Category: Maintenance

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Drought claims young cherry tree

The prolonged period of low rainfall has been obvious is the grass, which has been dying on the heath since the end of May. However, the parched conditions have now claimed a more substantial victim, a young cherry next to the cycle path on the upper heath.

Image shows bright yellow parch marks of the old shelter in the dying grass, with a dead cherry tree planted on top.

The tree was planted several years ago, on top of the old air raid shelter. Despite the FOBH tree warden making the council workers aware of the problem, planting continued. The tree has exceeded expectations, until now. The attached photo clearly shows the parch marks of the old shelter in the ground, with the poor tree planted on top.

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Large branch blocks path

Image shows large branch fallen from substantial tree, causing damage to surrounding scrub

A substantial brach has fallen from an Ash tree and is blocking one of the paths off Spinney Lane. The branch fell during the weekend of the 12th & 13th July and has been reported to the council.

Please let the FOBH know of any ongoing access issues.

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Drilling in the old orchard

It appears that the old orchard (the bottom, sloping field which boarders Shepards close and Heathlands school) will soon be fenced off. FOBH understand that this is to allow drilling on the site to check the soil ahead of a planning application for the site.

It is believed that there will be a planning application for up to 50 houses lodged on the site soon. For our latest information, check out our AGM minutes.

Drilling sites marked out on old orchard
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2025 AGM Minutes

The Friends of Bernards Heath held their 2025 AGM on Saturday the 1st of February at the Jolly Sailor. Many thanks to patron Paul for hosting us, and to all who attended. Please find the minutes below and contact us with any queries.

Topics addressed included:

  • Update on the possible development on the heath
  • possible changes to the Pioneer Club
  • review of FOBH activities: playground developments, picnic celebrations, maintenance…
  • a look ahead to 2025
FoBH 01FEB25 AGM minutesDownload
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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.

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

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Work starts to refurbish the playground on the Heath

“It is happening at last! The playground is closed for work to begin on its refurbishment.

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Click on an image and use > or < keys to navigate. Click X (top right) to exit.

The target of £100,000 is now just a whisker away, a fantastic effort by the whole community!

With the refurbishment underway, the new playground will be ready in January, well before the Spring deadline. 

Let’s Play at Bernards Heath would like to thank all those who have donated to help make this dream a reality.”

Photos and text: DP

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What a Bind

Invasive bindweed on the Heath


You’ve probably noticed that a plant with attractive trumpet shaped white flowers (see photo left) inhabits many parts of the Heath. It appears between spring and autumn and is called hedge bindweed, or just bindweed and it has a habit of choking other plants by winding around their branches. There is also a smaller form, commonly called convolvulus with white or pink flowers.

Bindweed on the Lower field

These plants can become a menace because they have long root systems not easily removed. They can be controlled by commercial weedkillers containing glyphosate . Bindweed is now well entrenched on many parts of the Heath.

If you have a garden, it is advisable to treat affected areas as soon as possible. Japanese knotweed can also take over areas of ground and we have successfully treated an outbreak.

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It’s what FoBH are for

Earlier this year Heath Field gained another piece of furniture; a bench seat in memory of Marian Wright. This has been installed beside the cycle path, filling a space where two trees had successively succumbed to vandalism.

Being made from quite substantial oak timbers the seat should be immune to damage, but instead, a potential hazard was noted, to small children in particular. The two attachment bolts for the backrest, see below were over-long and stuck out where a child’s head or face could have made contact, with unpleasant results. The seat should not have left the factory in that state.

Over long bolt above (left) and modified bolt (right)

We pointed the possible danger out to SADC Green Spaces, but as nothing had been done the FoBH fixer was deployed, with the improvement that can be seen in the photos.

A similar seat on the other side of Harpenden Road has bolts concealed in the wood.

Photos and text: RM

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Ground Survey of the Lower Field by GBG Geotechnics

Following the emergence of a depression or ‘hole’ not far from the centre of the Lower Field in late November 2019, Hertfordshire County Council commissioned a geophysical survey of the Field by GBG Geotechnics, Cambridge. A lengthy quite technical report on the survey was made available to FoBH and here we try to summarise its findings.

The hole was promptly surrounded by safety fencing and soon after by more fencing. The appearance of yet more fenced off areas last year led to some concern whether the whole field would be excluded to the public. We have no indication that this might be the case.

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