Stile Journal of the Ramblers Hertfordshire and North Middlesex Area Issue 56 December 2019 A field day for younger walkers A party sets out to sample Eastern England’s open country during the National Young Ramblers weekend in June, hosted by Stag Walkers. For more, see page 5. Hertfordshire and North Middlesex Area Annual General Meeting Saturday 18 January 2020 Full details — page 15. Editor: Justin Lumley 46 Hilltop House, 117 Hornsey Lane, London N6 5NW 020 7561 1976 (home) 07773 103 839 (mobile) [email protected] www.ramblers.org.uk/hertfordshire-north-middlesex Stile December 2019 GROUP RATE WALKING HOLIDAYS FROM £59 D, B & B AT THEIR BEST Now in our 20th year— Guided and self-guided walking holidays for groups. Walking in Bath, the Cotswolds, Exmoor, Somerset and Wiltshire. Also Cyprus and Austria in Summer and Winter. Bath & West Country Walks W: www.bathwestwalks.com T: 01761 233 807 E: [email protected] 2 Stile December 2019 In this issue Editorial 4 Area news 5 Stag Walkers hosts National Young Ramblers weekend 5 Herts Local Access Forum joins call to delay 2026 deadline 7 Panshanger Park: update 8 Welwyn Garden City centenary 10 Area Walks Day 2019 10 Footpath work: Meet the Footpath Secretaries: Anne Conchie 11 Herts CC Countryside & Rights of Way Service 12 The view from County Hall 12 Definitive Map update 13 AGM supplement 15 Group reports 2019 23 Letters 27 Walks to enjoy: Tewin, Burnham Green and Bull’s Green 28 Information: Area, Groups, footpath problems 34 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. The journal is published twice a year, in June and December. 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, 2nd Floor Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW Say which Group you wish to belong to—you’ll receive the right Group/Area news. The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW. 3 Stile December 2019 Editorial: walk at the An island, entire of itself? weekend rather On a warm evening in June, than take on representatives of Groups and Area County Hall over gathered at Panshanger for a get- locked farm gates. together, the object: to explore ways If Ramblers ceased Groups might work more closely with to exist, the each other and Area. Some good ideas Groups would not; emerged—exchanging skills and tips, they would surely form themselves into sharing details of trips (so places could walking clubs and carry on much as be filled), the value of face-to-face before. meetings; fewer than the organisers had Ramblers, however, is not about to probably hoped, but hey, this was a disappear. There are many advantages completely new initiative. We have to belonging to a national organisation Libby Martin and Jean Scott to thank. that is also a bottom-up one. The The deep differences between dedicated campaigners among us are geographic and flexi groups were not only local people, they remind us of already well known. But I was struck by the national importance of Ramblers’ how many people from both kinds of campaigning role. Group did not really understand the Nor are we yet at a stage where a hard role of the Area. In an age of instant pressed Central Office can deal with communication, has Area become an Groups directly on all matters. No unnecessary layer of bureaucracy? One Group ‘is an island, entire of itself’. It Group sends no one to attend Area makes sense for Groups based near meetings, and manages rather well that each other to exchange information and way. To an Area Representative sent by ideas at least occasionally. his/her Group for the first time, the 20- This is why Libby’s and Jean’s strong Area Council with its long initiative matters; and why the work of agenda must seem unwieldy. bringing Groups closer together and Most Area officers are active in their making the role of the Area clear must Groups as well, and this undoubtedly go on. helps the two levels to keep in touch. The Council is running a morning get- But consider the nature of the Group. together before the Area AGM in January It is a strong institution—stronger than (see page 15), where Group officers, walk Area or Central Office. Groups are leaders and anyone else interested, can meet created by local people within driving to find out how other Groups work. distance of each other, not some divine Will you come along and meet your being on Albert Embankment. Most counterparts from across the county? members are probably there to enjoy a I hope you will. You’re receiving this communication because we believe that it would be of interest to you as a member/supporter. If you’d rather not receive similar information in future, please let us know. You can email [email protected], change your preferences online (log on to https://www.ramblers.org.uk/ ) or call (020) 3961 3300. 4 Stile December 2019 AREA NEWS Stag Walkers hosts National Young Ramblers weekend Rebecca Dawson across the country, including many Stag Members of Stag Walkers were Walkers members; more than expected delighted to be hosting the 2019 and about on par with the 2018 event. National Young Ramblers (NYR) People came from as far as Edinburgh weekend from 28 to 30 June. and Dorset. The event, now in its fourth year, There were three walks of different encourages members of the younger lengths and times on offer for Friday Ramblers Groups from across Great afternoon and evening arrivals, taking Britain to get together and walk, talk in various parts of the city, the Backs, and explore a different part of the some of the college greens and the river country in a sociable setting. Previous Cam. An evening social in a town pub years’ events were held in Reading, gave everyone the chance to mingle and Edinburgh and Cardiff. get to know one another (with an ‘ice This year’s weekend was held in breaker’ game devised by the NYR Cambridge which, while out of our committee), and to sign up for Area, gave us a good selection of Saturday’s walks. accommodation and evening venues, Attendees had seven walks to choose plus good transport links to walks in from on Saturday, including a six mile every direction. Walk Cambridge, the city stroll, a riverside walk to Ely city’s young walkers group, helped cathedral, and a 14 mile hike taking in with some advice and offered a couple Wimpole Hall and lovely South Cambs of walk leaders. countryside. A nine mile option took in The event attracted 85 members from Royston and Therfield Heath, ensuring 5 Stile December 2019 people had an opportunity to walk in our Area. It was one of the hottest days of the year, but walk leaders did their best to keep everyone cool. Ice cream and pub breaks were very much the order of the day! On Saturday evening Cambridge University’s Ceilidh Band provided excellent music and calling, The event attracted media coverage, and a good (if hot) time was had by all. with several mentions on BBC Radio (See photo.) We were thankful that the Cambridgeshire and a live broadcast on venue had an outside seating area to ITV Anglia News. cool off in. Feedback from attendees was Sunday gave attendees a choice of extremely positive. The event moves to three walks, at different times and of York for 2020, to be hosted by the Get different lengths, all in the direction of Your Boots On Group. Grantchester with its lovely river walk At the beginning of August the Stag through the meadows. A Ramblers Walkers NYR committee organised a Roadshow hosted just outside the city ‘thank you’ get together for the 22 centre was also on offer, and several volunteers that had helped put NYR attendees took part in navigation, rights 2019 on. A number of Stag Walkers of way and first aid workshop/training members are keen to organise more sessions. events, so look out for news! Don’t Lose Your Way photos of archive data. This is leading Libby Martin towards a system to support volunteers Things have been quiet locally on the working on historic claims which will DLYW front, but progress is being come into place in stages over the first made behind the scenes in Ramblers half of next year. It will make it easier to Central Office. A second staff member find archive data to support a claim and has been appointed to the DLYW to put in the application for a right of project, and two research volunteers way. have started work in Kew, taking 6 Stile December 2019 Herts Local Access Forum joins call to delay 2026 deadline The Hertfordshire Local Access Forum It is therefore of some significance that (LAF) has joined the chorus of the Herts LAF has written to the organisations calling for the Department for the Environment, government to delay the date when it Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to will no longer be possible to get some express its concern about the slow ancient routes recorded as public rights progress of work to record historical of way on based on historical evidence.