When footpaths get blocked by vegetation, or fallen trees, or when streams start eroding the footpaths, who do you think cuts the vegetation back, removes the fallen trees, or fixes the path so that streams don't cause an issue? Well, mostly it's done by volunteers. People who care about the countryside and want to spend a few hours helping out, getting some fresh air, and meeting new people.
Path Clearance Volunteers (PMVs) from the Chiltern Society have in the past :
follow this link to get involved.
There are vacancies for Path Reps in the Central Beds parishes around Luton including Barton, Streatley, Houghton Regis and Caddington. Find out more.
- cleared path HR44, a bridle/cycle/walking path that closely follows the line of the A5 dual carriageway in Houghton Regis.
- Near Toddington PMVs have tidied up vegetation, removed dead wood, removed overhanging branches, cut down stumps and other trip hazards, cleared moss and other growth off a bridge.
- on HR24 & 31, Chiltern Way / Icknield Way repaired a handrail and uprights to a long flight of steps down, pared back the vegetation, and litter picking.
North Chilterns Conservation Volunteers
Meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month 10am-1pm
North Chilterns Conservation Volunteers are one of the Chiltern Society’s ‘roving’ wildlife conservation groups. We work on a variety of wildlife sites across the North Chilterns supporting our partners in practical habitat management works from grassland and woodland management to invasive species control and access improvements. Training, tools and equipment is provided and all welcome so please get in touch if you would like come along or find out a bit more.
Meeting place: TBC
New volunteers are always welcome. For more information, please contact the group leaders Andy and Kath Davis, northchilternCV@gmail.com or 07837 161532
Be A Volunteer
North Chilterns Path Maintenance Volunteers
Meeting times TBC
Footpath maintenance work in varying locations in the Chilterns areas of Dacorum and Central Beds. Typically vegetation clearance, way marker post, fencing, gate and steps repair/installation.
Meeting place: Varying locations
New volunteers are always welcome. For more information, please contact the group leader Phil Armstrong, 07786 251296
Vacancies
The Chiltern Society has a network of volunteer path reps who monitor the rights of way in their parish by walking them at least twice a year and also carrying out very light maintenance work to ensure that footpaths and bridleways are kept as accessible as possible.There are vacancies for Path Reps in the Central Beds parishes around Luton including Barton, Streatley, Houghton Regis and Caddington. Find out more.
Overgrown sections of pathways cleared by volunteers at Sewell
10 Aug 2022On 3rd August, a group of 13 North Chiltern Path Clearance Volunteers met at Sewell Manor, Sewell Lane, Houghton Regis to begin the days task.
Work was carried out on 2 overgrown sections of footpath HR24 (Chiltern Way and Icknield Way). In the first section from Sewell Lane to the field edge, vegetation was cleared and where possible the 1.5m width was restored. Overhanging branches were removed. The volunteers were thanked by the landowners on either side of the path.
The second section from the other side of the field involved some vegetation clearance and removal of small dead trees and overhanging branches. The surface of the path is very uneven due to numerous potholes mainly caused by historic rabbit burrowing. Some of these were infilled in spite of the ground being rock hard. Some care was taken on this second section as the attending and grateful landowners wanted very little clearance towards their boundary on the right-hand side of the path. The main work was therefore carried out on the field, left hand, side of the path.
Work was also carried out on the stiles on either side of the field to remove ivy and encroaching vegetation. The tops of the upright posts were painted yellow to make them more visible to walkers crossing the field.
Afterwards, 8 of the volunteers lunched at The Red Lion, Dagnall on their way home.
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