Category: Maintenance

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Paths on Bernards Heath

The wooded area of Bernards Heath includes an extensive network of well used paths. As many will know, several of these paths are now very muddy and slippery.  They seem to be particularly bad this year, perhaps because rain has fallen with almost daily regularity in December and early January.  The paths then have little chance to dry out.

Friends of Bernards Heath has been improving the paths over several years, the cost being shared with St Albans District Council. The longest, a new path extension to the Ancient Briton. 

The paths have been dug to a depth of about 4 inches/10 cm and refilled with crushed road scalpings or planings. The resulting surface is much firmer than the muddy areas and drains more easily.

The sections may not always be apparent because of debris falling onto the path, but the image below shows clearly where the path surface is much improved beyond the lower muddy area.

We hope that the Council will continue to support us in our efforts to make the Heath a more enjoyable place to walk.

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Temporary closure of Children’s Play Area

To supplement the survey work that Hertfordshire County Council  has carried out on the land it owns at Bernards Heath, St Albans City and District Council has similar survey works underway on adjacent common land that it manages. 

To supplement the survey work that Hertfordshire County Council  has carried out on the land it owns at Bernards Heath, St Albans City and District Council has similar survey works underway on adjacent common land that it manages.  While this work is underway, the playground will be closed from Monday 21 December for a short period. The Council will open the playground again as soon as possible.

Richard Shwe
Head of Community Services,
St. Albans City & District Council

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Fontmell/Bridle Close access update

While the unresolved problem of the sinkhole, or crown hole, has been less prominent in the news of late, activity has been focused on access for residents of Fontmell Close and Bridle close. It is still a very muddy, but at least residents have been connected to essential utilities. A shuttle service truck is shown alongside.

Access on foot has been improved by the extending the footpath from the children’s play area to the end of Bridle Close, but rain has made vehicular access a real problem.

Continue reading “Fontmell/Bridle Close access update”
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FoBH clears paths and removes hazards

Even at this time of year, small trees do come down on the Heath and block paths. Unfortunately, St Albans Council do not see this as a priority so they are often left for some time. A member of the Friends of Bernards Heath cleared this path as it has been blocked for some time.  There may be hazards lurking in the long grass as well.

path blocked
path cleared
hazardous metal nearly 1 ft overall

Photo: RM

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Spring Action Day 2015

We would like to say Thank you to all the Friends and Supporters who turned out on Sunday 15th to contribute to our Action Day and who helped give the Heath a Spring Clean.

The Daffodils are now in flower and birds are beginning to build their nests and overall the Heath looks a much nicer place without being covered in litter, the bags which we collected are pictured below. Please help in the future by taking your litter home and using the bins provided.

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Townsend Drive verges

Friends of Bernards Heath has been working in conjunction with Townsend Drive Householders Association to replace the logs on the Heath/at the bottom of Townsend Drive in order to remedy the parking issues.

Over time the logs that were marking the border of the heath along Townsend Drive have been rotting away with the result that illegal parking was taking place.This was also a concern to Townsend Drive Residents Association, particularly near the entrance to the heath at the junction with Waverley Road. After agreement with the council that they would cover half of the cost of replacing the logs with Friends of Bernards Heath and pay the VAT, work has been completed as shown in the picture. All the logs have been secured to stakes.