Suggestions:

We welcome suggestions for activities – let us know your ideas

Not a Member?

No problem – everybody is welcome on our activities – but do check if we have a restriction on numbers and remember to book up

Why not become a Friend?

What's On

Our AGM  will be held on Thursday 13th May at 7.30pm at Park Hall, Harpenden. It will be preceded by a talk from John Bater of Rothamsted Experimental Station. He has been surveying wildlife on the estate for over 20 years, and will talk to us on the trends he has seen over that time. Free refreshments.

The committee does a lot of work to maintain the Nickey Line and run events. We welcome your support. Come along and give us your feedback.

Volunteer Work Parties

We will be joined by our friends from the Hemel Hempstead Conservation Volunteers. Park at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel by kind permission of the manager. Meet 300yds on the Hemel Hempstead side of the A1 tunnel. Wear stout boots. Tools and gauntlets will be provided. Contact Roger on 01582 763560 if further details needed.

Walks

We are fortunate to have a keen walker and raiway enthusiast in our membership who has worked out a fascinating walk tracing the course of the lost part of the Nickey Line at Hemel Hempstead. In 2009 this walk was hugely popular, and so will be repeated. The number of places on the day will be restricted to 25. Meet at bus stop B outside Hemel Hempstead station. This leisurely 3 mile walk will finish at the Midland Inn about 1pm, although there is the option to complete the circular walk in the afternoon with a shorter 2 mile route.

This event will be repeated Saturday 3 July if demand so requires.

Phone Roger on 01442 257030 or email roger_green@btinternet.com to book your place.

As part of a year's celebration of 900 years since the church was built, Redbourn are promoting a Village Rural Day, for which FONL propose a short walk associated with the Nickey Line. Why not 'Go off the Rails' with Doug Nevell of the Friends of the Nickey Line.

Railway mania came briefly to Redbourn, linking the village to the world, leaving a legacy of the agreeable walk/cycleway we know as the Nickey Line.   The era is long past, of which images remain (in the museum) but the practised eye can help to interpret residual clues on the route and in exploring the pre-railway landscape, with remarkable evidence of Iron Age occupation nearby, leaving earthworks which are over a thousand years older than the church. If you care to take a leisurely stroll down the Line and down the ages with Doug to locate some of Redbourn’s both most recent and most distant past, meet at  the Friends of the Nickey Line stall at 11-00 am or at 3-00 pm; back within the hour (unless inclined to visit the church as we pass adjacent to it on our return).  No charge.  Sound footwear advised.

 (for further interest see www.nickeyline.org)

We are fortunate in having this walk led by Mike Pearson, a local enthusiast. Starting from the High Street car park in Old Town, this 2 1/2 mile walk will include various habitats and part of the Nickey Line. Wear strong boots. Contact Roger on 01582 763560 if further details needed.

Volunteering:

Why not come along to one of our working parties and help with the management of the Nickey Line?

If you are interested, contact us with your details and we shall email you with future work parties