Topic ID 55
When I was a student in Lancaster, we used to go and paddle in a "safe" bit of the River Lune when the weather got too hot. It was quite shallow and clear with a little "beach" at the side. Is there anywhere around Hertford to dip your feet?
Reply ID 174
I seem to recall having seen people paddling around the bridge by the tennis courts on Hartham.
Reply ID 175
please be careful of the rats though
Reply ID 177
I think you may have put me off. Dare I ask - are there many?
Reply ID 178
I have yet to see a rat at the particular stretch of river that Steve talks of, this is the river Beane, the water is clear and only a few inches deep running over a gravel bottom, ideal for paddling. If you prefer to go rat spotting, then the dicker mill area of the river Lea is your best bet, i've seen dozens there!
Reply ID 179
Are they baiting them? Or is that too much of a threat to the otter colony, etc. I wonder if there is a "problem" with rats or just as many as would be expected. Can't say I am over fond of them.
Reply ID 180
The rats stronghold is the damp wooded island between the industrial units and Hartham, they find plenty of food that we leave behind (feeding ducks, picnic leftovers, overflowing bins etc). Don't think we should slam the rat for being an adaptable survivor though (know others will disagree because classed as disease carrying vermin). Baiting has occured around the dicker mill area, so numbers may be kept in check, but as long as we are here, they will be! As for the otters...signs of these superb creatures have been found on the meads recently, not sure if they would be brave enough to swim up the noisy town centre stretch of the Lea though! Happy "rat free" paddling :¬)
Reply ID 181
Moving on from Rats - I did see a snake once on the far side of the river behind the tennis courts on Hartham. Once it saw me it slithered away rather quickly- Perhaps our resident Nature lover (Sprocket) could tell us little about this.
Reply ID 182
Well Dave, if you insist on turning this thread into a natural history one...it was most likely a harmless Grass Snake sunning itself, which are usually olive green with yellow flashes on each side of the head. Last summer, riding home from work i stopped on the Beane bridge(near N station) to do a bit of carp spotting...five mins later a car pulls up and a woman says "excuse me"... thinking she was about to ask me for directions she then said "do you realize there's a snake by your feet" i looked down and sure enough there was a good sized Grass Snake getting a little over friendly with my front tyre; Then in a Steve Irwin type neck grip, i bravely took the critter across the road and released it in the long grass, i then realized just how much a Grass Snake stinks...couldn't scrub the smell out of my hands for ages! "strange but true"
Reply ID 183
Thank you for that Sprocket - I am ashamed to say that I probably moved faster than the "harmless" Grass snake. It does amaze me what wildlife can be seen in our town - There are a pair of foxes that can be seen in the grounds of Morgans school and I have seen at least one owl hunting around that area at Twilight. Perhaps you can enlighten us as to what wildlife can be seen near the rivers around the football club.
Reply ID 184
I saw a pair of green woodpeckers in the grounds of Morgans school this morning - what a lovely sight. Can you tell me where the paddlers on the news page photos were? Edited by - newgirl on 12 Aug 2003 13:04:23
Reply ID 185
The photos were taken on Hartham just by the tennis courts.
Reply ID 186
there are loads of slow worms behing the hartham tennis courts too
Reply ID 187
Should we be concerned about Slow Worms?
Reply ID 189
no they mop up the excess insect and slug population and are no harm at all.
Reply ID 195
I saw a traffic warden in Fore St the other day. Are there any plans to cull them???!!
Reply ID 200
Consider yourself very lucky Mike, to have come across This rarely seen urban creature, normally active during daylight as they skulk through the streets, numbers have crashed in recent times despite there being plenty of its natural prey about. These are now an officially "endangered species" in Hertford, and are on the "protected priority red list" so if you are indeed lucky enough to see one, stand back in awe and admire... as it silently stalks, and then with a swift dispatch of its ticket...claims another victim!!
Reply ID 214
traffic wardens are being culled as we speak.
Reply ID 215
traffic wardens are being culled as we speak.
Reply ID 216
traffic wardens are being culled as we speak.
Reply ID 551
Changing the subject back to paddeling,can anyone remember the outside paddeling pool down on the far side of Hartham near the weir.I can remember as a kid my Mother taking me there so I could have a swim about with my mates.The Mothers would surround the pool and chat to their friends all afternoon.It was always packed out and so much fun was had.It used to fed by the river that flows near Dickermill (the rat infested one) and I remember the bottom of the pool being very slimey and weedy.The water then disapeared under a bridge and into the other river that flowed alongside.It was then filled in and grassed over one year and I cant remember why.I suppose it was down to the disease rats leave in the water.Maybe someone can tell me why it was closed.
Reply ID 552
I certainly remember it, but when or why it was filled in I don't know.