Hopes for the future HS2 - a farmer's perspective Chalk streaming along the River Colne CAMPAIGNING CONSERVING PROMOTING - Chiltern Society
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ISSUE 241 • AUTUMN 2021
www.chilternsociety.org.uk
Hopes for the future
HS2 – a farmer’s
perspective
Chalk streaming along the
River Colne
C A M PA I G N I N G • CO N S E R V I N G • P R O M OT I N G
In this
ISSUE 241 • AUTUMN 2021
www.chilternsociety.org.uk
Hopes for the future
HS2 – a farmer’s
perspective
Chalk streaming along the
River Colne
C A M PA I G N I N G
Walkers at Aston Rowant
(Photo: Colin Drake)
• C O N S E RV I N G • P R O M OT I N G issue
NEWS & VIEWS
3 EDITOR
4 HOPES FOR THE FUTURE
From the Chief Officer, Tom Beeston
8 THE LONE RANGER RIDES INTO
THE SUNSET
Fiona Bennett-Meere says farewell
9 EXCITED BY A NEW CHALLENGE
10
Meet our new ranger
15 LETTERS
16 HS2 – A FARMER’S PERSPECTIVE
AUTUMN 21 OBITUARY – MICHAEL COLSTON
EVENTS & 24 OUR BEATING HEART
Geoff Wiggett pays tribute to Fiona
ACTIVITIES Bennett-Meere and Steve Edgar
28 HIGH SPEED TWO
Path diversions and tunnelling issues
34 BEER OR A BOOK?
Chiltern pub diversifies
35 MARKET SHARE
St Albans helps its young
entrepreneurs
36 ACCESS SUCCESS IN SWYNCOMBE
Thanks to South Chilterns Path
Maintenance Volunteers
30 ENVIRONMENT
BRUNEL 5 CLEAN-UP CAMPAIGN
ENGINE Interview with Dave Shanks of
SHED Water-to-Go
Photo courtesy of David Wilson 6 NATURE’S RECOVERY
Nick Marriner introduces the Central
Chilterns Farmer Cluster
12 NO WATER, NO LIFE
The reflections of Angela Colman,
owner of Sarratt Mill
NATURE
14 A POPLAR YEAR
Seasonal variations captured by Alison
35
Beck’s camera
20 GO WILD!
Grow wild flowers, urges John Hockey
26 CHALK STREAMING ALONG THE
MARKET RIVER COLNE
TRADERS Andrew Clark enjoys a unique
experience
2 Chiltern 241
Sites for
sore eyes
From the Editor Richard Bradbury
After a period in which our activities have been severely limited, meaning there hasn’t been
HERITAGE a great deal to report, I thought this would be a good opportunity to draw attention to the
Society’s sites – especially as there’s now a much wider appreciation of the value to our
30 BRUNEL STRUCTURE GIVEN NEW
wellbeing of visiting such places.
PURPOSE
Bob Stuart reports We currently have 12 sites of our own. Our
portfolio includes nature reserves, woodland,
watercress beds, a hillfort, a windmill and a
monument. It’s been said many times before,
LEISURE
but always bears repeating, that without our
10 SOCIETY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES committed band of volunteers, we’d be unable
to manage these precious assets successfully.
18 STOKENCHURCH TO RADNAGE
There’s a degree of overlap in the demands
AND BACK
they place on our work parties, but equally, Volunteers cleaning Whiteleaf Cross (Colin Drake)
Our autumn walk
because of their diversity, each of them has Whiteleaf Hill Nature Reserve outside
22 SHARE YOUR BEST PHOTOS ONLINE
Says Barry Hunt of the Photogroup unique characteristics which necessitate Princes Risborough provides extensive views
the application of particular knowledge and of the Chilterns escarpment, across the Vale of
23 PHOTOGROUP COMPETITION
skills – most of which, thankfully, can be found Aylesbury and on to the distant Wessex Downs.
32 A RETURN TO NORMALITY?
among the people who tend them on our It’s adjacent to Brush Hill, our neighbouring
Pete Bradshaw explains how our
behalf. They’re all well worth exploring, but I’ve nature reserve, and both sites boast a range of
cyclists are adapting
restricted myself to a few examples here. habitats which support an array of flora and
38 CHILTERN BOOKS
The 35 acres of Bottom Wood are home fungi, largely thanks to the chalk grassland.
40 RECIPE – AUBERGINES STUFFED to over 700 different species of plants and Whiteleaf Hill is well known for its 100m high
WITH SPICED LAMB
animals. Thanks to numerous conservation chalk hill figure, Whiteleaf Cross, but also
42 WALKS PROGRAMME and woodland management techniques, has other interesting archaeological features,
this site now has many different tree species including a Neolithic barrow and WWI practice
including apple, cherry, beech and conifer, trenches. Many walkers pass through the site on
2021
Annual
General Meeting supporting populations of dormice, red kites The Ridgeway National Trail.
ENDA
SATURDAY AG
10am start: for
coffee, chat and tawny owls. A section of the forest has On Marlow Common you can find typical
30 OCTOBER and visit to our book stall
2021 ess Meeting
10.30am: The Busin
All members are
invited
to join us at the
• Minutes of 2020
Accounts
and Annual
AGM, Annual Report
presentation
been maintained as an open glade in which English oak, silver birch and bracken. Its geology
White Hill, Secretary,
White Hill Centre, Vice Chair(s), General s
• Election of Chair,
wild flowers, including orchids, attract rare is unlike the rest of the Chilterns. Glacial deposits
HP5 1AG e Council member
Chesham, Bucks, Treasurer and Executiv
- see map below (Trustees) made in writing,
should be
THE AGM, the above positions
BOOKINGS FOR Nominations for included following
ENCE WILL GO with the candidate
’s written consent
LUNCH AND CONFER Nominations Committe
e, to the General
THURSDAY 30th approval by the the AGM.
LIVE ONLINE ON
butterflies and other grassland wildlife. There from the last Ice Age mask the chalky geological
than 14 days before
Office not less
SEPTEMBER... Secretary at the Manager (01494
771250).
agenda will be from the Office 2021.
...when the final A form is available available on 18th October
those be
login details for ns will
A list of nominatio
confirmed and discussi on
wanting to attend
virtually followed by general
will be made available
. • The AGM will be
on the affairs and
plans of the
with members
Society
are also archaeological features like sawpits. base and create acidic soils, generating rare
TRING &
A416
BERKHAMSTED
LUNCH
Road) ead
(Berkh Street
12.30pm: AGM
FOR
ampst
Broad
B4505
30th September
HEMEL
e from
Bookable in advanc
HEMPSTEAD
Captain’s Wood is an ancient beech heathland habitat. The oak trees are home to
Cha
rtrid White Hill
ge
Lan
e
kers
2-4pm: Guest Spea
WHITE
HILL
TOWN CENTRE
SALE
LOWNDES CENTRE
PARK
To be confirmed.
CHESHAM
UNDERGROUND
STATION
B485 A4251
woodland on the edge of Chesham, within the green oak tortrix moth, which is a vital food
AGCHRISTMAS
Wa
ter
A416
sid
GREAT MISSENDEN
e
AMERSHAM & CHENIES
& AYLESBURY
BEACONSFIELD
M LUNCH
October latest
easy striking distance of many local residents source for bird species such as the endangered
CARDS
Wednesday 30th
is essential – by call the office on
01494 771250
Booking for lunch ciety.org.uk or
(including me), who can enjoy the trees, sunny lesser spotted woodpecker, tree creepers and
www.chilternso
Book online at ation of your ticket.
be served on present
Lunch will only ed from the bar.
may be purchas
Additional drinks
£17.50 per head
see insert glades and views across the surrounding nuthatches. Until the 20th century the common
countryside, as well as bluebells and wood was home to a successful brick and tile industry,
anemones in spring and spectacular displays using clay extracted from massive pits which can
of autumn colour. The holly that had invaded still be seen today.
large parts of the wood has now been cut back I may be preaching to the converted –
by our volunteers to encourage a more diverse perhaps you’ve already been to all our wonderful
scan here for www.chilternsociety.org.uk woodland ecology. sites – but, if not, you have some treats in store!
DEADLINES REPRODUCTION OF IMAGES
It is not possible to guarantee that items received after The photographs in this publication must not be
the deadline will be included in the next issue, unless a reproduced elsewhere, except with the express
prior arrangement has been made with the Editor. permission of the photographer via the Editor. If you
do not wish your photographs to be used in other
SENDING COPY AND PHOTOGRAPHS Society publications, please make this clear when you
Published quarterly by The Chiltern Society Please email text as Word attachments. Pictures should send them.
EDITOR: Richard Bradbury • 01494 793049 be sent as jpg attachments. High resolution images
Email: rbradbury.cnews@btinternet.com are required for publication, although low resolution The Society does not necessarily accept
images can be sent as samples in the first instance, if responsibility for the views of contributors or the
ADVERTISING: Sophie Elkan preferred. Please indicate the quality of images sent, claims of the advertisers.
Email: sophieelkan@icloud.com entitle your pictures and delete any numbers.
DESIGN & TYPESET: Clickdraw • 01392 841100
PRINT: Hartgraph • Amersham on materials DEADLINE FOR ISSUE 242 (DECEMBER 2021)
produced by environmentally friendly processes. Items to the Editor by: Monday 27 September • Published: Saturday 27 November
www.chilternsociety.org.uk 3
SOCIETY NEWS
Hopes for the future
From the Chief Officer Tom Beeston
For some time I’ve been despondent about the future of the Chilterns and beyond, but I’m
delighted to be able to say that with the support of a great Board of Trustees, a dedicated
and committed staff team and some terrific partners (too many to mention, but they know
who they are), I really can see a light starting to shine on our beautiful hills, chalk streams
and woodland floors. Hopefully what we’re setting out to do over the coming weeks and
months can be the start of something wonderful for the Chilterns and beyond.
The response to my Chilterns in Crisis activities to improve wellbeing for a new
message was tremendous. Thank you audience of under-25s in our area.
to all who donated to this appeal which We’ve been working with our good
addresses the fundamentals of what we friends at Sustain, the alliance for food
do as a charity. Thanks to you and our and farming, and with the support of the
loyal, and growing, group of members and Rothschild Foundation and others, and
volunteers, we can look to up our game and I can report that the Buckinghamshire
drive change. It’s been a tough 18 months Food Partnership (BFP) has now gained
for all charities, so now more than ever its own charity status. Over the coming
we’re relying on your support to ensure months, we’ll be using its expertise and
we’re sufficiently funded to tackle the our volunteer base to help promote
evolving challenges to our countryside, and food and farming businesses across
to conserve, campaign for and promote the Buckinghamshire and the wider Chilterns.
Chilterns now and in the future. We’re also hoping the team and its
Our registered active volunteer numbers partners at BFP can show us how we can
now stand at 570, up from 500 not too help those who aren’t in quite such a good
long ago. If all we have in the pipeline position.
this year and beyond comes to fruition, We welcome a new CEO, Chris Williams,
we’ll be looking for lots more. The way to the Royal Forestry Society. A Chiltern
we operate is very different from many Society member and friend, formerly at Photo: Colin Drake
charities – we’re not driven by turnover or BBOWT, he’s challenged us to look again
staff numbers, but by how much is being at how we focus on woodlands. Our first I’d like to say more (as many of you
done for our countryside, communities and proper meeting with them and other will know!), but I hope this has given you
businesses. partners to start this conversation will be a good idea about why I’m feeling more
With more than a little help from the at Hockeridge and Pancake Woods, which positive for the future. I hope to see many
Chilterns Conservation Board, Thames our volunteers help to manage. I hope of you at our AGM on 30 October, when
Water and others, our outlay on chalk we’ll have something to report about this we’ll be showing you our new, pared-back
stream restoration and access is about to initiative soon. business plan, and talking to you about
explode, and it looks as if this will continue The Buildings Design Awards entries how you believe the Chilterns can be made
for some years to come. are really interesting and I look forward to an even better place to live. As part of this
In partnership with Sustrans, our seeing the results. These awards, along with conversation, I hope you’ll spend just few
work on the Misbourne Greenway for the great work of all those campaigning minutes answering some questions about
walking, leisure cycling and, we hope, against developments like HS2, do make both your Society membership and the
horse riding should start soon, after many me think we need a different approach to Chilterns. You’ll find more information on
delays. Meanwhile, the Nature Alliance planning and excessive developments here the back of the coversheet.
partnership of Lindengate, Chiltern Society, in the Chilterns. I’m pleased to report that Thanks again to our whole team,
BBOWT, Chiltern Rangers and Road Farm our trustees and partners are also keen for members, volunteers, staff and trustees –
Countryways will be offering nature-based us to undertake such a review. it’s great to have your support.
PATRON: Rt Hon The Earl Howe TREASURER: Luke Jefferys
PRESIDENT: Michael Rush HEAD OF CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT: Gavin Johnson
VICE PRESIDENTS: FUNDRAISING MANAGER: Sam Roberts
Mark Getty CHILTERN SOCIETY OFFICE: Tracey Read
John Taylor White Hill Centre, White Hill, Chesham,
CHAIR: Simon Kearey Bucks HP5 1AG
VICE CHAIRS: Dan Turner & David Harris Tel: 01494 771250
CHIEF OFFICER: Tom Beeston Email: office@chilternsociety.org.uk
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Sonning Green Gym working at the Beds (Photo: Tom Stevenson)
4 Chiltern 241
CHILTERN ENVIRONMENT
Clean-up campaign
An interview with Chiltern-based
businessman and environmentalist
Dave Shanks, founder of Water-to-Go
What inspired you to set up contaminants including viruses, chemicals,
Water-to-Go? like chlorine and fluoride, as well as heavy
Being in the garment industry, I was travelling pesticides. The filter will purify any non-salt
the world sourcing and became very aware water source, removing up to 99.9999% of
of the huge scale issue of single-use plastics, contaminants.
their effect on the environment and the
general disregard for recycling. What kind of people make up
your customer base?
How did you go about It’s quite broad: people who don’t like tap
establishing the company? What water or are in an environment like a school,
challenges did you face? office or gym where they distrust the hygiene
The major issue was back in 2010. The term of the water; people going out for the day
single-use plastics, and the impact they had who want to ensure they always have access
on the environment, were not well publicised, to clean water; people who travel and are
so being able to raise funds to finance the concerned about water availability or quality;
filter technology was a huge issue. Since and obviously, people who care about
Blue Planet and the like, the awareness has protecting the environment and don’t want
rocketed and there’s a broad understanding to make the current situation worse by using
that our current attitudes are untenable. single-use plastics.
How useful was your previous How widely are your bottles
experience in manufacturing and distributed? our youngest ambassador, 11 year-old Paolo
distribution? I’m proud to say we’re sold in over 50 Ben Salmi, who wants to get children off
Massively; being able to establish production countries, including the Americas and their computers and out into the countryside.
protocols and quality control with our own Australia, New Zealand, China, India and This, combined with our collaborations with
team has been fundamental. Having run across Europe. organisations and charities of all sizes, helps
clothing companies with global distributors us get the message out there.
provided the template for our system with I believe you place great emphasis
Water-to-Go. on partnerships and collaboration. What future plans and aspirations
What form does this take and do you have for the company?
What are your key aims, and how who are you working with? I would hope that we can expand the product
much progress do you feel you’ve Yes we do. It’s important for us to work with range to help create the ‘critical mass’
made towards achieving them? ‘kindred spirits’, people who care about we need to move the business forward. I
Our main aim is to create a financially wellbeing and the environment. We’ve want to build awareness that caring for the
secure foundation in the developed world. worked with NGOs and charities, such as The environment is no longer just a hobby, it’s a
By reaching ‘critical mass’ in terms of Hunger Project, Just a Drop, Malaria no More, necessity, and to see more people getting
manufacturing, we can reduce the cost of Médicins sans Frontières and African Wildlife involved. I aspire to extending our distribution
our filters. Then, allowing a certain amount Foundation, as well as with major travel and, at my age, I’d like to hand over the reins
of supervised local manufacturing, we can companies who are ‘on board’ with us, such as to someone who can truly make the brand
get the technology into the developing world Kuoni, Tui, Explore and Wild Frontiers. We’re global and deliver our goals – so not a huge
where it’s a matter of life and death. currently supporting projects training rangers shopping list!
in Africa to protect wild spaces and animals.
Can you describe briefly the To find out more, visit watertogo.eu
technology used in your bottles? I note that you have a number of
How did you develop it? Water-to-Go ambassadors. How
We became aware that multi-layer do they help?
membranes using nanotechnology were We’re a privately funded business, so huge
being developed in the USA for the space advertising budgets are beyond our grasp.
programmes, so we took the basic concept Our key ambassadors help us by endorsing
and developed it. We can therefore combine our products, which they’ve used personally.
three technologies into one membrane; This can be real-life explorers such as Ash
this means we filter out microbiological Dykes, Chaz Powell and Holly Budge, or like
email: office@chilternsociety.org.uk 5
CHILTERN FARMING
Nature’s recovery –
farmers in the Chilterns
lead the way
Nick Marriner, CCB Landowner
Engagement Officer, explains
Much has been written about the decline in UK wildlife in recent years and the many
factors that are leading to this, including the intensification of agriculture. United in the
belief that nature’s recovery can be best achieved at scale across the farmed landscape, a
group of 18 passionate farmers have joined forces with the Chilterns Conservation Board
(CCB) to lead the fightback.
In establishing the Central Chilterns Farmer It started with a first meeting over a pie
Cluster in 2018, its chair Ian Waller set out and pint in The Gate pub in Bryants Bottom,
with a vision to excite, engage and enthuse and since then the cluster has worked
Top: Monitoring owl boxes
local farmers, and help them collaborate to together to: Inset: Ian Waller, chair of the Central Chilterns Farmer
Cluster
get the practical support they needed to work Set up collaborative projects: Photos courtesy of the CCB
together in supporting their local wildlife. l Providing 23 tonnes of winter
Backing from the CCB through the supplementary feed for birds l Planting 4.6 hectares of winter wild bird
National Lottery Heritage-funded Chalk, l Planting 3.1km of new wild flower-rich seed cover
Cherries and Chairs Project has helped get field margins l Carrying out 20 hectares of SSSI chalk
the cluster off the ground. As it approaches l Installing 54 nest boxes for barn owls grassland restoration
its third birthday, Ian reflects on what has and other species with the Bucks Owl & l Expanding planting and management of
been achieved: ‘Farmers are being asked Raptor Group. 3 traditional orchards.
to do more to look after wildlife, soils Get sound ecological advice to help Carry out extensive species and habitat
and water, as well as reduce our carbon farmers plan: monitoring:
footprint. For many of us this is daunting; l 18 Whole Farm Plans have been written, l Commissioning full botanical surveys
my farming neighbours know how to offering detailed ideas for habitat creation of over 400 hectares of species-rich
produce food, but struggle to know where l 2 SSSI management plans have been grassland
to start on these new challenges. The cluster produced l 3 years of winter and spring farm bird
has really helped us better understand the l 5 hedgerow management plans have surveys
wildlife on our farms and how we can help it been written. l New Reptile Survey with
thrive. We have a support team we trust and Deliver bespoke projects: Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes
the resources on offer are invaluable. The l Planting over 4km of new hedgerow Environment Records Centre
power of the cluster really comes through l Coppicing over 1.5km of hedgerow l New Small Mammal Survey with the
opportunities to work together on projects l Installing 3.4km of fencing to manage Buckinghamshire Mammal Group
at scale. We each form a small part of the grazing stock l 2 years of a winter farmland bird-ringing
wider Chilterns jigsaw and by working l Creating 4.4 hectares of new flower-rich project with the Hughenden Ringing
together we are making a big impact.’ meadow Group.
6 Chiltern 241
Farmers are also working with the
Chiltern Rangers and a dedicated team
of more than 50 volunteers who have
participated in carrying out wildlife surveys,
hedgerow planting, scrub management and
many other vital jobs.
Alongside the growing number of wildlife
projects, the cluster are also keen to work
together to look at ways in which they
can collectively do their bit to reduce the
effects of climate change. The Rothschild
Foundation have funded a new project with
the Farm Carbon Toolkit, to help farmers
understand their farm carbon footprint and Corn bunting Slowworm
the health of their soils.
Even at this early stage farmers are brought the wildlife on my farm to life,’ says Stewardship in the Chilterns was very low –
seeing some impressive results: Andrew. ‘I have always taken an interest, but conservation projects had come and gone, and
l Bird surveys recorded 100 species, all of the survey work has encouraged me to we didn’t have a way of helping our farmers
including new corn bunting and yellow look more and inspired me to do more as well understand the wildlife on their farms and
wagtail territories – it’s been a really exciting couple of years.’ how best to look after it. Other farmer clusters
l 13 counts of over 50 yellowhammer using Eleanor comments: ‘We were excited when we are doing great work by providing training
supplementary feeding sites bought the farm, but we only realised what a through Natural England’s Facilitation Fund,
l 286 plant species recorded on a survey really special place it was once we properly including the Christmas Common Cluster in
on one farm’s chalk grassland margins got to know it. Getting into Countryside the Oxfordshire Chilterns. We also want to
l Common lizard, grass snake and Stewardship and managing an SSSI felt do more to find ways to really excite, engage
slowworms recorded on farm reptile daunting, but having a team of experts hold and enthuse our farmers. We therefore set
surveys my hand through the process has made a out to offer the end to end support needed
l Wood mouse and bank vole recorded on huge difference. I can’t believe what we have to deliver projects and help farmers achieve
farm small mammal surveys. achieved.’ environmental improvements on their farms.’
As Ian Waller goes on to explain, the With the completion of 18 detailed Whole To move this forward, it’s exciting to
work over the last three years has helped Farm Plans, the cluster has produced its own announce Farming in Protected Landscapes,
farmers understand their role in leading Nature Recovery Network, mapping out a new three year Chilterns-wide, Defra-funded
nature’s recovery across the Chilterns, but options for habitat creation and opportunities grant scheme. It will help farmers and land
there’s more to be done: ‘Knowing that ELM for wildlife to move about the landscape from managers carry out projects that support
[Environmental Land Management] is going field to field and farm to farm. This will form nature’s recovery, mitigate the impacts of
to be introduced in the next few years, we the foundation of the cluster’s work in the climate change, provide opportunities for
wanted to make sure the cluster offered us coming years. people to discover, enjoy and understand the
a leg up, helped us adapt to change and The Central Chilterns Farmer Cluster landscape and cultural heritage, or support
be comfortable with issues such as carbon covers 6,500 hectares of farmland in the nature-friendly, sustainable farm businesses.
sequestration and soil health. We want Buckinghamshire section of the Chilterns To find out more visit the CCB website and
this approach to put us at the forefront of AONB. Kath Daly, Countryside Officer for click on Farming in Protected Landscapes.
conservation in the coming years and make CCB sees this model as a key part of a
the most of opportunities to do more.’ blueprint for wider work to help farmers
Two farmers who have really appreciated drive nature’s recovery across the Chilterns:
the work of the cluster are Andrew Stubbings ‘Before the Central Chilterns Farmer Cluster
and Eleanor Cave. ‘The cluster has really was established, take up of Countryside
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Distillery of the Year 2021, The Gin Guide Awards
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Tring, Herts HP23 4NT | puddingstonedistillery.com
www.chilternsociety.org.uk 7
SOCIETY NEWS
The lone ranger
rides into the sunset
Fiona Bennett-Meere says farewell
I’ve been the Chiltern Society’s ‘lone ranger’ for three years and now I’m off to pastures
new, where adventures await! The ranger role was a new one for the Society and that was a
challenge for me to get my head around – knowing where to start and what to do! Luckily,
my experiences with different Wildlife Trusts and a corporate life before that prepared me
well, and my first day was at a work party with the new boss, Gavin, at Kingwood Common.
My main job has been managing our nature Keith and Christine! Volunteers have shared
reserves and overseeing the work that the their life stories, both their joy and pain,
amazing volunteers do – predominantly and this inspires me to work even harder
giving advice and practical help when at what I do and in what I can achieve for
needed and at other times just having a myself and others. I’ve been lucky to meet
good old chat! There are a few volunteers so many great people and some even have
who have told me how good I’ve been in their own nicknames or aging rock star
my management role – standing there and lockdown hairdos! The staff at the Society
making sure others are working hard and are wonderful too – you’re a lovely bunch of
not doing much graft myself! One of my people and we’ve had a lot of fun. Tracey, Fiona and Gavin
roles, however, has been to oversee their the Office Manager, in particular has become
health and safety, and with that comes a a good friend, although I wonder if she’ll schools, and establishing links with partner
certain amount of observing rather than ever do the ‘Couch to 5k’ – it was over a organisations – but none of this comes close
doing! I also feel that my Masters degree year ago when she first mentioned it. Gavin, to all the amazing people I’ve worked with,
in primate conservation has helped me ‘the old boss’ has been instrumental in my so thank you.
at times in being able to communicate success with the Society. He’s probably the What’s next for me? I move to Falmouth
effectively with a variety of homo sapiens… most horizontal manager I’ve ever had and in September for a year, where I’ll be doing
some more evolved than others (you know that worked well for us! We’ve laughed a lot an MSc in marine vertebrate ecology and
who you are)! All jokes aside, my greatest together, he’s taught me so much and is one conservation as part of Exeter University.
personal achievement in this role has been of the most supportive people you could I’m ready for a new intellectual challenge
the relationships that I’ve made – I’ll cherish ever wish to meet. We’ve worked hard too and, only through understanding the
them. – although I think we’ll avoid any tree work changes that are occurring with the
I’ve met some fabulous volunteers who together in the future, because we always marine ecosystem, can we start to put
have made me cry with laughter and who seemed to end up having to get the experts practical solutions in place that protect it
luckily share my love of innuendos and in. Oh, and there was the time when he from economic exploitation and further
taking the mickey out of each other when nearly dropped a tree on my head… environmental degradation. The ocean’s
appropriate! Some have taught me new There are so many other aspects that health is vital to our planet and survival, and
species, others offered guidance on habitat I’m proud of, such as the development of I want to help in whatever way I can so that
management and one couple even sent me the conservation area at Brush Hill, new future generations are able to experience
their holiday photos of boobies – thanks education events we’ve run on site and in how incredible nature is.
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Delivery Service Aston Hill, Aston Clinton, HP23 6LD
tel: 01494 771180
www.cheshamfencing.co.uk mob: 07939 135056
8 Chiltern 241
SOCIETY NEWS
Excited by a
new challenge
Our new ranger, Nick Christensen
introduces himself
I grew up in the Chiltern area, and I’ve always loved exploring the hills and woodland in the various duties including management of
AONB. I did my first degree at University College London and I’m now taking a Masters in British habitats, leading volunteer groups,
Wildlife Conservation. representing the Trust at public events such
as Countryfile Live, educating school groups
My knowledge and experience of the natural population survey, as well as tracking large and looking after stock animals. I’ve also
world has been considerably enhanced mammals such as lynx, bears and wolves in given public talks about wildlife conservation
by the conservation-related roles I’ve the Tatra Mountains. and its relevance to tackling climate change,
undertaken both in the UK and overseas. In Colorado I worked in a Wolf Sanctuary and why healthy habitats matter intrinsically,
I worked for the British Exploring Society in the Rocky Mountains, looking after as well as to our emotional and psychological
as an Assistant Leader on an expedition to rescued and rehabilitated pack members, wellbeing.
Ladakh in the Himalayas, where we made living sustainably and providing tours to The Chilterns is my home, and I’m excited
basecamp at over 5,000ft and explored visitors to inform them about the importance to contribute to the regeneration and
the surrounding area while also conducting of apex predators, keystone species, trophic restoration of the magnificent countryside.
some scientific projects. cascades and the socio-economic and I’ve got great hopes for the future of the
I worked with Care for the Wild Kenya in ecological benefits of functioning habitats AONB and I’m ecstatic to be joining the
partnership with the Kenyan Wildlife Service with healthy wildlife populations. Chiltern Society as its ranger. I’m eager to get
as an anti-poaching operative in East Tsavo Back in the UK I trained as a Wildlife stuck into the role and play my part in the
National Park near Mombasa, and in Slovakia Conservation Operative with Berks, Bucks stewardship of this beautiful area.
I assisted as a researcher on a wildlife and Oxon Wildlife Trust, performing I look forward to meeting many of you soon.
Pensions
Savings and Investments
Protection
Inheritance Tax Planning
email: office@chilternsociety.org.uk 9
CHILTERN SOCIETY EVENTS
Events & Activities
Autumn 2021
All events will comply with Government guidelines on Covid-19 applicable at the time. If
any outbreaks occur, or new restrictions are imposed, the event could be cancelled and a
full refund given.
Winterbourne Hedgehogs recovering at Tiggywinkles Map reading
An Introduction to them about waste reduction, reuse and which thrive at this time of year! Join us
recycling. This will be followed by a tour on a hunt through Whiteleaf Hill Nature
Winterbournes where you’ll see waste being delivered, giant Reserve led by expert Penny Cullington
– Walk and Overview grab cranes moving the waste and then the from the Bucks Fungus Group, who’ll give
The Hughenden Stream is one of a number waste burning in the grate, before visiting a fascinating insight into the fungi that you
of winterbournes – ephemeral chalk streams the turbine hall and experiencing the draught find, which ones you can eat and those you
that only flow when the water table is under the condenser fans. most definitely can’t.
sufficiently high. Join us on this 5 mile walk Friday 10 September 2-4pm Friday 8 October 10-11:30am
along it. The leader will be Doug Kennedy, Greatmoor Energy from Waste, Whiteleaf & Brush Hill, Peters Lane,
a previous chairman of the Society’s Rivers Greatmoor Road, Woodham, Aylesbury, Princes Risborough, Bucks HP27 0RP
& Wetlands Group, who also became chair Bucks HP18 0QE or
of the Chalk Rivers Action Group. In the Friday 15 October 10-11:30am
Price £3 per adult
Chiltern Hills we’re blessed with many Marlow Common, Marlow, Bucks SL7 2QP
lovely landscape features, the rarest and
Tiggywinkles Price £6 per adult
most significant of which are our nine chalk
streams. Globally scarce, they support rich – Tour and Talk £3 per child
ecologies and, at their best, flow with clear, Join us on a visit to the world famous
pure water that‘s been filtered over the Tiggywinkles wildlife hospital in Haddenham. An Introduction to Map
years by the chalk rock below. Sadly, they’ve Your ticket includes an introductory Reading (Choice of dates)
been overexploited and abused for many presentation and a hedgehog talk, where
This ‘learning by doing’ course teaches you
decades and the Rivers & Wetlands Group you’ll see hedgehogs up close and learn
to know exactly where you are at all times,
has focused its efforts on monitoring them, more about them. There’ll also be talks
using a routed scale map extract from the
as well as campaigning for their monitoring about foxes and red kites. You’ll have time to
course leader’s book 60 Choice Walks in the
and restoration. explore the Visitor Centre and other animal
Chilterns (RRP £10) which is included in the
Saturday 4 September 10am-1:30pm enclosures where long-term patients reside.
price of the event. You learn as you progress
Hughenden Valley Centre, Coombe Lane, There’ll be an opportunity to look around
along a very scenic 6 mile walk around The
Hughenden Valley, High Wycombe, the Red Kite Centre and Museum, view the
National Trust’s Ashridge Estate. The book
Bucks HP14 4NX babies through glass windows, and also visit
is aimed at both beginners and experienced
the deer hide. You’re welcome to stay for
Price £4 per adult walkers alike (featuring walks ranging from
the day and have lunch in the grounds if you
2-13 miles), and should serve you well for
wish, but please note that lunch isn’t included
Energy from Waste Facility in the ticket price.
many years, without the need to buy OS
– Overview & Tour Saturday 11 September 10am-1pm
maps until you’ve exhausted the ones in
the book… by which time you’ll be a very
Greatmoor Energy from Waste takes Tiggywinkles, Aston Road, Haddenham, experienced map reader!
household non-recyclable waste from Bucks HP17 8AF
Sunday 10 October 10am-2pm
throughout Buckinghamshire, diverts it from
Price £7.50 per adult Wednesday 20 October 10am-2pm
landfill and uses it to generate electricity
£4 per child Sunday 7 November 10am-2pm
to power 18% of the homes in the county.
Wednesday 10 November 10am-2pm
This visit will begin with a presentation in
Woodland Fungi Walk Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre,
Greatmoor’s fully accessible Visitor Centre,
which is designed to inform visitors about (Choice of dates and venue) Moneybury Hill, Ashridge Estate,
Come and discover the wonderful world Ringshall, Herts HP4 1LX
the benefits of using waste to produce
renewable energy, as well as educating of mushrooms, toadstools and other fungi Price £15 per adult
10 Chiltern 241Tree identification Chiltern Valley Winery & Brewery
Wild foraging Autumn colours
Winter Tree Identification Fred has made appearances with the BBC’s Winter Wine Tour
Jeremy Vine and on ITV’s Countrywise,
Course foraging and cheffing in the woods with
and Tasting
Learn to identify trees in the Chilterns with Gino D’Acampo. His foraging courses Are you interested in quality wines, ales or
woodland expert John Morris, former Director come recommended in BBC Countryfile liqueurs? We’re thrilled to invite you on a two
of the Chiltern Woodlands Project. The course Magazine’s UK top 10 and The Sunday hour ‘behind the scenes’ tour and tasting
will begin at Ashley Green Hall before heading Telegraph’s top 5. experience at Chiltern Valley Winery &
to the nearby ancient Hockeridge Wood, Brewery’s production facilities. At the end of
Thursday 28 October 12-3pm
where we’ll find a large range of trees, both the tour there’ll be a tutored tasting of a wide
Kingwood Common, Colmore Lane,
broadleaved and conifer. The wood has about selection of their wines, ales and liqueurs.
Oxon RG9 5NA
60 species of trees, but few shrubs. During the Not to be missed!
Price £25 per adult
indoor afternoon session John will also give Monday 8 November 11am-1pm
an illustrated presentation on identifying trees Chiltern Valley Winery & Brewery, Old
and shrubs in the Chilterns. Price includes Autumn Colours Ramble
Luxters, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 6JW
some hot drinks and light refreshments, but at Ashridge Price £22.50 per adult
please bring lunch with you. This walk will take you through some of the
Sunday 24 October 9:45am-3pm most spectacular woodland and parkland
The Old School Hall, Chesham Road, at Ashridge. With every corner you turn, or
Ashley Green, Chesham, Bucks HP5 3PP hill you climb, you’ll see some of the best
How to book
autumn colours in the less-trodden areas of Booking is essential as we have limited
Price £40 per adult
the Estate. The walk will be about 5 miles places available. For more information and
to book visit our website
Wild Foraging and will finish at the Brownlow Café by the
www.chilternsociety.org.uk/events or call
Bridgewater Monument for refreshments
Autumn walks will never be the same again the office on 01494 771250.
(not included in the price). Some sections of
if you come to our fungus foray with Fred
the paths and tracks will be muddy. Dogs are
Gillam (aka Fred the Forager). He’s been
welcome as long as they’re under control.
foraging for his supper for more than 30
This walk is led by Andrew Clark, who’s
years and has a passion for the world of
responsible for the wonderful collection of
fungi. He’ll show you exactly what you can
free walks leaflets on our website.
safely pick, what to avoid and how to make
use of the healthy nutritional properties Tuesday 2 November 10am-12:30pm
of a variety of common mushrooms and Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre (Meet at
fungi. Most importantly, he’ll show you Ashridge Monument), Moneybury Hill,
how to do this sustainably so that other Ringshall, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 1LX
woodland creatures also get their fair share! Price £3
Greatmoor Energy from Waste Facility
Your holiday booking can help us!
We’re delighted that, for every walking holiday booked with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays
(www.ramblersholidays.co.uk/home), the Society will receive a small donation to assist in the promotion of
walking in the Chilterns. Please remember to nominate the Chiltern Society when making your booking.
www.chilternsociety.org.uk 11CHILTERN ENVIRONMENT
No water, no life.
No blue, no green
Dawn on the upper river (Angela Colman)
Angela Colman reflects on the River Chess
– past, present and future
Shortly after I became engaged in London in the 1960s, my fiancé, a newly qualified to maintain their lake levels by closing their
barrister, was asked to spend a Sunday in a village we’d never heard of, to help prepare sluices, so that only a trickle of water reached
a legal case. We looked at a map (on paper, not a phone screen in those days) and found us and the trout downstream.
that the village of Sarratt was on the edge of the Chilterns, by a river called the Chess. We realised that we had a steep learning
I mentioned this to my elderly father, whose face lit up. He told us that as a 16 year-old curve if we were to respect and manage the
Londoner, before WWI, he and his friends would sometimes take the Metropolitan Line river in our fascinating but fragile stretch
train from Liverpool Street Station and walk around Sarratt and along the Chess, rolling up of water. We quickly learned about the
their trousers and paddling in the stream. Then, hungry, as boys always are, they’d knock responsibilities and laws involved in being
on any random cottage door and be given fresh boiled eggs, bread and butter, and a cup riparian owners, even with ‘Millers’ Rights’;
of tea, for sixpence. but when the rains came and the springs
returned to feed the head of the river, the
And so we discovered this area of memories were of the flora and fauna of a water was clear and free flowing, due to the
extraordinary rural beauty, close to London, chalk stream… the clear sparkle of the water, diligence of the Thames River Authority. (Not
yet a world away. We walked our young the simple wild flowers, the water birds and to be confused with the present Thames
children along the Chess for many years. insects, the jumping trout and dragonflies. Water or the Environment Agency). Their river
They paddled in the clear water, collecting In about 1980, after endless daydreams men worked all year round and knew every
tiddlers. They watched the then numerous of living by the River Chess, we suddenly inch of the chalk streams feeding into the
water voles (Ratty of Wind in the Willows), found ourselves the owners of Sarratt Mill! Thames itself. They’d wade through the water,
stroked the newborn donkeys at Mill Farm, It was during a period of repeated drought checking the condition of the banks, removing
Chenies and were encouraged to walk all and I still remember driving down North the fallen branches and trees, and in hot
the way to Latimer by the bribe of pear Hill to view the house and, as the valley summers when the weed grew so fast that it
drops, which were weighed out of old- suddenly revealed itself, looking down on an started to choke the streams, they’d clear the
fashioned glass jars at the sweetshop. The almost desert scene of dry golden fields and excess. At one with their environment, they
superb herd of Jersey cows in that stretch hedges, and the river at the bottom barely were real countrymen, knowing their stretches
of water meadows provided cream for the covered in water. We learned that many of of river through physical contact and daily
blackberries we’d picked at the delightfully the springs near Chesham that were the real-life observation, not internet information
named ‘Moonshine Farm’. source of the river had dried up, and at times and algorithms. Our children and those from
Having been brought up as a small we had repeated battles with the owners the local village paddled and fished safely in
child by the River Kennet, my own earliest of Latimer Park, who’d suddenly decide the river, and the dogs swam in it, sometimes
12 Chiltern 241swallowing the water with no unpleasant no practical legislation in the UK to afford
consequences. In the crystal clear water we effective protection to our rivers.
could see myriad fish, insects, plants and In 2020, there were 403,171 separate
mosses. The water birds built their nests, the discharges of sewage effluent into this
mayfly skimmed the water and there were country’s rivers! Our precious and very
dragonflies and damselflies everywhere. rare Chiltern chalk streams are particularly
Frogs were commonplace, and when the vulnerable. Now, the last commercial
flow over the main weir was occasionally watercress farm on the Chess, run by
shut down for maintenance, eels squirmed three generations of the same family and
up the slimy surface waiting for the water producing one of the healthiest forms of
to return. The only threat to the unpolluted vegetable, has been told, ironically, that it
stream was drought, and as soon as the rain can’t continue because the sewage causes
came everything seemed to return to normal a health hazard. As a result of the sewage
within a few weeks. discharges there are notices warning people
During this last depressing Covid year, I not to let their children and dogs into the
decided to console myself and my readers water. The regular school visits to the Chess
by writing and illustrating a book, to share Valley to teach children about the local
A river man (Angela Colman)
with others the privilege and problems, but ecosystems and diversity of flora and fauna
mostly delight, of living in this tiny paradise. are having to be cancelled or postponed. fragile ecosystems to act now, in every way
It’s called Reflections from a Mill House, At last, following increased interest we can, to preserve them. Then, another
Notes and Sketches from the Water’s Edge. from the media and possibly a greater generation will be able to experience the
Even with the difficulties caused by isolation awareness among ‘lockdown’ walkers in the sheer joy of living or walking by these unique
and printers’ closures, my superb editor countryside, the water companies have been Chiltern rivers and streams.
somehow managed to get it published and forced to admit that a problem exists. So ‘Our precious heritage of natural and
signed copies are now available. All profits far, however, there’s been a lot of talk but unspoiled beauty and unpolluted streams,
will go to charity. (For purchase details, see virtually no action. Promises and future plans once exhausted and destroyed, can never be
below). won’t protect these fragile river systems. The replaced.’ (Lynn Noel)
As in most paradises, an evil ‘serpent’ has threat is here and now. The frequent excuse
recently appeared. Unbelievably, at a time of of cost sits badly, when huge profits are Reflections from a Mill House
growing awareness of the need to protect made by companies like Thames Water. In Notes & Sketches
our world from pollution of every sort, order to change this dire situation new state By Angela Colman Paper Mill Publications
here in a designated Area of Outstanding and local legal requirements are essential, as £15 plus postage
Natural Beauty Thames Water is repeatedly is the shaming of the polluters.
and openly pouring raw sewage into the I’m donating half the profits from my To order, send an email with your name,
River Chess from their old, out-of-date book sales to the River Chess Association, address and number of copies required to:
and completely inadequate sewage works who have been particularly good at both enquiries@angelabcolmanartist.com.
downstream from Chesham. At the same improving the river quality itself and in Payment can be made by bank transfer
time, local authorities have legally, though bringing the pollution problem to the or cheque. Details will be sent in a reply
often misguidedly, allowed new houses attention of everyone involved. Each book is to your email order. (Profits will be
and light industrial plants to be built on the accompanied by a leaflet entitled The Threat shared equally between The River Chess
known flood plain, while no attempt has to Our Chalk Streams and what you can do Association and The Peace Hospice,
been made by water companies to cater for about it. The present practice of treating Watford).
the obvious increase in sewage. Nor have the our rivers as open sewers, simply, to use the
planning authorities at any level considered most apposite word, stinks! It’s surely up Angela’s book is reviewed on p 38.
this fact when planning permissions are to those of us privileged and lucky enough
Photographs of Sarratt can be found on our
granted. Indeed, there seems to be virtually to live near or walk by these beautiful but PhotoGroup’s website: www.chilternphoto.org.uk
WANTED
NICK PHILLIPS
ARCHITECTS
CLASSIC CARS 1960-1985
Professional service by enthusiast
07788 438883
07720 844 885
nickphillipsarchitects.com
email: office@chilternsociety.org.uk 13CHILTERN NATURE
April July
October December
A poplar year
Alison Beck’s camera captures
seasonal variations
This has been a difficult time for everyone to live through, but as we start to look back, birder. The pathways round the four reservoirs
some of us have been lucky enough to have good things to remember amid all the bad. afford views of aquatic birds and all kinds of
For me, one of these has been photographing a group of local poplar trees throughout wildlife, including bats, insects and plants.
the seasons, documenting and appreciating the changes. The images now form a personal They’ve always been special to me, and in
album on the PhotoGroup’s website. the reed beds in front of ‘my’ trees I once
got a great view of a bittern. I remember
The idea came from Quiller Barrett, the especially in winter. Of the four – Startops watching the great crested grebes doing their
group’s website Editor. We discussed how we End, Marsworth, Tringford and Wilstone – wonderful mating dance in early spring, and
admired Monet’s paintings of haystacks and Marsworth is the smallest, built in 1806. The carrying their tiny fluffy chicks on their backs.
Rouen Cathedral, both of which he painted reservoirs are now managed by Herts and I started the project in January 2020, in
many times in changing light. Quiller thought Middlesex Wildlife Trust, and apart from the depths of winter, wondering if there was
it would be good to find a local subject (we birders, attract many anglers – monster tench really enough material to make an interesting
didn’t realise then just how local it would have been reported. set of photographs. I soon realised that every
need to be!), so that repeated visits could I’ve known these reservoirs all my life. As visit yielded different results, and despite
be made at different times of the day and teenagers we cycled from Aylesbury and being ruthless with my deletions, I rapidly
season. I agreed to give it some thought, bathed in the corner of Startops – living so far acquired a substantial number of images.
and eventually decided on a group of poplar from the sea, it was the only outdoor place Then came lockdown: from mid-March to
trees at Marsworth Reservoir, about 10 you could paddle and swim. I note that this is mid-May 2020 we had to stay at home, so
minutes from my home. no longer permitted, and I’m not sure I’d be the project got shelved, and I missed that
The four Tring reservoirs were originally tempted anyway. I remember photographing wonderful period when the leaves finally
built on land owned by the Rothschilds to my Dad standing right out on the frozen appeared on the trees. It was very good to
feed the Grand Union Canal, and are now a reservoir in the hard winter of 1962/3. One get back to it.
Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of Christmas Day a few years ago I spent ages Photography makes you notice so much
the best birdwatching locations for miles, in the bird hide chatting to a fellow solitary more, and I don’t think I’d ever realised
14 Chiltern 241LETTERS
Promoting public
quite how different a landscape you know
well changes over a year and indeed a day.
transport
I visited early in the morning and late in
the evening, yet very seldom failed to meet
anyone. There were fishermen, runners,
birdwatchers, photographers, Canal and
River Trust workers, picnickers and walkers. Mark Jeffreys, by email
I had many interesting chats with people
I always enjoy the walks with the Society, but have noticed how few of them are
who love the spot as much as I do. Very
accessible by public transport, usually only one or two a season. Can you consider
occasionally there was no-one, and that was
making more of the walks accessible by train or bus, perhaps one or two a month? This
a personal pleasure too – the special sense of
would be more environmentally friendly and also encourage younger people, many of
solitude in a beautiful and well-loved place.
whom do not have cars, to join the Society.
There were great moments, like the starling
murmurations in the darkest days of winter.
The birds appear just before dusk, so that the
light for photography is poor, and inevitably
the best shots I got weren’t over my trees,
but it was wonderful standing beneath the
Carbon capture
swirling mass of birds and watching them
drop into the reeds to roost safely. Michael Nidd, by email
I had lots of abortive visits too: the sky
An interesting piece from Harriet Bennett in Chiltern 240, especially for folk like me who
might look interesting at home, so I’d grab
are fighting something of a rearguard action against proposals in Local Plans to remove
the camera and drive over, only to find that
large tracts of Green Belt and greenfield land to accommodate unrealistic housing
the interesting clouds were in the other
numbers.
direction, or the sky had turned to a flat grey.
I was disappointed that the sun never rose One example all too close to home is the
or set behind the trees – it took me many draft Dacorum Local Plan, which includes
months to discover this, whereas anyone with significant areas of the Chilterns AONB,
a better brain and a compass would have fails to recognise the climate emergency
realised much earlier! But I got some good declared by Dacorum Borough Council or
sunsets over Startops instead. to take any account of the consequences
I ended up with well over 300 of removing 850 hectares of Green Belt,
photographs, and realised that however greenfield and urban green space to make
keen you might be on trees or Monet, there’d room for housing. Based on work done
be a limited market for looking at so many. by the University of London in respect
Gradually I refined the set down to the of Hampstead Heath (320 hectares,
couple of dozen that form the album, writing capturing 150 tons per year), the draft
captions reflecting the things I was thinking at Local Plan would lose carbon capture
Chalk grassland on the Pegsdon Hills (Photo: C Howe)
the time. I’ve always had a love of poetry, and capacity equivalent to around 400 tons
on some days the words just came unbidden annually. It would be good to know and how much of that valuable beneficial
to my mind. When I took the January shots just how much our chalk grassland is action would be lost if the cover is
I thought of Christina Rossetti’s In the Bleak achieving by way of carbon sequestration, replaced by housing estates and roads.
Midwinter – ‘earth stood hard as iron, water
like a stone.’ And in April I visited on a mild
sunny day, then again the next day after a
hard frost, so thought of Eliot and ‘April is the
cruellest month.’ Perhaps best of all is that Caught on camera
sudden rush when everything turns to green
almost overnight, and every year I think of An anonymous ‘leafleteer’, by email
Dylan Thomas and his ‘force that through the
You published a mildly amusing article a few years ago about the travails of postmen
green fuse drives the flower’ – it almost feels
or postwomen when delivering mail. It was written by a volunteer following a leaflet
like someone has lit a fuse that races through
dropping exercise. Can I add to his comments?
the grasses and trees, transforming them at
a touch. And of course Keats, and his Ode to I’ve posted Chiltern Society promotional staring at grainy images of strangers
Autumn, learned by heart all those years ago, leaflets through about 300 doors over approaching our front doors! Some
but still loved. the last few weeks and can concur people have them stuck in the front lawn
Most of all the project has deepened the with the comments in the article. There staring out in various directions, some
affection I’ve always had for the reservoirs, are still fingernail-cracking mail boxes, are hoisted up in trees focused on the
and taught me that often the best shots can snapping dogs and mysterious ‘thank doorbell, while others are actually inside
be taken in the worst weather. It’s been a yous’ from behind doors, but now a new the doorbell!
huge pleasure. phenomenon... domestic CCTV cameras. If I ever felt animosity towards old
To see Alison’s pictures, go to www. They’re everywhere. No wonder we’re all Burglar Bill, I don’t now. How, in 2021, is he
chilternphoto.org.uk/index/category/327 . claiming to be busy if we’re constantly expected to make an ‘honest’ living?
www.chilternsociety.org.uk 15You can also read
