Newsletter no. 5 Spring/Summer 2001

Page 2

DETAILS OF MEETING PLACES

ASHRIDGE

Meet in the un-marked car park at grid reference SP 969118, on the south side of the minor road that runs east from Aldbury village. From the Northchurch district of Berkhamsted, take the B.4506 road northwards (towards Whipsnade, Bedfordshire), then turn left into the minor road to Aldbury. The car park is on the left. This area is marked as “Gryme’s Dell” on O.S. “Explorer series sheet 181. We should be trapping in the car park area so latecomers can find us here without problem. An extensive area of ancient, broad-leaved woodland, that is almost completely un-recorded. By permission of the National Trust.

BALLS PARK

From the A.10/A.414 road junction in the east (roundabout 1), drive west along the A.414 towards Hertford. At the next roundabout (roundabout 2) carry straight on the A.4141 towards Hertford town centre. Just before you reach the next roundabout (roundabout 3), which is in the town itself, there is a road on the left which bends left then runs south past Balls Park. This is Mangrove Lane. If driving from the west through Hertford, you should take the A.414 from roundabout 3 (towards Harlow). There is a right turn into the lane through the central barrier in the roadway of the A.4141 but it is easy to miss, in which case go on to roundabout 2 and double back. Travel down Mangrove Lane and just a couple of yards after the second width restriction there is an entrance to Hertford University on the left (just after the school at grid reference TL 331121). Drive down this entrance track (one way traffic) and at the end turn right, following the signs for “Reception”. There is masses of parking – just look for my white camper van in the car park here. We will be trapping in the parkland landscape that surrounds the buildings, probably adjacent to the A.414 road. Latecomers be aware that this is a University Campus and there are security patrols; please stop if challenged – the security staff will tell you where we are.

BROCKET HALL GOLF COURSE, WELWYN

Meet at the southern entrance gate at grid reference TL 217120. This is in the village of Lemsford, on the B.653 between Welwyn/Hatfield and Wheathampstead. We need to use the intercom to get security staff to open the electronic gates. Latecomers will be able to get in but will be considered “impolite” by security staff unless they have warned me in advance. If you are on the way and delayed, please stop and let me know on my mobile. The site is open grassland with some amazing veteran oak trees. The target species is the Heart Moth.

CASIOBURY PARK GOLF COURSE

The site is adjacent to Whippendell Wood at Jacott’s Hill (TQ 0897). Meet outside the club house of the West Herts Golf Club in Rousebarn Lane. From roundabout on the A.412 Watford Road at Croxley Green Station exit via Baldwins Lane. Ignore the narrow track that is the first turn on the right and take the first road on the right (Links Way). At the end turn right into Little Green Lane and then the club house is dead ahead when you reach the T-junction, at TQ 083969.

CHURCH HILL, THERFIELD HEATH

Therfield Heath is in the north-east of the county, where it borders with both Essex and Cambridgeshire; in spite of its name it is a chalk downland site. Travelling east out of Baldock on the A.505, fork right at the Little Chef restaurant towards Royston and then turn right almost immediately towards Therfield. As you travel up the hill the car park is on the right at grid onto a minor road towards the wood before leaving town. Go through Bramfield village and look for the point where the wood joins the road on your right. Turn into the track and park.

BROCKET HALL GOLF COURSE, WELWYN

Meet at the southern entrance gate at grid reference TL 217120. This is in the village of Lemsford, on the B.653 between Welwyn/Hatfield and Wheathampstead. We need to use the intercom to get security staff to open the electronic gates. Latecomers will be able to get in but will be considered “impolite” by security staff unless they have warned me in advance. If you are on the way and delayed, please stop and let me know on my mobile. The site is open grassland with some amazing veteran oak trees. The target species is the Heart Moth.

CASIOBURY PARK GOLF COURSE

The site is adjacent to Whippendell Wood at Jacott’s Hill (TQ 0897). Meet outside the club house of the West Herts Golf Club in Rousebarn Lane. From roundabout on the A.412 Watford Road at Croxley Green Station exit via Baldwins Lane. Ignore the narrow track that is the first turn on the right and take the first road on the right (Links Way). At the end turn right into Little Green Lane and then the club house is dead ahead when you reach the T-junction, at TQ 083969.

CHURCH HILL, THERFIELD HEATH

Therfield Heath is in the north-east of the county, where it borders with both Essex and Cambridgeshire; in spite of its name it is a chalk downland site. Travelling east out of Baldock on the A.505, fork right at the Little Chef restaurant towards Royston and then turn right almost immediately towards Therfield. As you travel up the hill the car park is on the right at grid reference TL 336402, about one third of the distance from the junction to the tree line. It is clearly marked on the 1:50,000 map (the one inch map to most of us), as the point where a double-dashed line (indicating a track) crosses the yellow road. Subject to Foot and Mouth disease, we will drive west along this track, turning left at the end to the Penn Hills. However, not all vehicles will be allowed down the track which is, in any case, not for the faint-hearted. If F & M disease prevents us going to Penn Hills (sheep present), we will run lights on the eastern half of the heath.

HEXTON (WOODED HILLS & CHALK PIT)

Hexton is west of Hitchin and north of Luton on the border with Bedfordshire. Drive west out of Hitchin towards Barton-le-Clay (Bedfordshire) on the B.655 and turn left at Hexton village. The chalk pit is 50 yards or so on the left, but park on the other side of the lane on the private track joining the minor road at grid reference TL 105301 (there is a barrier, to which we will have the key). To the west of this track are the wooded hills, beyond which is Bedfordshire; these woods are the venue for the June trip; the chalk pit is the venue for the July and August meetings. These trips are through the courtesy of Patrick Cooper at Hexton Manor.

HILLFIELD RESERVOIR, BUSHEY

Meet at the gated entrance to the reservoir at grid reference TQ 151963. This is on the minor road that runs between junctions 4 and 5 on the M.1 motorway, from Patchetts Green in the north to its junction with the A.41 road in the south. A track runs more or less east towards the reservoir from the minor road. As you drive down this track there should be two houses on your left and then a set of locked gates blocking your progress. Meet here. We will move on behind the gates and lock them behind us, so please don’t be late, but if you are unavoidably so, ring Colin’s mobile (07770 766416) and offer a bribe! This meeting was kindly arranged by Joan Thompson.

MILL HILL GOLF COURSE

Numbers need to be limited so contact Colin for details.

RYE MEADS

Meet by gate to this Herts & Middx Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve at TL 395106 (map sheet 166, on north side of the yellow road where it is reached by a footpath). Recommended approach from the east (B.181 Stansted Abbots exit on the A.414). If approaching from the west (Hoddesdon) you will need 30 pence each way for the coin-operated toll barrier! Late-comers should be able to find us easily on the reserve. Reedbeds and damp woodland. May need wellies and mosquito repellent.

SCRATCH WOOD LOCAL NATURE RESERVE (Middlesex)

Meet in car park to Scratch Wood open space (north) on the west side of the A.1 trunk road just south of the roundabout with the A.411 (grid reference TQ 207948). If travelling down the A.1 from the north, pass Borehamwood and then at the A.411 roundabout carry straight on, still on the A.1, south to the next roundabout (reduces to 50 mph with speed cameras just before the roundabout), then travel all the way around the roundabout and come back up the A.1 again. The entrance is on the left just before you arrive at the A.411 roundabout again. It is not obvious and if you miss it you will have to go around again. There is a locked barrier to which we have a key. This trip can only go ahead if we can find someone with a first-aid certificate who will be attending. If anyone has such a certificate and intends to come please inform Colin at once.

ST. EDMUNDS COLLEGE, PUCKERIDGE

On the south-west corner of the A.10/A.120 roundabout – west of Bishops Stortford. Travelling north on the A.10 enter the driveway to the college about half a mile before the roundabout, on the left at TL 3775218. Note that the drive is just AFTER the college signboard which is placed at the start of the grounds adjacent to a minor road down which you should NOT turn. A former monastery, now a Catholic boarding school. Parkland habitat. Please avoid using the north entrance from Old Hall Green – or you may disturb the boarders.

WHIPPENDELL WOODS, WATFORD

Meet in the car park at grid reference TQ 073976. Warning — there are two car parks on this narrow road and there is a barrier between them on the road. You want the southern one, but if you end up the wrong side of the barrier it is only about two minutes walk to the correct one. From roundabout on the A.412 Watford Road at Croxley Green Station exit via Baldwins Lane. Ignore the narrow track that is the first turn on the right and take the first road on the right (Links Way). At the end turn right into Little Green Lane and then left at the end again into Rousebarn Lane. Follow this (becomes a track) to the car park on your left when you can go no further. There are several woods and we are not yet sure exactly where we will be trapping, but it is unlikely to be far from the car park.

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Why not visit the group’s web site at http://www.hertsmothgroup.org.uk for up to date information, any changes to advertised events and so on. You can download and print out moth recording forms from here too and check your latest finds against an updated county moth list.

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