Hertfordshire News, Comment and Bulletin articles
This month
Herts rural rights of way closed due to F&M
Tyttenhanger Inquiry latest - diversion announced
Latest matters arising at the HBC Committee
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Hertfordshire rural rights of way closed
Because of the current Foot & Mouth epidemic, the Herts county council has issued the following statement:
Hertfordshire County Council has banned public access to all of the county’s rural footpaths, bridleways and common land with immediate effect. The declaration was made after consultation with the Government, in order to help protect the county’s farms. This prohibition will continue until further notice and is enforceable under Section 73 of the Animal Health Act 1981 by a fine of up to £5,000."
Full details can be found here.
Robin Morden has been back in touch with the website with news from the Tyttenhanger Inquiry. He has received an announcement that the diversion to the bridleway that formerly went across the causeway, has been approved. Rosalinde Shaw, Definitive Map Office (Environmental Management Group) from the Herts County Council writes as follows:
"I am contacting you to inform you of the outcome of the proposed diversion of Bridleway 6 running between Tyttenhanger Farm and the River Colne at Tyttenhanger....The reason for the diversion was to enable extraction from the site to be completed.
In autumn of 1997, you (Robin) wrote to the County Council objecting to the proposed diversion of this bridleway. A public inquiry was held last November, and the Inspector has now made the decision that the bridleway should be diverted.
Notices are again up on site to inform people that the Order has been confirmed and that a new bridge will be provided soon, crossing the River Colne to link Bridleway 6 with the Byway.
Now that this diversion has been completed, the County Council will shortly be advertising further changes to be made to the Definitive Map of the rights of way network in the area so that it more accurately reflects the current situation on the ground."
A copy of the map showing the planned diversion can be seen by clicking here.
Matters arising from the HBC Committee
This is a new feature on the HBC website. The bird club committee feel that it would be good to make it known to the members what their committee were discussing and some decisions that were being made. The committee meets four times a year and this release follows the latest one.
Jim Terry
Yet another Wigeon ringed at Hilfield Reservoir, has been shot in Russia, this time a drake, ringed on the 12th Jan 1997, and shot on the River Zazhiv naya, Sladkovo, Ilekskiy, Orenburg, on the 16th April 2000; a distance of 3708 km in 1190 days (though presumably the bird had traveled that distance seven times, a total distance of 25,956 km). An impressive number of recoveries considering that Gary has ringed only 14 Wigeon in total.
I am sure, that like me, you are used to hearing about the decline of farmland birds and other wildlife. BTO and HBC statistics seem to get worse for many species, and increase our laments over the farming policies that seem to be responsible. If only we could do something other than just record the decline!
Early in 2000 I was looking around for something positive to do that might lessen my frustration, when quite by chance I heard about a new initiative by the RSPB. In 1999 they had launched a pilot project called ‘The Volunteer and Farmer Alliance’ (VFA), aimed at linking bird watchers with farmers, surveying farms over four visits during the breeding season, and plotting on maps where key species were found. In return, the RSPB would provide farmers with low cost ways of helping the bird life on their farms. In the first year, 42 volunteers surveyed 40 farms, and the RSPB increased its scope in 2000. I attended a meeting at The Lodge where the program was explained, and was linked to an interested farmer in Bramfield.
I recently attended a local review meeting at Stevenage where I met other volunteers, and farmers who had participated this year. It was all very positive. This year over 200 farms were surveyed, out and do the surveys. If like me, you want to put your bird watching to good use, and help our farmland birds, I would like to recommend the project to you.
For more information contact: Jenny Atkins, The Lodge, Sandy, Beds SG19 2DL (Tel 01767 680551).
Colin Hull
