# Watford Fieldpath Association records from Watford library
# BADFA's 20th AGM
#  Ramblers support Defra guidance
# BADFA's 20th Year
#  Woodland Trust abandons disabled parking

Watford library has always held something over half of the 19th and 20th century records of our incorporated organisation the Watford Fieldpath Association. We believe this is because for many years the head Librarian was secretary to the Association. Ownership of these records was not 100% clear, but the library had absolutely no record of acquiring them and we believed them to be ours but were very happy for them to stay in the safety of the library. Earlier this month the librarian approached us to see if we would like to take them, reason not clear, but probably space constraints as they were kept in an office in the non-public area. Our committee welcomed that as we would find it easier to sort them more thoroughly than they are at present and to take digital copies (scans or photographs) of the material that we hadn't already photographed in the library. BADFA committee's intention is to hold them for a year or so for this sorting and recording (including merging with the material that we had always held physically) and then pass them to Bushey Museum or the County Record Office if satisfactory arrangements can be made.

...    The Boxfiles and Boxes and Books from the Library

VIEWING or study
BADFA members may come and view at any reasonable time by arrangement (01923-211113) and so normally may the general public. Loan of material at present only in exceptional circumstances.

A small trial map probably made in 1901

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2011 AGM
12 May 2011

About 35 members came (and 8 apologies were received) to our 20th Anniversary AGM.

We acknowledged Ann White's work as membership secretary and we learned how that work was now being done.

Phil Wadey is retiring as Secretary and tribute was paid to his considerable behind-the-scenes work for BADFA. He spoke briefly to the meeting urging us to continue actively with getting paths recorded. Perhaps to redraw the useful map with paths for recording as well as paths that we had already got recorded.

Richard DeBoise presented the accounts and the membership numbers. The latter had experienced a dip but had now recovered. We thanked Tony North for so kindly checking the accounts and agreed unanimously to appoint him to continue with this annual task.

David then spoke to some slides showing the past year's walks.

Members were told of the value of our video records and asked if anyone would help with doing a fresh video record of Bushey paths.

A social interval followed, with special refreshments for our 20th year.

Finally Chris Beney gave an illustrated talk highlighting events and achievements during those years.

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Ramblers support Defra guidance
18 April 2011

At their national General Council the Ramblers unanimously supported a motion not only welcoming Defra's guidance on how local authorities should deal with authorising gaps and gates on public paths, but requiring the Ramblers trustees to guide and encourage all Ramblers footpath secretaries to assist their local authorities in implementing it.

Needless to say BADFA welcomes this, and we would still have welcomed it even if our Chairman had not been the originator of that motion!

The Pittecroft Trust has issued a draft paper to help people understand the rather lengthy Defra document. Both are available on www.pittecroft.org.uk

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BADFA's 20th year
20 January 2011

2011 marks BADFA's 20th year.
We plan to mark it in a few modest ways. One of these ways is to schedule at least 20 walks during the year, see our walks list on this site. We may do a bumper newsletter, and a slightly different AGM. The AGM is on May 11th, members please take note.

Members will already have got the special Leaflet with its list of one of each year's activities and achievements, but here they are for those who haven't seen them:

1991  BADFA started (Charity status in 1993)

1992  Founder member of Parish Path Partnership

1993  First of annual Bushey Festival walks

1994  Viewing platform at Hilfield Reservoir

1995  Little Martins and other links dedicated

1996  Fishers Field path creation and improvement

1997  One of many John Sears study walks

1998  Gawan Vesey Bench/Merryhill greenway

1999  Kissing gates at Attenborough’s fields

2000  Obtained first-ever Access land in the UK

2001  Created Greenway at Magistrates Court

2002  Jubilee walk and Bridge opening

2003  Built Steps and Bridge at Bushey Mill Lane

2004  Norman Hedges memorial bench

2005  Unrecorded Ways project

2006  Traffic free A41 Greenway crossing created

2007  Kissing gate near Hayfield Close, Farm Way

2008  Carpenders Park missing link recorded

2009  Blackbirds Farm public inquiry

2010  Completed walking Thames Path (184km)

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Woodland Trust abandons disabled parking.
25 January 2011

The Woodland Trust at Merryhill have brought enormous benefits to Bushey. The Countryside Commission put up a lot of money for the original land purchase (and in addition local people raised £40,000, or was it £60,000). The Commission insisted on a stakeholders group of local interests being set up, and we were and are represented on it.

One of the clear decisions of Woodland Trust with that stakeholder group was that there would not be general parking on the land but that a small car park would be built about 200 yards in from Merryhill Road to save people with walking difficulty walking that far just to get to the open country bit.

The Woodland Trust, at the Merry Hill Road entrance, fitted a standard disability-access RADAR lock in an either-or arrangement with their standard lock. But in recent years, partly because it was stolen a couple of times, have not kept one fitted.

Now, because of some dumping and general security concerns, they are unilaterally abandoning this facility.

It is not a major issue, but for BADFA which is committed to giving everyone access, it is a bit of a disappointment.

FOOTNOTE at September 2011
A missed email from woodland Trust to BADFA seems to have prevented a change of heart by Woodland Trust. They had suggested a trial reopening via RADAR key (the key used by people with disabilities that opens eg special toilets). But Since we didn't reply the new metal gates have now been ordered and are likely not to be easily adapted to use the RADAR locks.

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