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November 2007

Welcome …

Autumn appears to be last here even if global warming has kept temperatures mild.  We have had lots of events on over the summer – you may have enjoyed some of them – but we are not finished yet so do read on…. Especially about the meeting at St Paul’s, Hemel Hempstead on 19th November, new work party and walk dates.

Friends Membership - We now have 160+ households as members.  Our thanks to all of you who have joined.  Please encourage your friends and neighbours to join too and help us make a difference. They can print a form off our website www.nickeyline.org or ring 01582 622771.

What’s Happening on the Nickey Line:

Harpenden

Tree works - The winter months are fast approaching and the time is right for tree-management work. Harpenden Town Council, supported by Lottery money gained by the Friends, are about to undertake year 2 works from the Nickey Line Management Plan. These will be along Park Hill and involve the removal or several large sycamore trees, which regular users may have noticed have been recently marked.

A copy of the management plan is available by email from CMS (peter.cooke@hertscc.gov.uk) and he will be happy to discuss any queries or concerns raised by the work.

The Roundwood Crossing map of the line - sawn off and removed by vandals, has been put back in place – with stronger supports! The notice board there was vandalised again but we have cleaned off the mess.

Knott Wood

Further down the Line, near Knott Wood several young oaks will also be removed to preserve this important and diverse low hedge section. All works will be closely supervised by the Countryside Management Service and are designed to benefit access and wildlife.

Redbourn

M1 - Along the Redbourn Parish section, ongoing work to widen the M1 caused the line to be shut for some time but it is now open. The work is progressing, albeit slowly and is expected to be completely finished by April 2008. As part of the restoration of the Nickey Line a tarmac surface will be installed under the M1 Bridge and new planting will occur where the drainage pipes were buried. 

Redbourn Parish - have also offered support for tree works beyond the M1 Bridge, towards Hemel Hempstead. Here, large sycamores will be removed to allow more light to penetrate the floor and to promote other tree species such as ash and oak.

Hemel Hempstead

Eastman Way - The Groundwork Herts project to create 300m of new surface and improve signage at Eastman Way has started and will be finished by mid November. This project, funded by the East of England Development Agency and Herts Highways and supported by Dacorum Borough Council will open up this narrow section of the Nickey Line and allow all year round use without getting covered in mud!

Solway tree thinning works - will also take place on the Nickey line, adjacent to Solway. Again, to improve light levels and promote a diverse tree stand, currently dominated by sycamore.

Big Lottery Breathing Spaces Grants - We had a visit to the Nickey Line from members of  the Breathing Spaces team who plan to feature us on their website as a successful project. We have also been invited to talk about the Line to one of their regional meetings later this month.

New Interpretation Board – Work is progressing on this – Many thanks in particular to Hazel Wilkinson and Roger Reynolds for super artwork contributions.

Notice Boards – We now have a working chain of notice boards again covering the length of the Line – Do keep an eye on them for latest news and events

EVENTS PLANNED – Dates for Your Diary – Contact 01582 622771 for details:

Talk - Monday 19 November 2007, St Paul's Church, Solway, Hemel Hempstead  7.45 pm

Find out more about the Nickey Line, its history, wildlife & biology and the up to date management plan with experts Geoff Woodward, co-author of the authoritative history book 'The Nickey Line', and Peter Cooke of the Countryside Management Service. Enjoy light refreshments and meet other users. 

Contact Roger Thornhill on 01582 763560 with any questions.  

Volunteer Work Parties:

18th November – 10am to 2pm.

Groundwork Hertfordshire are improving 300m of the Nickey Line, near the Eastman Way industrial estate. A new surface will be created and signage improved.  To finish the project, volunteers are needed to plant trees, collect litter and clear back vegetation. Families are welcome! We will meet where the Nickey Line joins the Eastman Way Industrial Estate (parking is beyond the council tip) Hemel Hempstead. Or, if you fancy a walk, park at Hunters Oak and follow the Nickey Line towards Hemel Hempstead until you reach Eastman industrial estate. We will be starting at 10am, finishing early afternoon.

16th December – 10am to 2pm.

A pre-Christmas volunteer event, complete with mince pies and mulled wine! We will be planting 65m of hedge to screen the Nickey Line from the Redbourn by-pass and coppicing hazel to provide stakes and binders for a section of hedge-laying. Please meet in the car-park off the roundabout, the junction of Harpenden Lane and Redbourn Lane at 10am, finishing at 2pm.

Walks:

Walk the Nickey Line and Rothamsted Estate, Thursday 6 March 2008, 10:00 - 12.00  - Join the Countryside Management Service on this varied circular walk taking in part of the Line to look for early signs of spring and discover some of the heritage of the line. Please wear stout footwear and meet on the Nickey Line at the Roundwood crossing, the top of Park Hill.  Contact CMS West and Southern 01727 848168 Grid Ref 512478E 214772N (TL 124 147)

Circular Walk, Sunday 16 March, starting 2pm by Redbourn  - Meet at the bottom of Harpenden Lane by the Redbourn bypass, grid reference TL 112 128 (small car park available, or street parking on Redbourn side of roundabout) for a 4 mile circular walk via Hammonds End and Redbournbury Mill, looking at the wildlife on route. Bring stout footwear. Contact Roger on 01582 763560 for details.

Nickey Line Walk 3 Around Redbourn  Sunday 17 February , 2pm Redbourn Common car park GR103119 - Why not enjoy an introductory village circuit with Friends committee member Doug Nevell, taking about an hour and a half. There will be an opportunity to visit the museum afterwards. Wrap up well.  Or use Doug’s new walk map another time!

Volunteer Work Parties

Why not join on one our work parties to work on the Line?

Have some good healthy exercise and fun too.

Contact us today for more details.