For future walks go to our Walks Programme for 2008

Festival Walk 2008 - 20th July
Leader David Bearfield  5.5 miles

A great turnout of 53 people, we had to send for more hand-out maps, luckily we hadn't destroyed some slightly faulty ones. Weather good, and held, with only a miniscule touch of rain.

On the south facing slope. Many people had never been up here before.

The Hertfordshire Puddingstone Millennium Cairn worked its magic again. We couldn't find it at first. It does that to people. Its 55 million year origins were duly admired.

We proceeded to the Pooh-bridge, which has the added interest that water appears to flow the wrong way, i.e. uphill.

No pictures taken at the Jubilee Bridge and Norman's bench, so here is the opening by Norman himself. ion 2002.
 

A mini-bridge on the way to Mutton Wood.

On up to Grimsdyke Golf Course where Hertsmere meets Three Rivers and Harrow. On towards Grims Dyke Hotel. A glitch when some failed to follow-my-leader, we regrouped, passed and admired Hazel Bearfield's benches and on to the picnic spot with magnificent views of north London and its game of spot the landmarks.

In Harrow Weald Common.

We went on to Whomsoever Lane, after a few people had gone the wrong way. Whomsoever was one of the first paths put on the official map by BADFA and the British Horse Society.

And on down Merryhill Road to the start point, having shed various Bushey Heath residents on the way.

21 June 2008
Summer Solstice Field walk
Leader: David Bearfield

Rain threatened, but didn't come. This select group did the 2008 Solstice walk             Photo Ann White

A surprise was the appearance of hot ginger wine and 'solstice' chocks at the half way point

Bushey 12 has a lot of history. Badfa's widening deal with the farmer in exchange for our (Norman Hedges & Chris Beney mostly) putting up a new barbed wire fence for the farmer beside it. The horse burial mound nearby. The crossing points for high voltage electricity and for high pressure gas, thankfully both underground. The Butchers' Broom plant, still surviving. The dip in the ground where Norman broke his ankle and thereby saved his life (that story will keep). The two kissing gate remnants by the Long Pond. The site of the Long Pond, the farm cottages now vanished, and the farm (Hedges Farm). The walnut tree now nothing but a dead arch. The first two Kissing Gates that BADFA ever did. The 'meteorite'. Oh and the mobile phone mast that we managed to get moved. Phew.

1st January 2008


Water meadows near the Pumping Station


Half Way      (photo J M-C)

The break for mulled wine and mince pies