Local area

River Lea

The River Lea is Hertfordshire's biggest river and flows from north of Luton into the Thames. Some 10 miles from its source the river passes through Batford, on the eastern side of Harpenden, Hertfordshire. Despite new housing, light industry and the busy B653 (Lower Luton Road), the area still retains much of its rural atmosphere with a Local Nature Reserve, water meadows, freshwater pool, a children's play area and river walk. For refreshments, there are several public houses. Nearest to the central area are - "The Gibraltar Castle" in Lower Luton Road, "The Dolphin" in Station Road and "The Marquis of Granby" in Marquis Lane, all of which afford views of the open spaces.

The source of this 50-mile river is a number of springs at Leagrave, north of Luton in Bedfordshire. Through the town centre of Luton it runs in culverts and emerges on the outskirts of the town before meandering through rural pastures to Harpenden, the area worked on by the ULVG. Here, more freshwater springs input further water and the river continues south-eastwards towards its convergence with the Thames.

Approximately 45.5 million litres (10m gallons) flow along the valley daily, of that just 9 million litres (2m gallons) are river water; the rest is treated domestic sewage and industrial effluent. Throughout Bedfordshire and much of Hertfordshire, the River is spelt Lea; as it approaches London the spelling changes and it becomes the River Lee. There has been much debate over the years about the two spellings; both are now accepted.

The population of the river and its environs in the ULVG area include -

• Fish: Sticklebacks, Minnows, Roach and American Crayfish.
• Birds: Heron, Kingfisher, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Mallard, Sedge and Reed Bunting, Willow Warbler and Grey Wagtail.
• Mammals : Water voles had not been monitored in the area since about 1998 but there have been several unconfirmed sightings of late, so it is hoped that this delightful mammal may return to the locality. Brown rats are all too common and often seen near the river; they are attracted to the bridges by the food left by well meaning members of the public who have fed the ducks and swans.

Local Nature Reserve

ULVG volunteers help with work in Batford Springs a Local Nature Reserve (LNR); an aerial view of part of it is shown above. This is a small reserve of 10 hectares (4 acres). It is important for nature conservation as it offers various habitat types such as river corridor, derelict watercress beds, pond, woodland, rough grassland, reed and sedge stands. For many years prior to 1958 part of the site was run commercially as watercress beds. There are 5 deep bore freshwater springs in the reserve. The cress beds that were maintained commercially until the late 1950's are now mainly silted up; one however was dredged by the ULVG a number of years ago and is nowadays a pool attracting wildfowl.

In the reed beds Sedge and Reed Warblers may be heard, while the yellow flowers of Kingcup and delicate Lady's Smock catch the eye. The Reserve is always open to visitors. Further details about the Reserve can be obtained from Harpenden Town Hall, tel. 01582 768278.

Lea Valley Walk

Prior to 1972 there was no pathway beside much of the river in Batford. The newly formed ULVG instigated the idea of a walk from Westfield Road in Harpenden to Leaseybridge, Wheathampstead. It was constructed by the Groups volunteers and formally opened as the Upper Lea Valley Through Walk in 1974. This then, was the original stretch of the Lea Valley Walk - a mere 2½-miles. At that time, the hope was that one-day the walk would be extended to the then new, Lea Valley Regional Park.

Over a period of nearly 20 years, using public paths as well as creating permissive ones, various sections were added by different authorities and in 1993 the Lea Valley Walk, a pleasant 50-mile Regional Route linking the Shires with the Capital, was declared open. Its route is from the source of the River Lea north of Luton, Bedfordshire to the River Thames at Bow, East London. On occasions the route follows the riverbank and at other places it veers away towards the valley ridge. Much of the Walk is rural, but through Luton and south of Waltham Abbey, it is quite urbanised. After passing through 3 counties, the Lea Valley Walk joins the Thames Path.

The swan logo used as the waymarker throughout the Walk was designed by the ULVG; indeed the early green waymarkers to be seen in the local area, were cast from re-cycled metal by pupils at St Georges School, Harpenden.

There is a guidebook to the complete Walk entitled "The Lea Valley Walk" which can be obtained from the Lee Valley Park Information Centre, telephone 01992 702200. It is priced at £7.99 + £1 postage. An online guide may be viewed at www.leevalley-online.co.uk.

Further afield

Beyond the river valley to the south and west lies Harpenden, a town some 21 miles from London, with a population of approximately 30,000. To the east and north of the valley is rural Hertfordshire with many delightful walks with pleasing vistas.

A circular walk is waymarked in the area. It takes in some of the Lea Valley Walk, passing close to Mackerye End House and Farm, both dating from c.1665, and affords views across the Lea Valley. The starting point can be just 200 yards south-east of the ULVG HQ in Lower Luton Road, near the pelican crossing on which will be found a "circular walk" waymarker.