Woolmer Green Winter Woodland Walk (5 miles / 8km - Leisurely) / Ramblers Area AGM

Join members of Stag Walkers and other local Ramblers Groups for a morning walk, followed by the option of tea & biscuits / lunch and the Annual General Meeting of the Ramblers' Hertfordshire & North Middlesex Area.

Feel free to come along for just the walk, lunch, meeting or all of these.

• WALK DETAILS:
Woolmer Green Winter Woodland Walk (5 miles / 8 km, Walk grade: Leisurely)

A leisurely morning walk of just under five miles, mainly through woodland and arable farmland, with some gentle/moderate slopes.

All are welcome to join us for the walk. Booking is not required but you can optionally RSVP via the Stag Walkers Meetup group. 

The walk starts and finishes at Woolmer Green and visits Mardley Heath Nature Reserve and Harmergreen Woods, and the villages of Oaklands and Burnham Green. The route is on undulating terrain along woodland trails, field-edge paths and residential streets.

Starting promptly at 10am from the car park at Woolmer Green Village Hall, we begin by passing under the East Coast Main Line railway then gently uphill through the woods of Mardley Heath. Mardley Heath is a large local nature reserve with a mixture of old gravel workings, heathland and ponds as well as ancient woodland. We’ll walk down some steps by the side of the South Pit then up another slope to exit the woods.

A stretch along pavement takes us down into Oaklands then up to Harmergreen Woods, a large area of mixed woodland. Within the woods we’ll pass a bench erected by North Herts Ramblers Group in 2022 and an air shaft for the railway tunnel underground; listen out for the sound of air blowing through the vent when trains pass below.

Leaving the woods, we’ll pass alongside a horse paddock then along pavement to reach Burnham Green. On the village green we can pause for a short tea break (some seating is available) and may enjoy some “trig-bagging”: an Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar can be found on the green, marking a height of 125 metres above sea level.

After our break, we’ll walk across open farmland with good views across the gently rolling countryside towards Datchworth and Stevenage. A tree-lined old path then takes us north towards Woolmer Green, where everyone is welcome to join us at the Village Hall for lunch.

Please note walking boots are recommended as some paths are likely to be muddy.

Dogs are welcome on the walk, on a lead.

Walk leader: Al M

• LUNCH:
After the walk, join us in the Village Hall for lunch from 12.30 - 1.30pm. Please bring a packed lunch and (if you wish) snacks to share. Teas/coffees and soft drinks, biscuits etc. will be available. The AGM will follow at 1.30 pm.

• AGM:
The AGM is a chance to find out what’s been happening across our Ramblers Area of Hertfordshire & North Middlesex. It’s also where members of our Ramblers Area elect volunteers to our Area Council and nominate delegates to Ramblers General Council (the Ramblers' national AGM).

Vacant positions on Area Council include Vice-Chair, Secretary, Rights of Way Coordinator, Publicity and Media Contact, Assistant Membership Secretary and Independent Member.

All members of the Ramblers belonging to the Area of Hertfordshire & North Middlesex , or to one of the nine groups within the Area, are entitled to vote at the meeting or to stand as a volunteer.

After the official business we’ll hear from two special guest speakers: Joerg Kasprowski, a Ramblers Trustee, and Richard Cuthbert, Team Leader Definitive Map & Enforcement at Herts County Council Countryside & Rights of Way Service.

For full details, including the Agenda and Reports, please see Issue 68 of the Area journal 'Stile' or visit the Area website.

• LOCATION:
Village Hall
Woolmer Green
Knebworth
Herts
SG3 6XA

Large car park. Please car-share or use public transport if possible.

Public transport: bus 301 from St Albans / Hatfield / Welwyn Garden City or Stevenage to Woolmer Green (bus stop near Red Lion). Trains from London King's Cross, Finsbury Park or Stevenage etc. to Knebworth then approx 1 mile / 1.5 km walking distance or 3 minutes by bus 301.

If the village hall car park is full, there is possible free car parking on London Road, near the Red Lion pub, 26 London Rd, Woolmer Green, Knebworth, Herts SG3 6JP (please park considerately). Please do not park in the pub car park.

ABOUT HERTFORDSHIRE AND NORTH MIDDLESEX AREA
• Our mission is to deliver the objectives of the Ramblers in the Hertfordshire and North Middlesex area.
• Area Council has representatives from each Group and affiliated body, and Officers who are elected at the Area AGM each year. We meet 4 times a year, acting as a link between the national organisation and our Groups. We appoint two delegates to Ramblers General Council where national policy is discussed.
• We publish a printed journal called ‘Stile’ twice a year, sent to all opted-in members.
• Our Area-based Footpath Secretaries work to protect and enhance the rights of way in Hertfordshire and our three London Boroughs.
• We help protect the countryside in which we walk, through the planning system.
• We run events, such as our Hertfordshire & North London Walks Fest.

Find out more at the Area website.

ABOUT THE RAMBLERS - Britain’s biggest and most vibrant walking community
We are the Ramblers: Britain’s walking charity. We're the only charity dedicated to removing barriers so everyone can enjoy walking in green spaces. We’re committed to expanding people’s access to nature, protecting our precious paths, improving walking opportunities for everyone and championing walking for greater health and happiness. Registered Charity Numbers 1093577 (England & Wales), SC039799 (Scotland)

Find out more at the Ramblers national website.