Reserves and honeypots
Waterford Marsh
Waterford Marsh, just to the south of the village of Waterford, is an attractive area where the river meanders through what once was a substantial wetland area. Over the years the marsh has been drained, losing many of its characteristic wetland species. However, it remains an attractive site with good access to the river itself. It is a popular spot for picnics and families on a hot summer weekend! The site is managed by the Countryside Management Service. For more information please click here.
Roadside parking is available at the north end of the site. Alternatively the site can be accessed from Waterford Heath – see below.
Waterford Heath
Waterford Heath is a former sand and gravel quarry adjacent to the river just north of Hertford. After quarrying ceased on the site in the early 1990s, work was undertaken to restore it to create a 'community nature park'. It contains a range of habitats including grassland, scrub, plantation woodland and a small area of ancient, semi-natural woodland. It is a HMWT reserve.
Hartham Common
Hartham Common is a large public open space close to the centre of Hertford. The Beane flows along the western and northern sides of the Common, making it a great palce to easily see the river. The Rivers Lea and Rib also border the site. The Common has some great sports facilities in and around it - football, bowls, rugby, tenning, fishing, canoeing and kayaking facilities are all available. There is also a large, fenced playground fro younger visitors, and a skatepark.
Public access
Footpaths
With a few exceptions, most of the Beane is accessible on foot.
A public footpath runs next to the river from near its source at Cromer to the Whitehall pumping station, just to the southeast of Aston. The river then runs through the private Frogmore Estate, where there is no public access.
In Watton-at-Stone, the river can be accessed by a footpath leading from Mill Lane to the main road, where you must leave it again as it runs through the private Woodhall Estate.
The Hertfordshire Way, a long distance footpath, runs next to the Beane between Woodhall Park just north of Stapleford, and Hertford.
Transport links
A regular train service connects Stevenage, Watton-at-Stone and Hertford North. This can be used if you want to do a one-way walk along the Beane from Watton to Hertford.
Objectives for the rivers
These objectives were developed during a number of workshops held during Autumn 2012. People and organisations with a stake or an interest in the river were asked to suggest their ideas about what the aims of the Catchment Management Plan should be.
The final list of eight objectives was divided into four themes: Flow; Water Quality, Habitats and Wildlife; People; and Status and Monitoring.
The aims of the Beane/Mimram Catchment Plan are:
Flow
A. That there is water flowing along the whole length of the river at all times (excluding historic winterflowing sections)
B. That there is adequate flow along the length of the river to support a ‘good status’ chalk stream ecology (as defined by Water Framework Directive)
Water Quality, Habitats & Wildlife
C. That whatever the flow level, the river and its associated habitats, including banks and floodplains, are managed to support chalk stream species
D. That water quality, temperature and river bed quality are such that they support chalk stream ecology
People
E. To increase the attractiveness, visibility and public access, to enable people to appreciate the river (commensurate with managing and protecting sensitive habitats and species)
F. To increase the public’s appreciation of the unique chalk stream environment and their participation in its conservation
Status & Monitoring
G. To achieve the highest possible level of legal protection for the river
H. To monitor the status of the river and its species to gauge if its condition is improving
Most of the UK’s rivers are not as healthy as they should be. Although many have improved dramatically over the past few decades, current problems include pollution, invasive non-native species, abstraction and physical modifications such as weirs. As a result, wildlife has disappeared from many of our rivers and people are finding other places to spend their leisure time.
The Beane Catchment Partnership is a group of people and organisations who are working to improve the Rivers Beane for people and for wildlife. The partnership was formed in 2012 and includes a wide range of organisations, from local community groups and charities to councils and government agencies.
The partnership is being ‘hosted’ by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, who brought the partnership together. Their role is to organize and co-ordinate the many different members of the partnership, and drive the Catchment Plan forward beyond December 2012. They are also acting as the initial contact point for any enquiries you may have. The River Beane Restoration Association is a key partner and helps to co-host the partnership.
If you would like any more information on the Catchment Management Plan, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.
If you have an idea for a project to help improve the Upper Lea and meet one or more of our objectives, please let us know using the form below. Any ideas, no matter how embryonic, are welcome!