Chorleywood House Estate

It is proposed that cattle should be brought to graze each summer in one field in the grounds. Years ago the fields were put to hay, and a local farmer cut them and took the hay early each summer; he didn’t charge for his labour and we did not charge for the hay. Now there is no demand for hay, and in recent years the grass has been cut and taken away in late summer, at considerable cost to the local authority and inconvenience to walkers when the grass is high.

A possible solution is to introduce grazing from about June to September. The field in question is the large L-shaped field stretching from Wood Walk and the Community Woodland down to the woods near the River Chess. The field would have to be stock-fenced and include a 3-stranded barbed wire, but there would be “kissing gates” at several access points, and people would remain free to walk through – though obviously it would be wise to keep dogs on a lead. The presence of cattle will keep the grass under control and permit the growth of wild flowers.

There are two options for fencing. One would be to have the new fence close to the existing old iron fences. This would not be too obtrusive, but it would mean walkers not wanting to encounter cows would have to use the paths in the surrounding woods.

The second option would be to place the fence several metres in from the current borders so there would be a perimeter walk around the field, still with the option to cut across it though the gates. This fence would be much more obvious.

Three Rivers District Council and the Hertfordshire Countryside Management Service are keen to get the opinion of those who use Chorleywood House grounds. Please send comments (before mid-October 2010) on what you think of the proposals, and preferences for fencing to:

Kay Fizgerald, Three Rivers District Council, Northway, Rickmansworth WD3 1RL
email: kay.fitzgerald@threerivers.gov.uk

Petrina Llewellyn, Countryside Management Services, Hixberry Lane, St Albans AL4 0TZ
email: Petrina.llewellyn@hertscc.gov.uk

In addition, please send copies of any emails to Tim Venner, FOCWHE Membership Secretary.
email: TimVenner@aol.com

N.B. More information, including details of the exact location of Field J, can be found on the Three Rivers DC website.

The sheep have left us, two weeks before time. The first weekend they were here, a dog got into the Dell and savaged one sheep so badly it had to be put down. We put up a whole lot of new highly visible notices asking dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead in these fields, and the sheep returned to contented grazing.

Then last weekend vandals broke down part of the stock fence, so the sheep were no longer secure. The fence was repaired, but it was decided that because the well being of the sheep is paramount, it would be wise to move them away.

It is really sad that such mindless actions have put a stop to this regular event which has been going on for the last six years.

Our 2010 project – Re-lay the gravel paths.

Even though we had spent a lot of time and effort planting up the flower beds, the effect was spoiled by the gravel path, which was covered in weeds and moss.

TRDC paid for the materials, and we provided the highly skilled workforce!

Slideshow of the work as it progressed

Hover your mouse over a picture to pause the display

Once again we have been awarded a Green Flag for the Chorleywood House Estate. This is a prestigious national honour, and we are delighted to have received it for a second year.

To learn more about the Green Flag awards, visit their website www.greenflagaward.org.uk. Chorleywood comes under the East of England Region.

Max Green has taken these pictures of the signal crayfish found in the River Chess close to Chorleywood House (just down from the football club). Originally from the States, they were farmed over here and escaped into local waters, including the Chess.

Apparently they taste rather nice but they destroy local wild life!

The Community Wood planted in 1995 has done so well that there are now too many trees close together. In order to allow the finest saplings to grow to good mature trees, it is necessary to remove some of the trees, prune the remaining ones and remove scrub. This work is being done by Three Rivers during April, and in addition rides are being cleared through the wood to create pleasant shady paths. During the month there will be a certain amount of noise and disruption, but the results will provide a delightful mature wood for many years to come.

Water vole
Courtesy Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust

Water voles
The results of the 2009 water vole survey carried out by the Water Vole Recovery Project (Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust) record water voles along the stretch of the river nearby ‘for the first time since 2003, with a significant increase in levels of activity from then’.

Grass snakes
There are also quite a few grass snakes on the estate. They favour the dense cover along the river but they can sometimes be seen basking in the sun during the first warms spell of spring.