Hertford’s setting provides a wealth of green spaces to be enjoyed by both residents and visitors. These green spaces include nature reserves, parks and commons, along with woods and pastures, all within easy reach of the town.
Some trace their history back centuries - commons used to graze animals, country estates attached to manors. Others are more recent, such as former gravel workings returned to nature.
Many are just a short distance from the town centre whilst others are a little further afield, but still within easy reach.
The AllTrails website features walks and rambles around Hertford's green spaces and woodlands, varying in length and difficulty.
This page looks at some of the open and green spaces that can be found and enjoyed in Hertford.
Immediately to the north of the town centre lies Hartham Common, where the River Lee flows along the southern boundary and to the north the River Beane, before their confluence at the far eastern end.
The Common is home to Hartham Leisure Centre, Hertford Tennis Club, Hertford Bowels Club and Sele Farm Bowls Club. There are also floodlit all-weather mini football pitches, a skate park and modern children's play area.
Local football teams regularly use the pitches marked out on Hartham.
To the north of the River Beane are cattle grazed pastures and on steeply rising ground a woodland.
The Warren is an area of woodland on a steep bank to the immediate north of Hartham Common.
A footpath runs up into and across the length of the wood.
To the north-west of Bengeo lies Great Mole Wood, a charming and atmospheric woodland populated by large oak, ash and hazel trees.
This 16 acre broadleafed woodland is notable for its undulating features and is crossed by a number of paths, linking it to Waterford Marshes to the west and Waterford Heath to the north.
Sandwiched between Panshanger Park and the B1000 Welwyn Road is Blakemore Wood, an 18-acre deciduous forest criss-crossed by a number of paths.
The wood features on a number of circular walks and trails for running and walking.
Panshanger park is a nature reserve and country park to the west of Hertford. The park is owned by Tarmac, who manage the site together with Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust.
From the late 17th century to the early 20th century, the park was owned by the Cowper family.
The estate was shaped around the Mimram Valley following advice from Humphry Repton and Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. The house was demolished between 1953 and 1954 after the final owner of the estate, Baroness Desborough, died without an heir.
The park came in to the ownership of Tarmac in the 1980s and parts have been quarried for sand and gravel.
The Orangery is the largest remaining heritage structure in Panshanger Park. It was built in the late 1800’s..
The Panshanger Oak is believed to be the oldest oak tree in England and is believed to have been planted by Queen Elizabeth I.
Panshanger Park is registered as a Grade II* park and garden by Historic England.
This small area of woodland links Stanstead Road to Burleigh Road to the North East and Wheatcroft School to the North West
The path features a number of carved wooden sculptures.
Waterford Heath is a 35 acre nature reserve north of Hertford, managed by Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust, together with East Herts District Council and owner Lafarge.
The site was a sand and gravel quarry until the early 1990s.
The heath is bisected by Vicarage Lane, creating two distinct areas north and south.
The north heath features a piece of artwork by the sculptor Andrew McKeown titled 'Breaking The Mould'. .
The heath is partially surrounded by woodlands that offer a pleasant walk and views across the lower lying areas of the site.
Populations of grizzled skipper butterflies feed on the abundant wild strawberry. Skylarks and willow warblers breed on the site. In the autumn and winter fieldfares and redwings are regular visitors.
There is a car park in Vicarage Lane that gives easy access to both heaths.
Foxholes Woodland is a 15 acre open space surrounding Foxholes Estate.
A circular walking route passes through a variety of habitats from grassland to woodland carpeted with bluebells in the spring.
The history of Hertford Castle goes back over a thousand years to the town's Anglo-saxon origins. Apart from the castle walls, the only remaining building is the gatehouse, built 1460-65.
The grounds were laid out as public gardens, and the entrance gates leading from The Wash were donated by Osmond Henry McMullen in 1912.
The main lawn at Hertford Castle was once filled with the buildings that made up the royal palace at Hertford. The space is now often used for public events staged by Hertford Town Council.
The River Lee flows through the castle grounds before becoming navigable two hundred metres to the north-east.
The Moat garden is so-called because it once formed part of the moat that surrounded the castle.
Cole Green Way is a six mile rail trail used by walkers, cyclist and horseriders, following the path of the former Welwyn Line from Hertford to Welwyn Garden City
The first bridge on the way west out of Hertford carries a disused track linking Hertingfordbury Park with Terrace Wood
At Hertingfordbury the trail passes over St.Mary's Lane. There is an entry and exit point providing access to the lane from this bridge.
Shortly after passing over the bridge, an old goods wagon can be found in a field to the immediate north of the track.
Waterford Marshes is an 11 hectre area of grazed wet meadows popular with walkers and wildlife enthusiasts. The marsh features a good network of public footpaths, including the Hertfordshire Way.
A small 25 acre broadleafed wood to the south and west of Ware Park Road, overlooking the River Lea. A bridalway crosses the wood and there are a handful of footpaths to be explored.
The Meads, also known as The King's Meads, is a 96 heactare (237 acre) grazed riverside flood meadow that stretches from Hertford to Ware. It is one of the largest watermeadows in Hertfordshire.
The Meads in actually made up of several separate meads, including Sweet Mead, Lady’s Mead, Hollow Mead and Tansey Mead.
The north of the site is marked by the River Lea and the towpath from Hertford to Ware, which forms part of National Cycle Route 61.
Water for the New River is extracted at New Gauge.
A impressive viaduct built in the 1970s carries the A10 over The Meads.
Balls Park is a Grade I Listed mid-17th-century house and estate to the north of the town centre. The 63 acre parkland is listed Grade II on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.
The expansive grounds feature a variety of landscapes criss-crossed with footpaths popular with walkers.
Rights of way include a footpath through topiary yews west of the South Lawn.
Beyond the South Lawn, a canal lies in an area planted with ornamental trees and shrubs.
Hertford lies at the confluence of four rivers in a valley setting, which in the past has influenced its shape and form. The town's boundaries are characterised by areas of open land which penetrate towards the centre of the town. These green fingers are regarded as an environmental asset.
These valuable green open spaces are recognised and protected by local council policies.
The green fingers penetrate close the the town centre from all four points of the compass.
From the north, the River Beane and Beane Marshes.
From the south, the Ashbourne Valley reaches towards the town centre just 600m away.
From the east, the Kings Meads become Hartham Common just a short walk from the town centre.
From the west, The River Lee flows through Castle Mead up to the A414 Gascoyne Way relief road.
Hertford’s Green Fingers, which penetrate the town, are a recognised local amenity, wildlife and leisure asset and have been designated as Local Green Spaces under Policy CFLR2 (Local Green Space). This designation provides protection for these valuable resources and ensures that development will not be allowed in such locations, other than in very special circumstances.
East Herts Dictrict Plan 2018
This article was first published on 7th May 2023.
