Category: Fly Tipping

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What does the Friends of Bernards Heath do for you?

The Friends of Bernards Heath (FoBH) believe that the Heath provides an exceptional natural amenity for the locality and the Society exists in order to protect, preserve and where appropriate enhance the Heath for the benefit of the neighbourhood as a whole. Membership provides you with a forum to express your opinions about the Heath and an opportunity to help preserve it for future generations.

We liaise with the Countryside Management Service and St Albans District Council to update the Greenspace Action Plan for Beech Bottom Dyke and Bernards Heath.

This is just a selection of work done by the Friends of Bernards Heath.


Campaigns to protect the Lower Field
from further development


Planned interpretation boards for the Heath, Sandridge Road Wastes
and Beech Bottom Dyke

Continue reading “What does the Friends of Bernards Heath do for you?”
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Local businesses support action on fly tipping at Soothouse Spring

Left to right: William Naylor of Buttle’s Building Supplies, with Peter Cook and Rod Keat, Friends of Bernards Heath

Bernards Heath is a unique, widely used public space in St Albans. Close to the centre of town, it provides attractive open spaces and woodland of historic interest, quite unlike parks in the city.

Unfortunately, its very nature lends itself to to unsightly fly tipping. Recently, it has happened in nearby Soothouse Spring, next to Beech Bottom Dyke, an impressive ancient earthwork, which the Friends of Bernards Heath has opened up and tried to keep litter free.  Fortunately, two local businesses, Buttle’s Building Supplies and A1 Tools and Fixings, have jointly supported the installation of a substantial fence alongside the Dyke to deter follow-up incidents. The area is now covered by surveillance cameras.

Litter at the site, encroaching on Beech Bottom Dyke.

Where are Beech Bottom Dyke and Soothouse Spring?

An aerial view of the area. The King William IV junction is just off the view, bottom right.

We thank William Naylor (Buttle’s) and Paul O’Flanaghan (A1 Tools and Fixings) for organising the removal of the fly tipped rubbish and installation of the fence.

Photos: RM

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Fly-tipping on the Heath

Having recently cleared much of the litter from the Heath, we now have two cases of illegal fly-tipping. This irresponsible practice is not only dangerous and unsightly, but has cost the Council £35,000 in the year 2014 – 2015. You can report cases of fly tipping to the council using the hotline on 01727 819598 or email: a.cleanerdistrict@stalbans.gov.uk

Update 14 March 2016

Another example in Spinney Lane – it was very promptly cleared by Council contractor.  These finds are searched for evidence of source, but nothing was found in this case.

Photos: PC