The Conservators are disappointed that the Kite Festival will be cancelled this year.

For the past four years we have been working with Rotary to find a solution or an alternative site on the Heath for the Kite Festival. The problem with holding the Kite Festival in early August is that area really needs to be cut regularly from mid-March to give a good surface and to prevent ground nesting birds nesting, which would prevent us cutting the grass later. With no agreement to move the event or timings, in November 2023 we encouraged Rotary to submit a section 38 application to the Planning Inspectorate allowing for a full public consultation on the event on common land and cutting schedule on the SSSI.

The Planning Inspectorate’s role is to apply Defra’s policy guidance and decide if the Kite Festival contributes to managing, improving or protecting the common and of maintaining the Heath’s traditional uses.

The Conservators are a small group of elected volunteers, who have an increasingly difficult and time-consuming balancing act between the various demands for activities on the Heath, our desire to protect the environment and biodiversity and the complex legal frameworks we have to operate in. We know we will never be able to satisfy everyone but hope the public can see the difficult position and decisions we face in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

This walk has excellent views, and includes woodland and chalk grassland areas. This is suitable for those who like some steep hills, and rougher terrain. This 4.6km route will take around an hour, depending on pace, and how much time you spend soaking up the scenery.

Get started with this 3k walk on relatively flat ground. This route talks roughly 30 minutes and is suitable for those who would love to experience Therfield Heath but are short on time, and aren’t after the hills.

Royston man fined over £1,500 for Therfield Heath fly-tip | Royston Crow (royston-crow.co.uk)

Thursday 21 September at 7:30pm at Royston Town Hall (Lower Hall).

This is a chance for stakeholder organisations who use the Heath, and the general public to comment on the Conservators activities and plans. If we are going to undertake a Countryside Stewardship Scheme to get payments from the Rural Payment Agency towards our Habitat Management Plan then this meeting will include a Consultation on the offer as required for schemes on Common Land.

Therfield Heath and Greens are areas of Common Land in the Parish of Therfield, Hertfordshire, including the Heath which adjoins the town of Royston. Therfield Heath and Greens are managed by the Conservators as specified by an Act of Parliament. For more info about the Habitat Management Plan go to the Conservation and Works page where you can download the full pdf.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting, if you have any questions in the meantime please contact clerk@therfieldheath.org.uk.

A management plan has been agreed between Natural England and the Conservators of Therfield Heath and Greens to restore and maintain the Site of Special Scientific Interest on Therfield Heath. A huge thanks to previous Head of Conservation, Cheryll Wilson, for writing and negotiating this plan. You can read the full Habitat Management Plan on the “Conservation and Works on the Heath and Greens” page.