For future walks go to our Walks Programme for 2007

Sunday 11^th November 2007      4 miles                   Easy walking
A walk around Borehamwood – yes Borehamwood! 
Some 23 people turned up (youngest 4, oldest ?74, the  rest somewhere  in between). It was a very pleasant morning. It being the 11th of the 11th we paused for the two minutes silence before setting off.

Past Jim Gatesman's place, past Sally's old home. Into the field adorned with Wimpey Houses notices (prompting Chris to lecture on village green law and practice). Through the gap since the proper route was unusably overgrown. Said hullo to the horses. Down to Borehamwood centre via wide but ominously house-width alleyways, Tesco toilet stop, short talk from Chris & David on possible loss of paths in 2026, or in some cases earlier. Picnic off the London Loop route, a new Greenway route that BADFA helped with. Cut back up over fields and wood that was new to nearly everyone.

Parking was by kind permission of the Disabled Riding Association at Penniwell's Farm. 
Led by David Bearfield                 

Sunday 14^th October 2007          4.25 miles                Easy walking, some stiles
Kendal Hall walk. Led by Chris Beney
Some 25 of us started off from Battlers Green Farm . We passed near Battlers Green Farm, The Fruit Farm, Little Kendals Farm, Slades Farm, Kendal Hall Farm (or Little Kendal Hall Farm) sounds rural and much of it is, though not all Farms are really farms today..  We went along part of Tykeswater Lane, a key Hertsmere Greenway route which has recently been well cleared and looks very nice. Weather was kind to us.

 Terrible stile

Tykeswater Bridge

        Picnic Picnic

Sunday 15^th July 2007                5½ miles                 Easy walking, some stiles
Festival walk through both Stanmore and Harrow Weald Commons.

Thursday 21^st June 2007          2 miles      Easy walking, no stiles
Midsummer Solstice walk around Grimsdyke
7pm. Leader David Bearfield
About sixteen came. The weather was kind. The ground just sufficiently dry. We walked through the woods and out to look over to Harrow on the Hill. No sign of Wembley Stadium but that was due to sight lines not to architectural collapse. Back by the notorious pond, the telecomunications mast (Birmingham link) and of course Grimm's Dyke, still an impressive structure after all these years. Chris misled some people by saying it was Roman, it seems there is consensus among archaeologists that it was built around 300 BC. Its original purpose is unknown but one source says "as it is too small to be of military use, it may have served to demarcate territory". Some fence!

Thursday 19th April 2007     around 2 miles     easy walking.
Bluebell walk Whippendell/Rousebarn
Meet 6.30 pm.
Leader Monica Shelton
See on-line map here. Click on any photos for larger size.

Sunday 15^th April 2007         7 miles            Easy walking, some stiles
A walk along the Icknield way and around Whipsnade, Bedfordshire.
12 enjoyed the fine day.
Led by Keith Brown

Click on any photos for larger size.

   
photos Keith Brown

Sunday 11^th March 2007       4 miles
A walk around Colney Heath with emus and lakes
Led by Monica Shelton 

About 17 came, the ground had dried out just enough, so most people opted to walk the more circuitous course back.

Clicking on most of these March 11th pictures will open up to a larger picture

Surprised at the good weather                   Unusual structure                     Gravel belt
 

?Emus                                                    The lake                                                             The extra bit

                                                                                                                              Not bull rushes? Reedmace?

Sunday 14^th January 2007           4½ miles     
A walk around Shenley with lovely views of the countryside
Led by Monica Shelton 
Despite not all members getting their walks leaflet in time (apologies to those concerned) a good number came on the walk, was it 16?

Monday 1st January 2007  4 miles
Bushey to Letchmore Heath & Back                 
Chris Beney stood in as walks leader for David Bearfield who is not yet recovered.

Very good turn-out of over 35 people. Weather in days before had been bad, but the walk opened, continued, and finished with sunshine. We went across the Tylers Farm footpath, the middle kissing gate was very muddy and will be reported. On to the new A41 underpass which was suitably admired. We noticed there had been some removal of wooden side rails on the inner bank side, we see this as an improvement, such rails were never necessary. On to the cross field path. Despite BADFA having cut a cross-drain and put down some dozen paving stones and four wooden walk strips the day before and thereby made the worst section passable, the rest of that field was really difficult.

   
Some of the paving slabs put down the day before and walking on these slabs.

Since that bit of path is now a restricted byway, and probably cannot now be ploughed, we should be able to do something remedial. Once over Hilfield Brook the surface was much better and the new Greenway surface at the side of the aerodrome standing up well. We miss the trees there though and doubt that the alleged aviation requirement to remove them was well founded.

On up to the Aerodrome and over the runway, with its fine views over Bushey and Watford, Masonic Clock Tower and Harlequin Centre both clearly seen.

Over the official path route through a young bean crop to Letchmore Heath pond, now tidied up and improved, where Hazel was waiting with Mulled Wine and Mince Pies, which were all consumed before we set off on the return leg.

Chris pouring the mulled wine         photo Geoff Corré		Most of the participants

   

We went back via the Substation field. We climbed over the fences next to the illegal and locked gate, this slowed us down very considerably. The dogs, commendably on leads, flushed out the two frisky horses from the narrow end of the field by the kissing gate avoiding a potentially dangerous situation from arising if people had crowded these horses in.

We thought we would have to wade through floodwater on Sandy Lane, but there was a narrow way round the side.

Back along the Tessa Yates Greenway to the end of what was generally agreed to have been a very satisfactory new year walk.

 

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