Category: Green Ring

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Spring Laurel clearing continues

Our team have been hard at work on the Harpenden Road/Townsend Drive side of the heath. Laurels have been cleared, creating more light into the undergrowth. A giant lump of flint was obstructing one of the paths. The team put in a mighty effort and managed to dig it up.

In the process, interesting fun-guys uncovered some interesting Fungi. The orange coloured fungi may be a rare fungus called Sarcoscypha austriaca or it could be a more common fungus called Aleuria aurantia common name is Orange peel fungus.

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Storm Amy brings down branches

FoBH members report a large branch has fallen across National Cycle Route 6 – the path running between the school sports grounds and Harpenden road (pictured top).

There was also a branch across one of the paths near the old WWII water tank. The FoBH chair managed to shift it! (Pictured below.)

Please be alert for any other fallen trees or branches and do let us know so we can report them. chairman @ bernardsheath.org

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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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St Albans Green Ring – Our statement

The section of the Green Ring that passes through Bernards Heath has been completed. The part that crosses the Upper Field was already tarmac and this has been widened to 2.5 metres.

FoBH resisted the installation of a similar path passing through the wooded area connecting the corner of the Field to Harpenden Road. This was felt to be too “urban” for the natural character of the Heath and as a compromise it was agreed this part would be only 1.5 metres wide and made of crushed stone without kerbs. Once the edges have regrown and the surface has weathered in it should not be too obtrusive. However FoBH has reservations about the sand finish which has been applied to the crushed stone. This does not seem to be ideal for a cycle path and we doubt its durability. See more about the Green Ring.  Please advise any comments via Facebook, Twitter, or email by clicking the FoBH mail icon.