West Herts Ramblers: Herts Way Walk, 26, Sandon to Wallington. 27/6/24

The 170 mile Hertfordshire Way is usually walked via 14 linear sections (there is also a 24 mile extension of two sections), but that makes completing it tricky for solo walkers and non-car drivers. West Herts Ramblers (WHR) seem to have overcome this problem by enabling walkers to complete sections via circular walks, and today's walk is one of those.
This 9.6 mile section, starting in Wallington, was undertaken on a warm, sunny afternoon, with a south-westerly breeze. It's walked in an anti-clockwise direction, using the GPX track from the WHR website.
Most of the paths have been previously walked by this walker, but it was still a good walk, with welcome tree-cover in many places. The path surfaces were good today, but can be very muddy.
Lunch was had at All Saints church, Sandon, which is two-thirds of the way into the walk. There is no pub alternative.
A very good afternoon's walking, in a tranquil area (save for some late afternoon air-traffic). Lots of new deer fencing has been erected since this walker's last visit.
Thanks to WHR for the concept of these walks.

[@Westwoodii]

Pleasant walk and video, as usual. Even where flowers are present, insects are decidely sparse this year so far. Umbellifer roundels, ragwort and others usually abuzz with all sorts of insects, are almost silent, all due to the prolonged cold, wet spring we've had. In contrast to the verges and greens on your walk, our suburban street verges were left uncut until mid-June, part of the no-mow May policy; but the verges concerned were never sown with wildflower mix, so all we got was rank grass!

[@amib]

Which just goes to show how badly advised our local authorities are; In my experience, they haven't got a clue! Or their sub-contractors haven't, and there's not the council man-power to check the quality of the work being done. 'No-Mow May' is a great idea, but merely the way it used to be (or, when they were manually maintained), until drivers started moaning that it slowed then down (good idea!). As 'Plantlife' suggest, it should continue through until October, but the Councils won't play ball. In my book, it's a shame they can't advise the Councils, as a minimum, as we'll soon have very few insects left in the verges, as you've noted. Thanks for watching again😉👍

[@gillianbridge-tj9bm]

Thank you once again amib for a very pleasant walk. Agree wholeheartedly with the comment below and your reply concerning the desecration of our verges. Their treatment this year up here in West Yorkshire has been a real mixed bag; am not sure as to whether local authorities or their sub-contractors are the chief culprit for the worst examples. Anyway, thank you as always

[@amib]

Pleasure Gillian. Seems to be very varied, from what I can see, as some parishes/authorities do a good job, and seem to know what they're doing, whilst others don't. Thanks for watching again😉👍