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Organised walk on 14th August 2005
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On Sunday the 14th August a group of HCS members and supporters met at the Pavilion in Bagshot for what turned out to be a most enjoyable walk.
The walk had been organised by our Membership Secretary who has a particularly good geographical and historical knowledge of the Broadmoor to Bagshot Woods and Heath; in particular the Windlesham United Charities and Poors Allotments and the Crown Estates areas.
The itinerary included a visit to where for many years squatters lived in wooden huts. Having no mains water or any other service for that matter, they collected their water from a nearby water hole. From the photograph you will see this water hole has long dried up with a water hungry Silver Birch tree growing in where it used to be. Although the huts have, like the source of water, long gone the area where they stood can still be clearly seen. Before they were finally evicted in about 1947 it is said local children used to climb on the roofs and place items on the chimney to smoke the inhabitants out; and who said children have changed?
A visit to a Badger Set showed us how secretive these beautiful creatures can be; the photo shows this set hidden by bracken. This particular set would not have been found had it not been for the tracking skills and understanding of the habitats and lifestyle of these animals that our organiser has.
Those with good eyesight together with the aid of binoculars enjoyed the views over London from the high ground. The Wembley Arch together with the London Eye and Canary Wharf could be seen.
The crater left by a World War Two bomb was visited. It is not known if it was dropped by an enemy plane or one of “ours” releasing a jammed bomb before landing. Whatever happened it fell clear of the Prisoner of war and the Free French Camps that was situated on the heathland at this time of our history.
Our Membership Secretary deserves a big vote of thanks for giving us a most enjoyable day.
Chairman |
07 Sep 2005 by prometheus
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Snakes Alive
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Snakes Alive! An old saying repeated by a member of the public when they saw a Magpies meal fight back.
The first thing that struck home was how aggressive this meal was. The Magpie was not too impressed, understandable when you consider worms do not usually bite back. This particular “worm” was about eight inches long (about 200 mm for the younger reader). Well, this remarkable “worm” warrants a closer examination thought this member of the public! "Snakes alive" said the member of the public once again (now joined by a HCS Officer). This snake is a refugee from the President Bush Regime across “The Pond”. There are rumours that once finished with Iraq he may plan to declare war on Tantilla Coronata, SOUTHEASTERN CROWN SNAKE to you and me; an already endangered species.
The Crown Snake prefers dry, rocky slopes. It is small in size reaching a maximum of ten inches (approx 250mm) and secretive by nature. Its prime diet consists of insects and spiders. It presents NO DANGER to humans.
This particular snake has either escaped or was set free as an unwanted pet. Our Chairman has deliberately not disclosed its location except to say it is living (oh! yes no way was it going to allow itself to be caught) quite happily on the Surrey side of the Broadmoor to Bagshot woods and Heath.
If you should see it LEAVE IT ALONE and let either us know and/or contact the Reptile House at London Zoo for advice. |
19 Jun 2005 by prometheus
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The woods and heathland are getting safer.
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Thanks to the Coordinated Law Enforcement Patrols now taking place on the Broadmoor to Bagshot Woods and Heathland it is now getting safer to carry out legitimate recreation on this SSSI/SPA site (Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Protected Area under Annex one of the bird protection Act). Since early 2004 simultaneous and coordinated patrols have been and are still being carried out on both the Berkshire and Surrey sectors. These patrols are being carried out by the SSSI/SPA Protection Group whose members include: THAMES VALLEY, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, AND SURREY POLICE FORCES together with DEFENCE ESTATES, CROWN ESTATES, FORESTRY COMMISION, BRACKNELL FOREST BOROUGH COUNCIL COUNTRYSIDE SERVICES, AUTOCYCLE UNION (ACU), ENGLISH NATURE AND THE HEATHLAND CONSERVATION SOCIETY (HCS) who chair the group.
The Group and Observers are reporting a reduction in the number of offenders, which is very encouraging. The offenders are stopped and dealt with WITHOUT the need to chase them at high speed across the countryside.
Over the years several dogs have been killed and people either injured by or had very close encounters with motor vehicles being driven illegally. While there was a great reduction in this type of activity in the late nineties after the introduction of legislation followed by several prosecutions, there still remain an unacceptable number of persistent offenders. These will no longer be tolerated under the zero tolerance approach now being taken especially now the Freedom to Roam Act (CROW) is with us. Anyone caught committing an offence ranging from dumping garden waste to motorcycling can expect to be prosecuted under one or more of the legislations now in place. Any motor vehicle offence (no matter if the vehicle is road registered or not) committed on the SSSI/SPA will attract prosecution under the Road Traffic Act 1988 (as amended ad 2000), Police Reform Act 2002 Section 59 (Seizure of vehicle), Local Bylaws and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) Section 28p (which also covers many other offences including dumping garden waste), this act alone on summary conviction carries with it up to a £20,000 fine. Details of offenders are recorded nationally so that persistent offenders can be identified and prosecuted regardless of where in the country they reoffend.
It is not only the aim of patrols to safeguard the people enjoying their legitimate activities in the countryside from the very real danger of injury to themselves and their pets by uninsured and in many cases untraceable bikers. (After all the public pay for and expect protection in the countryside as much as in the streets) but also to protect the fragile habitats from the devastation that vehicular activity can cause. This heath and woodland environment is rare and supports many endangered species of flora and fauna, some on the verge of extinction. It takes many centuries for both flora and fauna to evolve and adapt to survive in a particular environment; it takes minutes to destroy that environment with disastrous effects. In particular illegal vehicle activity in the past few years with development of the more powerful engines have played havoc with our environment. It is the duty of everybody to see that it stops RIGHT NOW.
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25 Apr 2005 by prometheus
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