Spring Action Day, 3 April 2022
Storm Eunice savages trees on the Heath
This storm on Friday 18th of February was one of the fiercest in the UK for many years. It took down several trees, mainly on the area to the west of Harpenden Road. The biggest was this near the entrance to Spinney Lane. Luckily, there were no leaves on the trees, otherwise damage could have been more widespread. The tree was blocking Spinney Lane, but has now been cleared.
Action Day November 2021
There was quite a reasonable turnout, on a day which was cold with sunny periods. Not a lot of litter to be found, although several bags were collected – thank you everyone for your help.
Fallen Field Maple Branch
This substantial branch of a Field Maple Tree has fallen on the path from Edmond Beaufort Drive and Spinney Lane. We can remove the smaller branches to clear most of this well used path, but the main part of the branch will need a chain saw.
The image on the right shows the lobed form of the leaf which is relatively small compared other maple leaves on the Heath. These trees are members of the acer family.
Thanks to RM for advice on trees.
Update 22/10/21: branch now removed from path
It’s what FoBH are for
Earlier this year Heath Field gained another piece of furniture; a bench seat in memory of Marian Wright. This has been installed beside the cycle path, filling a space where two trees had successively succumbed to vandalism.
Being made from quite substantial oak timbers the seat should be immune to damage, but instead, a potential hazard was noted, to small children in particular. The two attachment bolts for the backrest, see below were over-long and stuck out where a child’s head or face could have made contact, with unpleasant results. The seat should not have left the factory in that state.
We pointed the possible danger out to SADC Green Spaces, but as nothing had been done the FoBH fixer was deployed, with the improvement that can be seen in the photos.
A similar seat on the other side of Harpenden Road has bolts concealed in the wood.
Photos and text: RM
A sweet Smell of Success
In the 1930s, St Albans Council erected a combined bus shelter and public toilets in the south corner of Heath Field. Sometime in the early 1980s, the building was demolished, leaving some laurel bushes which were common landscaping accompaniments to such facilities.
Continue reading “A sweet Smell of Success”Bluebells on Beech Bottom Dyke
No need to go to Heartwood to see a magnificent display of bluebells. Being of the native variety, they are not only a feast for the eyes, but also for the nose. Find them from the Valley Road entrance to the Dyke on the side towards the railway.
Photo: AK
Breaking News on Sandridge Road
On Sunday morning, 18th April 2021, one of the Sandridge Road ornamental cherry trees found the weight of blossom on a branch too much to bear; it fell across the footpath and most of the road. Fortunately, nobody on the pavement or road came to any harm and that it was a Sunday morning when traffic was relatively light.
Continue reading “Breaking News on Sandridge Road”Aerial Views of the Upper Field, Bernards Heath
These views were taken by a drone in summer 2020.
Ground Survey of the Lower Field by GBG Geotechnics
Following the emergence of a depression or ‘hole’ not far from the centre of the Lower Field in late November 2019, Hertfordshire County Council commissioned a geophysical survey of the Field by GBG Geotechnics, Cambridge. A lengthy quite technical report on the survey was made available to FoBH and here we try to summarise its findings.
The hole was promptly surrounded by safety fencing and soon after by more fencing. The appearance of yet more fenced off areas last year led to some concern whether the whole field would be excluded to the public. We have no indication that this might be the case.
Continue reading “Ground Survey of the Lower Field by GBG Geotechnics”