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See what we have been up to our first two years!

See what we have been up to our first two years!

When you, our Friends, first registered, you were invited to identify your interests, particularly with respect to walking, running, dog walking, cycling, and having an interest in wildlife. There was also the opportunity to list any special interest, and a few of our members have told us they are railway buffs.

We have just completed our second year of organized events, and since our inception we have run twenty-nine, hopefully catering for all tastes. Ten of these have been work parties, and we now have a core of dedicated volunteers who support us as required both at weekends and midweek, and use the recently purchased tooling. The work is performed in accordance with the Management Plan agreed between Countryside Management Service (CMS) and the local councils, but the Friends’ ideas are welcomed and incorporated where possible. We are keen to retain the views exposed by the electricity company’s contractors thirty months ago alongside Knott Wood between Redbourn and Harpenden, as this is unique to the Nickey Line. We have been removing the regenerating trees and shrubs where appropriate, and we plan to manage this stretch actively to benefit wild flowers, birds and butterflies. We think this area has great potential as a wildlife haven, and a bee orchid was found along this stretch of the path last summer.

Together with CMS we have run six recreational walks, and eleven themed walks, which have been widely advertised locally. These include walks to learn wild flowers, birds, fungi and the railway history, all led by excellent leaders, to whom we are very grateful. Two cycle rides have also been organized using the Nickey Line.

At many of these events we attract more of the general public than we do Friends, and this is a useful means of promoting the Nickey Line as an attractive leisure amenity, while at the same time giving us the opportunity of recruiting Friends.

We are also grateful to CMS, the local councils for helping us promote our busy programme, and those of you who have joined our events and work parties.

See what we have been up to our first two years!