Hodgemoor Riding Association

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Links page Chalfont St. Giles Community Web Site

YOU... can help improve riding in Hodgemoor Wood
The Hodgemoor Riders support riding in and around Hodgemoor Wood (between Seer Green and Chalfont St Giles). We need your support to give weight to our current projects with Bucks CC and Forest Enterprise:

1) Improvements to the permissive trails in Hodgemoor Wood, open since 24th June

2) A new bridle path connecting Chalfont St. Giles (Threehouseholds) to the East end of Hodgemoor Wood opening in August

3) Application for a grant from the Bretts Environmental Trust to give a hard base to several miles of trails in Hodgemoor Wood, with the support of Forest Enterprise and Bucks CC.

4) We are also working to develop a 20 to 25-mile network connecting Hodgemoor to Penn (in conjunction with the Penn Area Bridleways Association) and to Amersham (with Bucks County Council).

The role of the Hodgemoor Riding Association
The association was formed in January 1995 in response to a threat from the Forestry Commission that it would close all Riding Trails in Hodgemoor Wood except for the one statutory Bridle Way. They claimed that horses were damaging the trails by over use, and that riders were using paths reserved for walkers. However, the Commission agreed to leave the the Riding Trails open if an association was formed as an official body that the Commission could negotiate with. This association represents riders interests, works with other Hodgemoor Wood groups and could "police" its own rider members.
We calculate that within easy hacking distance of Hodgemoor there must be at least 200 horses and ponies stabled. If other stables near Chalfont St Peter and Jordans are included, it must be more like 400. It is very important that this large community of riders should show themselves as a body willing to co-operate with the Forest Enterprise and the County Council in developing safe hacking in this area. It would be very sad to see the riding scope in such a beautiful and safe area as Hodgemoor Wood reduced. See also the notes on the Hodgemoor home page

www.hodgemoor.org.uk

Susie Bicknell
Secretary, Hodgemoor Riding Association
E-mail: susie@hodgemoor.org.uk
Homefarm Orchard, Threehouseholds, Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks HP8 4LP

Version 9 - 4th December 2006 - MB

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