went to search. At first, we found nothing, as we walked in ever decreasing circles You can find some fine specimens in towards the centre of the wood. And the Vintry Garden in St Albans, lovingly suddenly there, at the centre of a sunlit collected over the centuries and lying glade, was a tall cairn of puddingstone; quietly in the rock garden in the pieces of all sizes and colours, collected shadow of the Cathedral. There is also a over many years; a deeply peaceful and giant bolder near the Waffle House in St magical spot. Michael’s village, St Albans, where the During the lockdown, I explored more Mayor starts the ancient Beating of the of the footpaths to the east of this lovely Bounds ceremony each year. place and twice found puddingstone in And if you find yourself in an ancient hedgerows. There seems to be a rich Hertfordshire churchyard, look for the seam in that area. It is in West spot where the founders mortared in Hertfordshire—but that is all I’m puddingstone to ward off evil spirits. saying. I’ll let you enjoy the search too.

Letters Shared use paths motorists. Many cyclists seem to think From Fred Milton that the law does not apply to them. Your correspondent Chris Pagan (Stile, They freely use town footpaths and December 2020) was correct to caution open green spaces (such as parks). against shared footpaths. I live near the Warning bells hardly exist though in Alban Way connecting St Albans with my case, and hard of hearing, they Hatfield. It is no longer a pleasure to would not be very effective. walk this route; you dare not make A secondary problem is how to sudden changes in direction without prevent cyclists from churning up the ascertaining whether a cyclist is behind surfaces of country footpaths. It may be you or not. The drive to encourage illegal for cyclists to use footpaths but a cycling, though admirable, seems to be blind eye is turned to encourage cyclists at the expense of walkers rather than to get off the road.

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Area information Area Chair Membership Secretary Patricia Segui: [email protected] Dave Ashby: Area Secretary [email protected] Beverley Arnold: Media & Publicity contact [email protected] Claire Wainwright: Area Treasurer [email protected] Jean Scott: [email protected]

Ramblers: www.ramblers.org.uk Herts and North Middlesex Area: www.ramblers.org.uk/hertfordshire-north-middlesex South East Walker newspaper: www.surreyramblers.org.uk/news/35-south-east-walker.html

Footpath problems (1) — contact one of the Footpath Secretaries:

Area Footpath Secretary Mark Westley: [email protected]

District and Borough FP Secretaries Borough John Rowe: [email protected] North Herts District, Stevenage Borough David Allard: ,Watford Borough [email protected] Colin Knight: [email protected]

Hertsmere Borough, Hatfield Enfield Borough Vacant Ian Hardy: [email protected] (Temporary contact— Libby Martin: [email protected]) Broxbourne Borough, East Herts District Chris Pagan: Barnet [email protected] Libby Martin: [email protected]

St Albans City & District Haringey Phil Escritt: [email protected] Chris Barker: [email protected]

Footpath problems (2) — contact your local authority: Legal problems across Hertfordshire Rights of Way Service Dacorum Hertfordshire County Council Clayton Rae 0300 123 4047 Dacorum Borough Council [email protected] 01442 228 356 [email protected] Maintenance or obstruction issues (except Dacorum and Broxbourne) https://tinyurl.com/6cud6m6s

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Haringey Broxbourne Borough Council Frontline Business Support 01992 785 577 Haringey Council [email protected]

020 8489 1335 Barnet [email protected] Street Based Services Broxbourne Barnet Borough Council Engineering and Surveying HighwaysCorrespondence@ Services Barnet.gov.uk

Group information Ramblers members can walk with any Group throughout the country. There is summary information and a list of the published walks for all the Groups on the Area website: www.ramblers.org.uk/hertfordshire-north-middlesex. Follow the link ‘Our Groups’ to see the location of each Group, the types of walks they do and link to each Group website. Here are the Groups in our Area with contact details. Almost all walks are listed on the Ramblers national website: www.ramblers.org.uk and click on ‘Where do you want to walk?’ or ‘Find a group’. Because of Covid-19 you may need to look at the Group’s website to obtain a list of the walks on offer.

East Herts Royston Sarah Lea Miss Lesley Abbiss [email protected] [email protected] www.easthertsramblers.co.uk www.ramblers.org.uk/royston Facebook, Instagram: search East Herts Facebook: search Royston Ramblers Ramblers

Finchley & Hornsey Stag Walkers Vivien Mallindine Rebecca Dawson [email protected] [email protected] www.ramblers.org.uk/finchley-hornsey www.stagwalkers.org.uk

Herts Weekend Walkers www.facebook.com/groups/stagwalkers Liz Nolan A Group aimed at people in their 20s and 30s [email protected] www.hertsww.org.uk Watford &Three Rivers www.facebook.com/groups/hertsww Annette Cotter An informal ‘Flexigroup’ aimed at people [email protected] in their 40s and 50s. www.ramblers.org.uk/watford-three-

North Herts rivers Jo Lindridge www.facebook.com/ WatfordAnd3RiversRamblers www.nhrg.org.uk [email protected] West Herts

North London & South Herts Lynda Abbott Beth Houghton [email protected] [email protected] www.westhertsramblers.org.uk www.ramblers.org.uk/north-london-south www.facebook.com/groups/ -herts WestHertsRamblers

31 Cattle Grid Butterfly Milestone Mushrooms

A bit of fun for the young ones or the young at heart. Have fun finding these on Phone Box your next walk. Bridleway Photos courtesy of Pixabay.com

Footpath Sign Sheep Trig Point Blackberries

Crop Bale Red Kite Poppy Head Cow