CMS News

Get walking in St Albans
As summer approaches, why not get out and about in St Albans with a new health walk that has been launched at Verulamium Park?

Open day at Wayside Farm
1,500 people enjoyed a great day out at Wayside Farm in Kings Langley on Sunday 1st June. They were entertained and informed in equal measure by shire horse, sheep shearing and farm machinery demonstrations, guided walks, local produce, but the stars of the show were the Gaddesden Jersey herd.

Health walk leaders welcome!
The Countryside Management Service coordinate Health Walks across Hertfordshire. All walks are led by volunteers - they help others to enjoy the countryside and get healthy at the same time. New leaders are always welcome!

Pollards and Poplars update
Marking the completion of a successful project of tree surgery and tree planting, the Pollards and Poplars Interpretation boards were installed recently along the Stort Valley.

Volunteers brave the cold
Willing volunteers from Hertfordshire County Council's County Development Unit braved freezing temperatures to join CMS and Welwyn Hatfield Council ranger Jane Worall at Northaw Great Wood, nr Cuffley for a day of practical woodland work. They spent the day coppicing small trees to open up shady ride edges which will allow Jane to access the rides with a mower.

Wooden it be great to be a Warden...?
The Countryside Management Service (CMS) is inviting volunteers to team up with the Wood Wardens at Broxbourne Woods - Hertfordshire’s only National Nature Reserve - on November 11.

A new lease of life for Cheshunt Park pond
The chainsaws and diggers are going in to Cheshunt Park in November but don’t be alarmed because they’ve a good reason to be there. A large pond close to the site of the former Debenham’s mansion is about to receive a new lease of life.

New Community Walks
New community walks were launched in Highfield Park last week and will now take place twice a week. This will be an opportunity for local residents to get more active without going to the gym and what's more they are free!

CMS protects the pollards and poplars
Countryside Management Service staff are busy across Hertfordshire striving to improve the landscape and protect rare species. Nothing demonstrates our approach better than action to protect Willow and Poplar trees dominating two low-lying areas on either side of the county.

Duke visits Broxbourne wood
CMS Project Officer, Heidi Hutton and representatives of the Woodwardens were among a select group invited to meet the His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester at Broxbourne Wood during his visit to Hertfordshire in March.

The cows are coming to town!
The South Herts Commons Grazing Group is organising a series of roadshows in April. The roadshow will go to Chorleywood Common, Colney Heath, Bricket Wood Common and Nomansland on 2 weekends in mid April. Come along for a fun and informative day out.

Help is at Hand for Hedgerows on the Nickey Line
The Nickey Line is a popular 7 mile long disused railway line running between St Albans and Dacorum and offers excellent traffic free access between Harpenden and Hemel Hempstead.

Baldock is going green
Come rain or shine, blistering heat or icy cold, there are volunteers out working in woods, pastureland and open spaces virtually every week of the year.

Why winter walks are worthwhile
It’s easy to summon enthusiasm for a walk when it's warm but in the winter, getting kitted out for the prevailing conditions takes rather more commitment. However, there are many good reasons for donning protective layers and boots during the coming months by joining events in the Walks & More programme....

Letchmore Heath pond restoration
Letchmore Heath pond is once again a focal point for the hamlet and valuable habitat for local wildlife.

Cheshunt Park to enjoy £150,000 facelift
Cheshunt Park saw up to ten thousand people attend the annual Festival Of Fireworks on Guy Fawkes night. The crowd had additional cause for celebration this year as the evening marked the start of a programme of work funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Trees for the future
With National Tree Week about to start, the Borough of Broxbourne and the Countryside Management Service are teaming up with local volunteers to offer a choice of opportunities to plant the trees of tomorrow on Sunday 26th November.

Bricket Wood Common's prayers answered
Volunteers came to Bricket Wood and gave it a much needed clear up last Saturday 28th October.

Health walkers take the next step
Walkers from award-winning health walk schemes in Dacorum and Watford & Three Rivers stepped up to the challenge of leading their own walks last Saturday by attending health walk leader training.

Champion of the countryside
Volunteer Samantha Cobb wins the Young Champion of The Countryside Award.

Another successful event at Broxbourne Woods!
That's the public's verdict on the Broxbourne Woods Open Day on 1 October. A crowd of over 1,500 flocked to the wood and were rewarded with a range of displays and activities.

Award puts a spring in step of walks programmes
Two popular country walking programmes have attained the top quality award from a Government health initiative.

New project apprentices
In June, five new apprentices joined the CMS and Groundwork Hertfordshire. Michelle Roberts, Sarah Lord and Brian Lee are currently working with us.

Better walks around Buntingford
With its dense network of paths and gentle slopes, the Buntingford area is worth considering for a walk in the countryside.

Hitchin Health Walks
A programme of healthy walks is proving highly successful in Hitchin. Volunteer walk leaders, trained by the Countryside Management Service, are offering a regular programme of short walks.

Farm stewardship success in Hertfordshire
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that almost 100 farmers and landowners in the County now have either conditional agreements or agreements already in place.

Three new cycle route leaflets
Four apprentices have been involved in the design process for three new cycling leaflets across Hertfordshire. The three Enjoy Hertfordshire leaflets cover cycling routes in St Albans and the surrounding area, a circular route from Baldock and the third is Hitchin into the Chilterns.

Barn Owl Project in Holwell, Ickleford and Pirton
Local communities, supported by CMS, are encouraging Barn Owls and improving the landscape for wildlife and people in this part of the county. Once a common sight in Hertfordshire, the Barn Owl has declined dramatically...

Ron calls it a day
In the 1980s in the early days of the guided walks programme now known as Walks & More, Ron Tarling was recruited to lead walks in the Hertford area. After 27 years of active service for the group, Ron decided to retire and colleagues marked the occasion by erecting a bench to celebrate his work to make walking more popular and easier.

A Wheelie big Welcome to Sopwell Priory
Eileen Harris, Deputy Mayor, opened a new disabled access bridge at Sopwell Priory Open Space, St Albans, on behalf of the Sopwell Residents' Association on Thursday 7th July 2005.

Wake up to wildlife in Three Rivers District!
People in Three Rivers District came out in force at the end of July to share in activities for Local Nature Reserve week. Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) are places for people to enjoy and for wildlife to thrive.