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Beating the Bounds

A walk around the parish of St Saviour’s, Sandpit Lane conducted by local historian Peter Burley.

Meet at the hall, 25 Sandpit Lane at 2.00 pm
on Sunday 19th February.

The walk will be followed by tea and a talk in the hall at 3.30 pm. You are welcome to arrive in time for the talk.
It will not cover the whole boundary, that would be too ambitious, but the eastern third of the parish going from the church via the Wick and back again along Marshal’s Drive.

This is a valedictory event for Father Peter at St Saviour’s and all are welcome.

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Fontmell Close open again

It must be a great relief to residents of Fontmell and Bridle close that almost all traces of the sinkhole have gone after 14 months of repair works.  The Grand Opening is on Saturday, 3rd December.

FoBH looks forward to the removal of the temporary road across the Lower Heath, scheduled for early next year.

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Autumn Action Day – Clearance Work at Beech Bottom Dyke

Despite heavy rain on the morning of Sunday 16th October, an intrepid group of volunteers were able to clear large areas of brambles adjacent to the path on the southern side of the Dyke.  This clearance work not only makes the the path more accessible, but gives clear views to the bottom of the Dyke. It may also provide more ventilation to the Dyke and reduce its boggy nature at certain points.

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One Year has elapsed since Fontmell Close Sinkhole Event

The news of a sinkhole in Fontmell Close, which appeared dramatically in the early hours of the 1st October 2015, rapidly hit the national media.

Not only were residents stranded in Fontmell Close and Bridle Close, but the event prompted a long sequence of investigations on the adjacent Bernards Heath and the construction of a relief road across the Lower Field.

The 12m hole has been partially filled with concrete and most services restored. You can read a press release by the Herts County Council, who hope to have the road through Fontmell Close open again by Christmas.

There is no news yet about the removal of the temporary road across the Lower Field.

There are more links to the sinkhole in our document archive.

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Thunderstorm over the Bernards Heath area

A thunderstorm on the 16th September over Bernards Heath broke the long spell of relatively dry weather in July, August and September, when local gardens and the Heath were looking parched.  We’ve only been measuring rainfall and temperature over the last 2½ years, but this was a record.  You can find our data here.

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Japanese Knotweed on the Heath

Japanese knotweed, showing its characteristic zig-zag branch structure

There have been several outbreaks of the not unattractive, but very invasive plant Japanese knotweed on the Heath, mostly near the old Fire Station and behind the Judo Club. It is a major problem in that it grows very rapidly and can cause serious damage, especially to underground structures. A garden outbreak can easily be a reason to refuse a mortgage application.

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