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Join us, and help protect your green space!

Your opinion counts, so please join us. £10 per year will help to protect, preserve and enhance the Heath for all.

Membership provides you with:

  • a forum to express your opinions about the Heath;
  • representation to the council, as FoBH meet regularly with the local organisations;
  • news and updates on what is happening in your community;
  • and an opportunity to help preserve the Heath for our neighbourhood and it for future generations.

The family/household membership fee is £10 per year. Additional donations are very welcome. Your support helps our volunteers to manage the woodland, and to organise action days clearing litter, and maintaining paths.

A healthy membership is vital first and foremost to give us authority when we are dealing with SADC, HCC and other bodies on behalf of the Community of Bernards Heath.

Join online now:
1: Pay £10 to Friends of Bernards Heath bank account
Account No: 50347125 Sort Code: 23-05-80
Use your full name as a reference, please.

2: Sign up using the form below. We do not pass your details on to any third party.

    Your full name as a reference when making on-line payments (required)

    Your address1 (required)

    Your address2

    Your postcode (required)

    Your phone number

    Your email (required)

    Membership fee will be paid online to FoBH bank account

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    Set up a standing order.
    1. Download & complete this form, then email it to chairman@bernardsheath.org,

    2. Instruct your bank to pay £10 immediately, and thereafter on 1st January every year.

    Pay by cheque
    1. Download and print this form, or use the form at the end of the FoBH pamphlet.

    2. Make cheques payable to Friends of Bernards Heath, and send with the completed form to: FoBH Treasurer, Heath House, Heath Farm Lane, St Albans, AL3 5AE.

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    A rescued Pear tree on SRW

    FOBH Tree Warden, Roger Miles, has spent years tending Bernards Heath and the Sandridge Road Wastes (SRW), including a multi-year effort to rescue a pear tree. Before 2017, he spotted an ornamental pear on the eastern side of the SRW which was growing at a jaunty angle.

    SRW Leaning pear tree.

    His careful work over the last seven years has resulted in a vigorous and upright tree which is now a credit to the area.

    OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

    Our thanks to Roger for his continuous, and often under noticed, work conserving our local flora.

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    Air Ambulance helicopter lands on Bernards Heath

    The local air ambulance landed on the upper field of Bernards Heath on the 13th of July to attend a collision on Harpenden Road.

    Locals directed them to the scene, and Harpenden Road was closed in both directions. Sadly, it appears to have been a pedestrian vs car requiring the attendance of numerous emergency vehicles

    Police are asking anyone with dash cam footage in the area at the time. The HertsAdvertiser reported: “PC Ryan Moore from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit, said: ‘Our enquiries are continuing, and I am urging anyone with information to please get in touch.’

    “’Were you driving in the area at the time and saw what happened? Additionally, if you have a dash cam fitted and were in the area, please check it as you may have recorded some crucial footage to assist our investigation. If you also saw the orange Aygo prior to the collision, please get in touch.'”

    If you do have any information, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

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    Gallery exhibition for local painter

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    Marks & Tilt Gallery will be exhibiting the works of Michael Cull, a FoBH member, this month. The launch party will take place on July 18th @ 6-9pm. There will be an opportunity meet the artist, along with free drinks & nibbles.

    Nick, the Gallery Manager, noted that Michael “is an artist that we should all be celebrating … We really hope you can make it.”

    Marks & Tilt Gallery, 18 London Road, AL1 1NG. July 12 – August 7 2024.

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    25th Anniversary Community picnic

    Many thanks to all those who turned out to celebrate on the 12th of May. The weather was gorgeous, and hundreds of families enjoyed the organised activities, including the treasure hunt.


    Please sign up to news & updates about your local heath, and help us to conserve our green spaces. Join before 5pm on Saturday 18th May 2024 & be in to win a bottle of Prosecco


    Newsletters arrive quarterly, or with exciting/urgent updates.

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    Bluebell season again

    Those of you spending time on the Heath or in Beech Bottom Dyke will have seen the Bluebells popping up as a lovely reminder of the season. Below are a few photos to enjoy, courtesy of Mary North.

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    Reporting problems to the council

    The Friends are happy to take questions about, and report incidents regarding, the heath, dyke and wastes to the council. Residents can now also report incidents directly to the council when logged ino the their account on the SADC website.

    FoBH chair, David Pearce, noted that this is a useful tool as “local can check to see whether the incident has already been reported by someone else or to obtain an update”.

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    Spring Action Day

    Please join us on Sunday 24th March and help look after your heath.

    Litter pick & general tidy up. Meet at Heath House, Heath Farm Lane AL3 5AE from 9:30 am.

    Litter-pickers and bags will be provided. Accompanied children welcome.

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    FoBH celebrates retiring Chair.

    Peter Cook retires after chairing the FoBH for an incredible 25 years.

    Peter Cook stepped back as chair at the recent AGM, and the occasion was marked with a celebration of his efforts.

    Fellow founding member Jenny Faldon said:
    “Peter took on the post of chair, rather reluctantly, in 1999, and grew the FoBH over 25 years. From being a small local group, the Friends are now a point of contact for residents’ concerns which Peter deals with courteously, whether it be to field complaints or to accept thanks for an issue resolved.

    Peter chairs committee meetings collaboratively, allowing all contributions to be expressed and drawing the threads together in an agreed statement of intent. Under his stewardship, committee membership has become more diverse in both age and gender.

    Over the years, Peter has been recognised by local and county councils in his leadership of FoBH as a constructive and forward-looking organisation. Links with local councillors, schools, and residents speak much for his calm and focused manner. We are fortunate in having David Pearce to fill those big shoes and to build on Peter’s legacy, and glad that Peter will remain as a committee member.”

    Thank you Peter, for your and generous efforts over the years. We look forward to your “heckling from the back-benches”.