As this will be the first story in our new on-line newspaper, we thought it would be good to take this opportunity to introduce some of the many places one can go for a country ramble, off road cycling or birdwatching around Hatfield's borders. Although Hertfordshire is a densely populated county, Hatfield has a great swathe of accessible countryside both around it and within it. Judging by the few people encountered at these places, the impression is given that many are simply unknown. There are also many spurs radiating off to places too numerous to mention here but, while it is important to refer to OS maps for more detailed directions, a general description of this circuitous route is given below. Some of the places listed here have the diverse habitats that promote a good range of animal and plant species.

Starting in the south (and going clockwise) there is:

Bunchley's Pond to Angerland (c100 acres)

Accessed by a footpath beginning at the southern end of the footbridge over the Southway / Travellers Lane roundabout. At the south side of the footbridge a 200 yard footpath begins its ascent to the pond. Dense bushes either side provide a good habitat for a variety of warblers and finches in summer.

The footpath leads to the 'bottomless' Bunchley's pond with it's various legends. It is also a popular place for anglers. Going west, two other smaller ponds are encountered within a quarter of a mile. A wide swathe of uncultivated fields lead down from Bunchley toward the cemetery and the University's Park & Ride at Angerland Common. A footpath (No. 51) leads from the Southway end to the disused section of Dellsome Lane to the south. At Dellsome Lane, turn left for Welham Green (half a mile) or right to access another south bound footpath towards North Mymms via a small bridge over the A1M. All is well signposted.

Colney Heath

Facing north from the entrance to the University's Park & Ride, a path on the opposite side of Southway road leads westwards to a pedestrian subway, under the A1M next to Roe Hyde Way. The subway leads into Roestock Lane which passes the Chalkdrawers pub and into Colney Heath High Street at the roundabout by the Queens Head pub. About 100 yards over the roundabout, off Coursers Road, the heath can be accessed just over the bridge spanning the River Colne, to the right. Proceeding westwards for half a mile, a footpath leads to the first of the large lakes on a former quarrying site. These lakes have established footpaths around their perimeters and, with reference to an OS map, will return to terminate at a footpath which leads to Church Lane at the far northern end of the Colney Heath's High Street by the church.

These lakes are now well established with plant life and fish. A great variety of water birds can be seen when they stop over to feed or rest on migration eg sandpipers, redshank, greenshank, avocet, shelduck, teal, pochard, red crested pochard, gadwall, garganey, water rail, ruddy duck, snipe, lapwing, med gull, shoveller, oyster catcher, cormorants, sand martin, swallow, swift and terns. Peregrines and hobby's are also regular visitors to the area along with tree sparrows, lesser whitethroat and yellowhammer.

Sleapshyde - Smallford

Exiting Colney Heath, by the church near the A414, a footbridge crosses this road to access a path running parallel to the A414 and back, easterly, towards Hatfield.

A quarter of a mile down this path Sleapshyde Lane, to the left, leads into Sleapshyde and the Plough pub. A footpath by the pub car park, crosses a field diagonally to the left and joins the Alban Way* at Smallford by the ex railway bridge. Crossing over the Alban Way, the path emerges at a small convenience store on Station Road. 300 yards further down Station Road is a junction with Hatfield Road at the roundabout by the Three Horseshoes pub / diner to the right. 30 yards past the pub and across the road, just past Notcutts garden centre, is a public footpath sign by a swing gate. This leads into the vast, and recently opened, 400 acre Ellenbrook Fields Country Park (better known as the old De Havilland aircraft site). This enormous site is totally uncultivated and includes woodland, ponds, streams, boggy ground and sprawling fields. It also borders, to the north-east, some lakes (former gravel pits). The area provides a diverse habitat for such regularly seen birds such as; barn owls, little owls, short eared and long eared owls, grasshopper warblers, meadow pipits, reed and sedge warblers, whitethroat, stonechat, redstart, linnet, yellowhammer, reed bunting, cuckoo, woodpeckers, snipe, mandarin duck, teal, shoveller, buzzard and red kite. The occasional herd of fallow deer can also be seen. There are plenty of brown hare, foxes and stoats too. Ellenbrook Fields can be exited at several places and good signage tells more of the areas history. The farthest exit (from Notcutts) is by the junction of Hatfield Avenue and Coopers Green Lane near the University's Fielder Centre. *The Alban Way is a six mile stretch of maintained cycle path (former branch line) that runs from the Wrestlers Bridge, near Hatfield Station, to St.Albans' former London Road station.

Hatfield Garden Village

About 200 yards down Hatfield Avenue, opposite Computacenter, is another large uncultivated public open space with a track through it which joins a disused section of Great Braitch Lane. A right turn here will lead to Green Lanes. Another right turn, past the school, leads to a mini roundabout where a public footpath begins by the side of an old red brick farm house across the road. From here, a track runs about half a mile across open fields. It's first exit is where the footpath meets a farm track. A right turn here leads to a cut-off section of the old Great North Road at Stanborough.

Stanborough Park

About 100 yards down the old Great North Road there is a roundabout. The East restaurant is opposite and, turning right, there is a path that runs under the A1M bridge to access the North Lake at Stanborough Park. A clockwise walk around this lake will lead to the underpass that goes under Stanborough Road and parallel to the River Lea. The underpass leads through to the South Lake. At the far end of this lake is a railway bridge, some 70 yards further, with a swing gate at its entrance.

Kingfisher, common tern, herons, cormorants, great crested grebes and grey wagtail are resident species of birds at the lakes.

Hatfield Park

Passing under the bridge, and a further 50 yards on, a track joins an access road which terminates 600 yards later at a slip road junction. Turning right here will lead to the hamlet of Mill Green where a cycle path runs parallel to the Hertford Road, over the River Lea and towards Hatfield. At the top of the hill is a set of traffic lights by the Red Lion pub. A left turn here will lead to the main entrance of Hatfield Park, 200 yards down the road and directly opposite the railway station.

People visiting the Park, who live more than a mile away, have to pay to enter. But it is worthwhile. The Park has various marked-out walks of upto 3 miles. Woodland,open fields and a long stretch of the beautiful broadwater (part of the Lea) provide a lovely setting. Kingfisher, mandarin duck, cormorants and occasional vistors like osprey and raven have been seen this year. Also a small herd of red deer.

Badger Woods

The Park can be exited at the Fore Street entrance (near the restaurant courtyard). A left turn, at the bottom of Fore Street, will lead to the Great North Road which has a path running alongside the road and a parallel footpath through woodland, both of which lead to the railway bridge at Oxlease Drive. 25 yards over the bridge on the left is Badger Way. 100 yards down this road is an entrance to Badger Woods, where a cycle path wends its way through to a large open playing field that ends very close to the Travellers Lane / Southway roundabout where this long perimeter walk around Hatfield started.