Sunday 10th November 2002 12 noon W
Monica’s walk through Mad Bess Wood

Weather threatened, but never significantly delivered, the rain. But ground was very wet.
About 12 people. Excellent picnic spot beside Ruislip Lido.
Mad Bess Wood (according to Monica): Bess was a lady 'wronged', she fled to the wood and lived there. She used to dress up in white cloths and frighten people away.

click for another, fuller, group

click for larger of this

Sunday 13th October 2002 11.00 am W
Bushey Heath to Grimsdyke 
Leader    David Bearfield     4 miles
A circular walk through some lovely countryside using some little known paths.
29 people came on this walk, the weather held out pretty well, we mostly sat on the ground for the picnic, which was at the Jubilee bridge. We went, by accident or design, through the grounds of the Grimsdyke Hotel and on across Grim's Dyke. No one knew who Grim was so here is a reference:
Although collectively known as Grim's Ditch it is generally agreed that these landmarks probably have more than a single origin. The Anglo Saxons commonly named features of unexplained or mysterious origin, 'Grim'. The word derives from the Norse word grimr meaning devil and a nickname for Odin or Wodin the God of War and Magic. Grim's Ditch or Dyke is not confined in usage to this part of England being found both in Yorkshire and the West Country. The earliest recorded mention of the Grim's Ditch in these parts was from an 1170 Missenden Cartulary, a manuscript recording land in the ownership of the then newly founded Missenden Abbey. Source http://www.cholesbury.com/grimsditch.htm

Sunday 8th September 2002 10.00 am W
The Thames Footpath Walk
Leader     David Bearfield
21 people came, good weather, just a few drops of rain. This is probably the last Thames walk to start from Stanmore station because of the travel time. BADFA is considering a minibus and pre-booking for next year's Thames Walks. Not the most interesting stretch of the river, but pleasant enough.
 
 

Sunday 14th July 2002 12 noon 5½ miles
Festival Walk
A circular walk, part of the Bushey Festival taking the new Greenway from Little Bushey Lane, Elstree Aerodrome and the Country Park.

In the wood at the Country Park	Crossing the bridge built by BADFA
Crossing Elstree Aerodrome's runway, path Bushey 46
A tricky stile near Little Bushey Lane
About 44 people came on this year's BADFA organised Festival Walk. Apart from one or two hiccups caused by changes that we had made to the plans, and a misunderstanding which got a car locked away, it went pretty well. The weather was kind to us if a bit on the hot side and the chilled water that Hazel Beney brought to us at our picnic point was appreciated. David Bearfield helped a large number of people over the Country Park post and rail fence. This gave a nicer and safer walk than using the road and many felt it warranted the delay caused by the fence. We will see if we can get a gate there for future.

 

Friday 21st June 2002  2miles   7.30 pm Midsummers’ Eve Walk
no enlargement available at present	A bit damp after such a fine day. But some 22 people enjoyed this short summer evening walk up path 12 and back via the Police Club..

Monday 3rd June 2002    12 noon    2.5 plus 1.5 miles
A Walk for the Queen’s Jubilee

photo cb
photo P Buckmaster	photo N Hedges

Click on the above pictures for larger views
Some other pictures during construction (65K)

Jubilee fun with wine, fireworks (50 'bangs'), cakes, and rain.

Nearly 100 people enjoyed the Jubilee footbridge opening on Woodland Trust land in Bushey on Monday 3rd June.
About 70 started off from Bushey High street, led by David Bearfield, and walked the 2½ miles to the bridge, others came direct from Carpenders Park and Bushey Heath and elsewhere.

All were offered a glass of wine and little decorated cakes made by Pam Rivers and Jill Bonell. Then, after an opening speech by Norman Hedges whose father took part in Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in Bushey in 1887, Pat Mackay and Hazel Beney cut the ribbon on the bridge decorated with flags and bunting by Pam and Jill, declaring the bridge open. Charles Beney then set off a large rocket and 50 'bangs', one for each year of the queens' reign. We just caught the rain, but that did little to damp things and people stayed around chatting for some time.

The bridge was designed by Friends of Attenborough's Fields Chairman Ian Mackay and the oak used was from Woodland Trust trees. Much of the construction and assembly has been done most expertly by volunteers from various Merryhill Stakeholder groups. BADFA organised the walk, fireworks etc.

   
 

Saturday 11th May 2002  11.00 am 4 miles 
Colne Valley walk
   
click on the pictures for larger versions
Spring was in the air, weather held off comfortably. Chris Beney led the thirteen walkers round past the Wall Hall open air theatre and up to the Blackbirds Farm track. This route is threatened by the developments planned for Wall Hall and we may have to put in a claim for it. Then on down to the river for a picnic. Lots going on including rescue of a horseriders' knee pad from the swirling waters. Up past the Munden House lodge rebuilding works. On to the water meadows. Having mastered two poor stiles, on to a little bluebell wood and back to Wall Hall. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed this modest length walk.

14th April 2002  10.00 am 
The Thames Footpath Walk 10 miles
Despite the attractions of the Marathon twelve people turned out for the Kingston to Shepperton section of the Thames Walk. The first part was sunny, but it clouded over later and became quite chilly. One BADFA member missed her bus to the start (it failed to stop) and so missed the walk. We hope to put more pictures here when the film is developed.

click picture for larger views

10th March 2002 11.00 am
Moor Park Meander   5 miles
Some 23 people came on Monica's circular walk from the Aquadrome, passing Batchworth Lock on the Grand Union Canal, thence through Moor Park Golf Course where our chairman had a golf ball driven at him (shall we call him flaghead?). We enjoyed a view of Moor Park mansion, built in 1678 for the Duke of Monmouth. We picnicked at Bishop's Wood where the London Loop nearly joins the definitive path and actually joins the used path. We returned via Woodstock and Juniper Hills to the Aquadrome, weather windy but rain held off.

		The start
	Monica's dog

10th February 2002 11.00 am
Venture into Aldenham   7.5 miles