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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