North Mymms News: October 2018

It's official - the Dog Poo Fairy doesn't exist

Council debunks mythical poop cleaner

Pink and lilac posters have been pinned to trees and gate posts around both Gobions and Moffats open spaces in Brookmans Park, to remind dog owners that there is no magical solution to dealing with dog mess other than to pick it up and put it in one of the many disposal bins at the council-owned site.

The North Mymms History Project (NMHP) has produced a digital record of the nine war graves in the grounds of the parish church.

Using existing records, old maps, and new research, the site has created an dedicated page which includes recent photographs of the headstone and their details.

North Mymms joins national tribute - 'Battle's Over'

The metal bench at the North Mymms War Memorial - October 2018
Image by Peter Miller of the North Mymms History Project

A black metal bench, depicting silhouettes of soldiers serving in WWI, has been installed at the North Mymms War Memorial outside North Mymms Park off Tollgate Road.

Fly-tipping on Bulls Lane, North Mymms
Image by North Mymms News, released under Creative Commons

The road between Welham Green and Bell Bar, in North Mymms was blocked on Sunday morning with rubbish dumped on both sides of Bulls Lane. The authorities have been notified.

The front page of the new Mighty Men of Mymms website

A Welham Green man who has spent a total of six years researching and writing about the lives of 59 North Mymms servicemen who died during WWI, has now published the material online.

The result is a digital memory of the Mighty Men of Mymms, the name given to the men by their former schoolmaster, Benjamin Mallett, who taught many of them at Welham Green Boy's School.

Christmas fayre and carols around the tree

Two festive events take place in Brookmans Park on Saturday December 1, and both are free of charge. The first is the popular community Christmas Fayre held at Brookmans Park primary school. That's followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree on Brookmans Park's Bradmore Green.

Image of typing by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons

The minutes for the September meeting of North Mymms Parish Council (NMPC) have been uploaded to the council's website.

They are for the meeting that was held on Wednesday September 26, 2018 at 19:00 in the council offices at 1a Bushwood Close, Welham Green.

Bell Bar's 18th century milestone removed

Demolition work at the Swan, Bell Bar
Photograph by Peter Miller taken 24 October 2018

The supervisor in charge of the demolition of the former Swan Inn, Bell Bar has given assurances to a representative of the North Mymms History Project (NMHP) that the historical 18th century milestone, that has probably stood on the corner of Bell Lane and the Great North Road for almost 200 years, is safe.

Parish council's "temporary solution" put in place

Pothole repairs along Jonas Way - photograph taken October 24, 2018

Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Half a dozen deep potholes along Jonas Way have been filled in as part of a "temporary solution" to "patch up" the popular track that leads to Gobions Open Space.

The road, which is frequently used by dog owners, anglers, guardians taking children to use the play equipment, and those accessing a network of local footpaths, had become difficult to drive along because of the depth of the holes.

Tickets now on sale for annual show

The flyer for the 2018 Little Heath fireworks display

This year's community bonfire and fireworks display at Little Heath, North Mymms takes place on Saturday November 10. Family, adult, and child tickets are now on sale.

Tickets on sale now for Al9ddin

There'll be a local twist when the popular panto comes to the North Mymms Memorial Hall as local laundry boy Aladdin, renamed Al9ddin for this postcode-localised remake, searches for his magic lamp in Gobions Wood.

There will be three performances of the show - two on successive evenings and one Saturday matinee - which is being staged to raise funds to support the upkeep of hall. Tickets are on sale now.

Concern for safety of historical milestone

The Swan being demolished - October 17, 2018
Image by Peter Miller

Work is underway to clear the site of Swan Lodge, Bell Bar, and build eight one and two bedroom apartments. The area has been fenced off as workmen demolish the old building that once served as a important coaching inn along the Great North Road. Local historians are keen to ensure that the 18th century milestone that leant against the wall of the building is preserved, as stipulated in the conditions of the planning consent.

Surface water building up along busy road

Blocked grid along Station Road close to Welham Green
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

Five months after Station Road was resurfaced, gravel is still blocking the grids and gullies preventing rain water escaping. This despite Hertfordshire Highways being told to "sort it out" by a local councillor.

Attempt to prevent human fouling of public path fails

The problem confronts walkers as soon as they follow the public path into the field
Image by North Mymms News, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

A sign appealing to people not to use a North Mymms public footpath as a toilet appears to have been removed. And the problem of human excrement and soiled toilet paper continues to present a health hazard.

Updates on hearing sessions and Green Belt Study

The October edition of Welwyn Hatfield's Local Plan newsletter has just been published. It includes the latest news on the Local Plan examination, the hearing sessions, the Green Belt Study, and sets out the next steps in the process.

More than £1,800 raised for the Isabel Hospice

The Humphrey Lyttleton Jazz Band at the North Mymms Memorial Hall on Saturday 6 October 2018. Image by North Mymms News, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

All 120 tickets were sold for the Humphrey Lyttleton Jazz Band's performance at the North Mymms Memorial Hall on Saturday night, with £1,822 raised for the Isabel Hospice. The organisers, the North Mymms Support Group for the hospice, said it was a great turn out and that people "gave generously".

Possibly the oldest known images of the house and grounds

The pleasure gardens at North Mymms Park c 1876
Image courtesy of Lindsay Sinclair and released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

The North Mymms History Project has digitised and published a number of historical items, which are now available to view online for the first time.

A collection of five old sepia photographs of North Mymms Park, thought to be the earliest ever taken, has been uploaded to the site. They were found in a folder at a local farm.

And an auctioneer's brochure for the sale of 800 acres of North Mymms Park in 1922, has also been found, digitised and uploaded.

Drivers urged to secure vehicles

Hertfordshire Constabulary is urging drivers to keep their vehicles secure this autumn, following a seven percent increase in thefts from cars and vans in the last six months compared with the same period last year.

But fences around the field are still down

Photograph of The footpath from Moffats Open Space to Leach Fields cordoned off Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

The footpath from Moffats Open Space to Leach Fields cordoned off
Image by North Mymms News released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

The North Mymms Parish Council run Moffats Open Space was cordoned off this morning following another escape of horses from Leach Fields. Just before midday, a thin foal, its mother, and another horse were rounded up and returned to their field.

Community effort to record ancient, veteran and notable trees

Old oak along Mymms Drive, Brookmans Park - September 2018
Image by North Mymms News, released under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0

North Mymms News and the North Mymms History Project need your help in locating the oldest trees in the parish as part of a national effort to record, protect, and help preserve the country's arboreal history.