NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2012 ICKNIELD WAY ASSOCIATION During the last six years the Icknield Way Path has WALKERS’ GUIDE BOOK—6TH EDITION not changed dramatically! However, a significant number of stiles have Some clarification or slight alteration has Huge thanks are due to Sue for all her been replaced with kissing been made to the route at the west end, at hard work on our new edition, due out gates (always good Ickleford and at the end of the Thetford Link. now and available via our website. news!) and red ink was Now that digital printing is the norm we can beginning to appear on order a print run of 5, 50 or 500 copies – Sue Prigg’s guide book whatever is required. We can also make update pages! small changes to the guide as needed for each print run so there is no risk of having a After the AGM last year, stockpile of out-of–date guidebooks! all the voluntary wardens were provided with a copy We searched for a new image for the cover of the pages covering that everyone liked – email is a great tool their patch. The route when your committee live up to 100 miles was ‘ground-truthed’, any apart! John & Gil Boardman suggested the changes and suggested wonderful painting of the Icknield Way by text improvements incor- Spencer Gore, painted in 1912, held by the porated into Sue’s new Art Gallery of New South Wales. When version and all necessary approached they were happy to supply us alterations were made to with a licence for its use on the front page of the maps. our guide book. Once again, electronic com- munication has been to our advantage! INSIDE THIS ISSUE NEW COMMITTEE SAVES THE DAY! Tom Chevalier & 2 Lesley Blundell Fears that the Icknield Way Association Warm thanks were extended to David Knettishall Heath 3 might have to fold have proved themselves Northrop for taking care of the Associa- groundless. Fortunately, at the 2011 AGM tion’s finances for more than twenty Edward Thomas 4 held at Wallington last October, several years. Centenary enthusiastic members stepped forward to offer their help in continuing the good work A further development since the AGM is Fancy a Walk? 4 of the Association in promoting one of Eng- that Chris (who thought she could get land’s best lowland trails. away with complete retirement from the AGM report & 5 committee!) has agreed to take over as Accounts Tom Chevalier of Toddington and John Newsletter Editor from Peter Baker who AGM 2012 5 Boardman of Sawtry were elected as has been doing a sterling job for years. Chairman and Treasurer respectively. Peter has been telling the committee John Boardman 6 Although not finally agreed at the AGM, the that he is now too old to learn new tricks post of Secretary has now been filled by and hoped that someone could be found Snippets 6 Lesley Blundell of Shillington in Bedford- to do a better job than him. So this is shire. Chris’s first effort and she hopes that Warden Contact 7 members and friends alike will enjoy the Info Former acting Chairman and Secretary, new presentation. She also hopes that Committee Info 7 Chris James, stepping down from this com- she will be forgiven for the inevitable bined role after many years said she was glitches and errors which will be all hers. Hitchin Rail Link 8 absolutely delighted that she could now Web Info step down from the leadership role sure An account of the traditional AGM walk Can you help? that the Association will continue to thrive. can be found within. Guide book Info TOM CHEVALIER—CHAIRMAN I was born in Sevenoaks, Kent and More recently, I have worked closely plea from Chris for new committee moved to Toddington, Bedfordshire, with Central Bedfordshire Council members that I offered to help. Be- in 1989 where I have been active in trying to ensure that way-marking fore I knew it, Chris had persuaded protection of rights of way for nearly along other sections of the Icknield me to consider being the new chair- 20 years. I walk my dog on the Way in Bedfordshire are correctly man and I was elected at the 2011 paths locally, whenever possible with marked because I think this is AGM held at Wallington! my wife and children, but always essential to anyone following a long- with a pair of secateurs handy! distance path. I believe the IWA has a challenge to maintain the active involvement of I run my own company which calcu- Through the Central Bedfordshire & highway authorities during these lates the energy used by street lights Luton Local Access Forum, I have tight financial times, but the enthusi- for four of the six local authorities pursued the cause of ‘least restric- asm and effort of its members will tive’ access. This has resulted in a ensure that the Icknield Way contin- along the route, as well as about 100 structures policy being adopted and ues to retain its recognition as an authorities across England, Scotland a steady reduction in the number of established long distance route. & Wales. My family commitments stiles across the county. There are and community activity have to be now just two stiles between balanced with keeping the business Dunstable Downs and Sundon Hills financially supporting my family! along the Icknield Way Path (and that landowner refuses all requests I have taken an interest in the to replace them with gates!) How- Icknield Way Path and have ensured ever, the overall situation is a marked improvement allowing much that the route in my locality has been way-marked. When the fifth edition easier access for pedestrians of all of the guide book was being ages and abilities. prepared, I challenged Tony North- wood when he wished to take the So, although I have been local eyes route away from Toddington – the and ears along the Way for quite a compromise was the Toddington while, keeping in touch with Tony alternative route! Northwood, it wasn’t until last year’s LESLEY BLUNDELL—SECRETARY I was born in Manchester and trained including public libraries, archives, I am a long-standing member of the originally as a librarian. Except for 3 museums, information and advice Prehistoric Society and secretary of years as a Government policy adviser offices and the provision of inter- the North Hertfordshire Archaeologi- on libraries and archives, I spent my preters. That was the day-job, cal Society. whole career working in local govern- which I enjoyed thoroughly and ment. from which I retired in 2007. My other historical interests include Richard III (I’m an ardent Ricardian) For 25 years I worked at Directorial My real passion, though, was al- and the myths and reality behind the level, managing a range of services ways history and in 1979 I obtained Arthurian legends. When not ab- an external degree in mediaeval sorbed in the past I’m a keen gar- history from London University. dener and animal lover with a menag- Gradually, my historical interests erie of dogs, cats and fish. Last but moved backwards in time until I not least I’m a devoted great-aunty to arrived at the Iron Age and prehis- Isabella, Jack, Ethan and Sam. tory. My interest in the Icknield Way was It was at this point that I discovered first sparked when I came across the first archaeology and then palaeo- route-markers at various points while anthropology, the study of human walking my dogs in the Chilterns and I origins, and during retirement this got involved with the IWA to help sus- led me to an MSc in palaeo- tain and promote the Path both for anthropology and palaeolithic historical reasons and as a keen archaeology. walker. A wind-blown Lesley— no prizes for guessing where! KNETTISHALL HEATH—SAVED FOR THE NATION! Following overwhelming and Swathes of heather and tufted hair- ponies to Knettishall Heath to help main- generous support by mem- grass mingle with sheep’s sorrel and tain the more open landscape of Breck bers of the Suffolk Wildlife harebell on the acid soils, with quak- Heath and scattered trees which are Trust and other local peo- ing grass and dropwort on chalk. Of needed by so many unique Breckland ple, including the Icknield the more than 12,500 species living species. in the Brecks, 30% are nationally Way Association, the Trust is rare. Some, like grey carpet moth now the proud custodian of and maiden pink, found at Knettishall Knettishall Heath. Very few Heath, are a speciality of the Brecks. places are this special. For centuries, rabbits have main- Knettishall Heath is an ancient tained the short species-rich turf and place and echos of the past are patches of bare ground which many etched into the landscape. The Breckland plants and animals de- Bronze Age round barrow, Hut Hill pend on. The remains of an 18th dates from 2400-1500BC and (our) century rabbit warren at Knettishall Icknield Way, which links to the Heath are a reminder of a time when Peddars Way at Knettishall Heath, rabbits were an important part of the is possibly the oldest route in Brit- Breckland economy. ain, dating back to 4000BC. Maiden Pink Dianthus deltoides The impact of myxomatosis, intro- (Photo: Peter Wakeley, Natural England) Breckland is one of the UK’s biodi- duced in the 1950’s, was catastro- versity hotspots and the designa- phic and rabbit numbers here have tion of much of Knettishall Heath as never recovered. Over the past 60 a Site of Special Scientific Interest years, without rabbits to keep them Grid reference (SSSI) reflects this.