Rural management

Garden City Greenway

We are responsible for maintaining the Greenway, a 13.6 mile route around the town suitable for walkers, runners, cyclists and more to enjoy. The route also covers a number of local wildlife and nature spots for people to enjoy while on the route.

Our main actions on the Greenway are:

Cutting and pruning of trees, hedges and coppices around the Greenway,
Planting and renewing of hedges and trees,
Maintaining the Greenway route,
Maintain the benches, furniture and signage around the Greenway

We are responsible for maintaining the majority of the 5,500 acre Garden City estate and have a dedicated Landscape and Environmental team that oversee these works.

Click here to find a map of the Greenway.

Find out more about the Greenway

Map of the Greenway

Our responsibilities

When it comes to maintaining the green spaces within and around the Garden City, we look after the following areas.

If you have any questions about our rural landscape management or want to raise a concern, email our Landscape Team using the button below.

Email our Landscape Team

Permissive pathways

Permissive paths, sometimes referred to as concessionary paths, are not public rights of way and the public do not have a legal right to use them. However they can play an important role in improving public access to the countryside.

We look after 22 kilometres of permissive paths around Letchworth Garden City, ensuring that path surfaces are safe and regularly maintained.

We manage the permissive paths around the Greenway route

Play equipment and leisure areas

The Greenway links together several leisure and recreation spots, which themselves include picnic and play areas.

These leisure spots can be found at:

Wymondley Wood - educational area, picnic area
Standalone Farm - picnic area
Willian Arboretum & Manor Wood - picnic area
Radwell Meadow - picnic area

We look after the furniture situated around the Greenway

Pond renovations

Willian Pond

In 2014 we started a renovation programme to improve the habitat in and around Willian Pond.

The restoration works carried out included the removal of a large amount of the reed mass to increase the amount of open water, improving the pond for fish, improving access to the pond (especially for those with mobility issues), planting up the banks around the pond to increase the wildlife supported here by providing food and nesting opportunities for insects and birds.

The works were completed in 2015 and Willian Pond is now a thriving habitat for birds, flora and fauna.

Norton Pond

Following an ecological study of the area in 2016, we were excited to learn that Norton Pond is a breeding ground for the great crested newt, a European Protected Species.

The great crested newt is the largest species of newt in the UK, but they have dwindled in numbers due to a lack of suitable habitats, making this development of Norton Pond crucial to their sustainability in Letchworth Garden City.

This discovery has led to Norton Pond being designated a European Protected site, which means that the works need to be carefully managed to make sure the ecosystem is maintained.

To maintain the habitat for the newts during the breeding season, works will take place over two winters (2016 and 2017) when the newts have moved from the pond. The work will also be overseen by an ecologist and archaeological consultant.

Once the work has been completed in early 2018, the pond will be further enhanced by planting locally sourced native aquatic plants on its banks. These will provide a rich egg-laying habitat for the great crested newt and provide a food source for invertebrates and other species.

Woodlands, Spinneys & Orchards

Woodlands and spinneys

We maintain many of Letchworth's woodland and spinneys by implementing tree management plans and undertaking woodland surveys.

Using these plans, programmes of work are then drawn up and executed to ensure that trees are healthy and that they don't pose a risk to persons or property.

Orchards

There are four orchards in and around Letchworth Garden City:

Manor Wood,
Hillbrow
Croft Lane - Croft Lane is a community orchard, with apples used in local cider pressing each year
Ancient orchard at Norton

As well as general pruning and upkeep, each orchard has a bespoke meadow management programme. Each programme is based on the specific needs of the plants and wildlife that are native to that specific meadow.

Over the last 12 months we've planted 140 trees to maintain and renew the tree population in Letchworth Garden City.

Wymondley Wood is managed by our Landscape team

Wildflower Meadows & Margins

We look after and maintain the wildflower meadows and margins that are in place around Letchworth Garden City.

Farmland

Letchworth Garden City boasts a unique farming operation which combines international-standard environmental and sustainability practices with commercial viability, whilst providing a safe and enjoyable space for the local community.

The farmland within the Estate is over 2,000 acres, made up of mainly arable farmland growing crops such as oats, wheat, rapeseed, sugar beet and peas. This is managed by local, long-standing farming family the Rand Brothers on our behalf.

The farm is one of the biggest in the UK to have adopted Natural England’s HLS (Higher Level Stewardship) scheme. As a member of the HLS scheme, we make sure the land is well managed and keeps its traditional character, protects historic features and natural resources, looks after wildlife species and their habitats, ensures traditional livestock and crops are conserved for the future and provides opportunities for visitors to enjoy and learn about the countryside.

We have introduced grass margins around our fields, many are much wider than standard farming practice, to allow endangered insect, bird and wildlife to thrive and prosper. This has seen more wildlife generally and increased bird life with the likes of grey partridge, lapwing, finch and tree sparrow populations