What is – the Hertfordshire A1 Corridor Consortium?

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A body exists called the Hertfordshire A1 Corridor Consortium, (HACC)

The HACC is a group  of councillors and council officers from Hertfordshire County Council and local authorities along the A1 in Hertfordshire. The Consortium also has representation from the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Highways England (formerly Highways Agency).

The Consortium was originally formed to lobby Government for investment in the A1 and they do claim some success. They played a part in the Government’s announcement of the A1(M) Junctions 6 – 8  ‘Smart Motorway Project’. This is planned to be built sometime around 2019/20 and will see the hard shoulders used as an extra lane between Junctions 6 and 8. Basically it will mean the current two-lane section will become three lanes in each direction, with laybys created for broken down vehicles.

One of the HACC’s aims (apart from the Junctions 6 – 7 Improvement Scheme which is already completed) is to deliver a strategy for the A1 corridor. The Hertfordshire County Council (HCC), working with Consultants Aecom, have been developing a Strategy, gathering data from the emerging Local PLans and other sources of development data, all of which is being fed into the Welwyn/Hatfield and Stevenage/Hitchin traffic model.

This A1 Strategy is due to be available late Autumn 2015. It will be a fairly high-level document that will highlight problem areas and suggest interventions at junctions along the A1 and the adjacent local road network.

Walking the dog in and around Welwyn

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Dog owners are very lucky to be living in this area, as there are so many different places where you can take your beloved pet for a walk. We all know how dog walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. So lets take a look at some of the best amenity places around Welwyn where you can walk your dog, or dogs, and get the most out of this exercise.

Mardley Heath

Located in the Oaklands area, Mardley Heath is a Local Nature Reserve with some very interesting walks, some in wooded areas and some open space areas where your dog can run around free. Mardley Heath is owned by the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and is managed by the council and Friends of Mardley Heath. There is a car park on Heath Road, which serves Mardley Heath very well. Mardley Heath can be accessed in numerous places including Hangmans Lane, Heath Road, Canonsfield Road, Dolesbury Drive, and others.

Danesbury Park

This is a beautiful 24.5 hectare public park and Local Nature Reserve, also owned and managed by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. The site was formerly the park of Danesbury House, and it still has some large mature trees which are important to wildlife. On occasions the park hosts Long Horn Cattle so take note of the notices that are posted on the entrances to the park which will provide information about the cattle and their occupancy of the park. When the cattle are present in the park, make sure your pets are kept under control. There is access from a number of roads including Codicote Road, North Ride and Danesbury Park Road.

Singlers Marsh

On the other side of Codicote Road from Danesbury Park is Singlers Marsh, a 6.3 hectare Local Nature Reserve owned and managed by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. The site is bordered by the River Mimram. It has grassland, which is sometimes managed by cattle grazing and cutting, and areas of willow scrub with some more mature trees. As with Danesbury Park, be careful with your pets when the cattle are grazing and make sure they are under control. Singlers Marsh provides a habitat for a wide range of insects and birds. There is access by a kissing gate at the corner of Codicote Road and Fulling Mill Lane.

Harmergreen Wood

This is a 44-acre ancient woodland site which is ideal for dog-walking. It is a ‘back to basics’ woodland which is very appealing to those who like to witness nature in its natural form. The woods are located within walking distance of Welwyn North train station and can be accessed from Robbery Bottom Lane, Turpins Rise, and Harmergreen Lane.

All the sites mentioned that are owned and managed by the council, dog waste bins have been provided and are used by all responsible dog owners. This helps to ensure our community areas are kept clean.

These are just some of the best places in our beautiful area for dog-walking. So it would be nice to make the most of them and enjoy keeping healthy.

Sherrardspark Wood – Summer Activities

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The Sherrardspark Wood Wardens Society organise a number of interesting walks which are detailed in their website.

The following walks are being organised over the next few months:

  • Saturday 8th August 2015 “Do you know your woodland trees?”
  • Saturday 22nd August 2015 “Bat Watching at Stanborough Lakes”
  • Saturday 19th September 2015 “Fungal Foray”

Please note that some of these walks allow only limited numbers and it is important to go to the Sherrardspark Wood Wardens website to get full details and, where needed, pre-book.

The Panshanger Oak seen again

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Lafarge Tarmac has opened up an Oak Trail which will allow people to see the magnificent Panshanger Oak once again. The Oak Trail starts close to Riverside Cottage in the heart of the park, and allows the public to walk close to The Broadwater, which is a lake fed by River Mimram and designed by Humphry Repton 200 years ago. On the Broadwater is a 19th century waterwheel.

Access to the Oak Trail is by foot from the Thieves Lane car park

On top of the hill are the remains of the Orangery and Conservatory, as well as the site of the former Panshanger House, demolished in 1953. From the site of the old house there is an impressive view across the valley towards Cole Green.

For more details of the impressive work of the Friends of Panshanger Park, and to see  how you might help, go to the Friends of Panshanger Park.

 

Two New Committee members appointed

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Two new Committee members were appointed at the Committee meeting of 5th May 2015: Valerie and Alan Plumley.

Valerie Plumley has been appointed our new Secretary, to replace Eleanor Lewis, and Alan Plumley holds a new appointment to focus on, and promote, the values of the amenities available within our community.

It is intended that Alan will support John Roper, who remains our webmaster, but with the special task of developing website links and communications with other community groups in and around Welwyn.

 

Open for Bowls at Welwyn Bowls – Open Days 2015

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Welwyn & District Bowls Club have been going since 1965 (50 years ago) but are still very much young at heart, and they welcome newcomers and experienced bowlers of all ages..

They have a series of Open Days and evening sessions, to which you are invited to try your hand.

Afternoon Open Days or Evenings 2015
Friday 24th April – evening
Saturday 25th April – all day
Friday 1st May – evening
Saturday 2nd May – all day
Friday 8th May – evening
Saturday 16th May – all day

Welwyn & District Bowls Club offer a social life which continues throughout the year.

Go to Welwyn & District Bowls Club for more details. Tell them we sent you.

Panshanger Park – Heritage Walks 2015

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The Friends of Panshanger Park hold monthly accompanied Walks led by members of the Friends, who will talk about the features of the delightful Humphry Repton landscape and the history of the site, and point out all the many wildlife features.

Walks start at 2 p.m. from Thieves Lane Car Park on the following dates:

Saturday 28th March

Sunday 26th April

Sunday 31st May

Sunday 28th June

If you would like to join one of their Walks, you are asked to let the Friends know in advance by email to:

For more information about the varied activities go to the Friends of Panshanger Park website.

 

Panshanger Park – a Country Park right on our doorstep

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The Friends of Panshanger Park (the FPP) was formed to ensure that Panshanger Park is restored to its original, historically significant, landscape once the owners (Lafarge Tarmac) have finished their gravel extraction. Privately owned by Lafarge Tarmac, the 1000 acre Panshanger Park estate has been extensively mined for minerals for over 30 years.

Since being formed, the WPAG has been represented on the FPP Committee by WPAG Committee Member Don Street. Don has been working tirelessly with the FPP team, determined to enable open public access to this wonderful Country Park, which is right on our doorstep.

Lets be honest. Most of us have yet to visit Panshanger Country Park.

It is therefore recommended that initially you visit the Friends of Panshanger Park website:

  • to gain an appreciation of just how protracted, difficult, and stressful this undertaking has been for the FPP,
  • to learn just how much success the Friends have already achieved
  • to learn where the public now have access, and
  • to make a date in your diary and visit.

You will be certain to be impressed by what you find. The Friends of Panshanger Park deserve all the support and encouragement that we can give them.

 

Pick up Litter – Sunday 8th March

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The Welwyn Village Pick Up  Group will be picking up litter on Sunday March 8th.

Please come along and help us keep Welwyn clear of litter.

Meet at the Car Park in Welwyn Village High Street, opposite the Doctors’ Surgery at 11.am.

Bags and litter picking tools will be available.

 

 

 

 

Meet at 11am in the car park