HODGEMOOR WOOD

Welcome to the Hodgemoor Wood website,
home of the Hodgemoor Riding Association

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Hodgemoor Wood is an Site of Special Scientific Interest between Amersham, Chalfont St.Giles and Seer Green. For us it's an area of outstanding natural beauty, flora & fauna, funky great oaks, dedicated horse trails and lots of walking. The Forestry Commission (01296 625825) does what it can on limited budgets to maintain the woods, but depends on its users in the form of associations like ours to help with maintenance. 

Horse riders: The riding trails in Hodgemoor Wood are maintained by the Hodgemoor Riding Association for the Forestry Commission. Since 2000 the Hodgemoor Riding Association has raised close to £100,000 for renovating the paths in the woods and for off-road access. We have also generated a new bridleway and four new permissive trails... 3000 metres of new track costing £36 per metre! The two pictures on the right are the same place, the Spring Link, before and after our work. Amazing. The objective has been to keep horses on their allocated paths and to free the wood from extensive areas of mud in winter. This makes the wood a nicer place for walkers and ramblers, and indeed, the Association was honoured by the British Horse Society's Access Award 2005 for the success of their work. As of 1 April 2008 it is compulsory to be a member of the Association to use the permissive trails in the wood. Membership includes sponsored rides, Le Trec, cross-country jumping, demonstrations and other events, access to Thames Valley Horse Watch information (on the web), your map of the woods and the 3-yearly e-newsletter. 

Click here to see a membership application form and standing order form. You can pay your subscription, an event entry fee, use of the X-Country field,  or a donation with your PayPal account; select the option from the drop-downs then click on the Pay or Subscribe button.  But please make sure you send your completed membership application form or event entry form at the same time so we know who the payment is from.

Pay your one-off annual subscription here (click the drop-down for 3 one-off options)
Pay any event entry fee or XC rental here (click the drop-down for 4 options)
You can have PayPal remit your subscription every year automatically (it's a bit cheaper for you and much simpler for us); click the drop-down for 4 annual subscription options. Thanks!

You can buy tickets for the Hodgemoor Riding Association raffle at the Widmer Show on 26 May. Amazing prizes; click here for details.   Buy 5, 10 or 20 tickets. Pick them up on the day or, if you cannot come, we will inform you of your winnings afterwards.

Walkers: The Hodgemoor Riding Association welcomes walkers and has several walker members. Those that have joined are supportive of the maintenance efforts and of co-operation between the different users of the woods. If you come by car, cyclists and riders would be most grateful if you park considerately. It is easy at Rawlings Corner and Widmer Corner to block the cyclist/horse entrance; please try not to –  remember there is a big free car park off Bottrells Lane. We would welcome greater walker membership and contributions to this site (see Walkers & Cyclists ).

Cyclists are allowed on the two bridle paths, and are exceptionally permitted by the Forestry Commission on the  permissive trails (those marked as horse trails) in Hodgemoor. Much of the fund-raising by the Hodgemoor Riding Association was based on the benefits to all users of the wood as an amenity. The Forestry Commission has recently confirmed that, although cyclists have no legal rights other than on the bridleways, they are welcome on the permissive trails in Hodgemoor as long as the trails are suitable for the purpose (i.e. they must be marked as riding trails with the horseshoe sign on a post). Cycling is not permitted elsewhere in the wood. By the way, when you're approaching horses from behind, please ting the bell or make a cheery "hello" before arriving to warn those spooky horses that you are there. Thanks so much.

Neither motorcycles nor any other powered vehicles are permitted in the wood. Police action has recently been taken against motocross bikes in Hodgemoor. If you see powered vehicles in the woods please 1) take photos 2) note registration numbers or other details 3) phone the police on 0845 8505505 or 121 and 4) phone Marcus Bicknell (Volunteer Forest Warden) on 07748 111444.

Please save  0845 8505505 to your mobile phone. If you see any motorised vehicle in the wood, call them!

Horse riders should also note that riding in fields adjoining Hodgemoor is not permitted other than directly on the bridleways. However, members can rent the mini-cross-country field at any time, £5 per horse. The field is seven acres with 20 large jumps (including an arrowhead (image right), a ditch, doubles, a corner, a bench and a 3 foot bread loaf) and twenty small jumps Call Susie 01494 872447 to book and pay.

Click here to see a map of the paths showing which are bridleways.

Hodgemoor from the air, seen from the South:

 

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Events Calendar Hodgemoor Challenge   News & Results   Health    Walkers & Cyclists     Businesses    List of Liveries     Links DownloadsHome   Classified ads       Forum


The web site address is http://www.hodgemoor.org.uk
E-mail the Hodgemoor Riding Association via Susie Bicknell,or Marcus Bicknell


With thanks to our partners for their support since 1999
Version 18 - MB 16th January 2012