Category: Vandalism

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Repair of Vandalised Bench

This bench, which faces Heath Farm Lane, was badly damaged by an attempt to burn it. Now RM, with help from some pupils at Sandringham School, has done an excellent job of repairing it. The wood is English oak, which is very expensive – it fact it would cost several hundred pounds to make a bench like this, not counting labour.

Unfortunately, there have recently been other incidents of senseless vandalism. Attempts to burn other benches and rubbish bins as well as spray painting – it only spoils the Heath for the majority of users.

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Return of the Travellers

Travellers on the Upper Field June 3, 2019

A group of Travellers appeared on the Upper Field on Friday, 31st May.

Travellers do not enjoy a good reputation in our area since they converted the old Fire Station site into a big fly tipping site in June 2017 and August 2017.   It then cost the Council tens of thousands of pounds to clear it.

There were over 20 mostly immaculate caravans on the Heath on June 3rd.  Sadly, the occupants didn’t see fit to keep the field in a similar state, for the litter and human waste left behind was dreadful. The travellers failed to vacate the field by 11.59 pm on the 3rd, but did so did the next morning.  Fortunately, the Council arranged immediate litter clearance.

Continue reading “Return of the Travellers”
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Theft and Vandalism

Theft

Friends of Bernards Heath tries to protect, preserve and enhance the Heath for the benefit of the neighbourhood as a whole, but sometimes it seems that thoughtlessness and downright theft are conspiring against us.

Anyone who has walked along the bottom of Beech Bottom Dyke will be aware that it can be difficult to get over the bank that blocks the Dyke about half way along its length. This is doubly so when conditions are wet.

To try to make this easier, one of our members has designed a system of hand holds attached to a stainless steel wire (see photo). It was securely attached to a tree at the top and provided an easy way to get up the bank. It was however, not long before the wire was stolen. The wire could not be removed without tools and it is clear that someone must have come fully prepared to take it away.

This is very annoying, considering that much time and effort was put into this to help public access. A rope for the same purpose was also stolen.If you have any information about this theft, please contact the chairman via FoBH mail (right sidebar).

Concept and manufacture: RM

Vandalism

Not content with burning any of the wood lying on the Heath, someone has attempted to burn the wooden cover of an otherwise unsightly metal bin.

Thoughtless vandalism like this detracts from what was otherwise an attractive glade for  recreational use.

The result of burning the wooden bin cover

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Planned destruction of recently restored fence

A well planned act of wanton destruction took place on the path between Spinney Cottage and Harpenden Road last Thursday or Friday, 23rd/24th August. A fence that was recently repaired was taken apart and sawn up to make a ramp for people on bikes. It is very dangerous.

If you saw any activity in this area, we would like to hear from you (use FoBH Mail in the side bar). Any witness responding will not have their name divulged to anyone other than the police.

The wood and ramp has now been removed (6/9/18)

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Missing website

Apologies if you missed the FoBH website over the last two weeks.  It was hacked, and when this happens, you don’t want to be in Russia on the first day of a holiday as I was. Nearly all of the content was recovered from backups, but it can be a tedious, complex process.  Rod

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Travellers back again

Travellers make a very unwanted return to the old Fire Station site following a recent earlier break in. They moved sturdy fencing and heavy blocks to dump more rubbish.  See above and below.  Update: it has been cleared again at considerable cost to SADC.

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Young Pear Tree vandalised

This young tree on the upper field received unwanted attention recently – broken at the stump (inset A) and a broken retaining strap (inset B, shown on another tree).  Straps have been broken on other support posts in the background too. If you have any information on the culprit, please let us know – click the FoBH icon in the sidebar.

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Underage drinking in Bernards Heath

FoBH is collaborating with St Albans District Council (SADC) on a project to reduce underage drinking in Bernards Heath and the associated extreme litter problems that have resulted. The Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) is an organisation, funded by the major retailers, which brings together all the interested parties including SADC, Police, local retailers,

Trading Standards and the Community  to address the problem in a co-ordinated way. They claim to have had very positive results in other parts of the UK and the Bernards Heath CAP  will be a pilot for the whole of St Albans.

Find out more from this CAP presentation document (pdf).