Gadespring Visitor Pass Agreement
Gadespring is unique in being completely cut off from regular access by the canal and the river. The fresh artesian water, which is pumped from the middle of the site, encourages special plants and invertebrates such as shrimps and dragonfly larvae, which do not survive easily in the nitrogen and phosphate affected canal and river. As such, the site provides a rare haven for birds, mammals and amphibians.
Whilst the four acre site belongs to the residents of Hemel Hempstead and Bovingdon (the ‘Beneficiaries’ of the Trust), its uniqueness would be destroyed if there were to be full open access. Also, the infrastructure of concrete sided watercress beds and steep banks surrounded by water represents a variety of hazards, especially hidden as they are when vegetation is at its most prolific, which is a further reason why we must insist on compliance with a few simple rules for everyone’s safety and enjoyment.
After much hard work by our conservation volunteers and investment by the Trust, we have a bird hide which looks on to a ‘scrape’ with a regular supply of fresh water from the aquifer. A gate has been installed with arrangements so that responsible nature lovers/photographers can have access to the hide.
Site Security: A combination lock is being used to allow access to those who respect the site and the essential rules for visitors. It is vital that EVERYONE keeps to these rules, so that Gadespring can continue to be a very special amenity – your local bird hide and a place of relaxation and tranquility. Please, therefore, read the rules below and ensure that everyone keeps to them.
The Trust reserves the right to withdraw permission for access and to change the combination of the lock if these rules are ignored.
Gadespring Access Rules:
1. The number of the combination lock is only available by agreement with the Trust office. We will maintain a list of users' details provided on the application form (link below). NB: the number of the lock MUST NOT BE SHARED WITH OTHERS or we will lose track of users and our ability to communicate with people who have signed up to our conditions. Your details will not be passed to anyone else and they will help us, if you wish, to let you have details of other Trust activities which may be of interest to you.
Our fear is that unless this condition is met, in the wrong hands conditions for the safety of users will not be met and vandalism, which is a constant issue, will result (especially after dark, as we have experienced on other sites).
2. Access beyond the side gate near the hide is only available to staff, maintenance volunteers and approved wildlife monitoring experts, unless the whole site is open and supervised, such as on pre-advertised days (usually on the last Sunday of the month from 11am.)
3. Access is only available from dawn to dusk, except by authorised persons.
4. The gate MUST always be locked after you enter the site, and when you leave.
5. You may bring a guest or a quiet child BUT it is essential that children are supervised, remain quiet AND are not allowed to venture into the scrape via the side stream or the dangerous culvert to the river.
6. A QUIET dog may be brought to the hide but it must be kept on a short lead and any mess be cleaned up and taken away from the site.
7. Please approach the hide quietly and respect the privacy of the neighbour on the other side of the river. If the hide is busy, please give others a chance to sit at the front.
8. Access to Gadespring is occasionally closed to pass holders in order to accommodate school/uniform group visits. Pass holders will be notified by email in advance of these dates and a notice will be put on the gate.
9. Our conservation volunteers maintain the site on Tuesdays. The hide can still be used, but there may be some disturbance.
10. On leaving please shut the hide windows and leave the site litter free.
11. Unless by special arrangement, parking is to be in the Camelot car park.
12. Please enter bird sightings or other interesting discoveries in the logbook.
13. If you see mink, please tell the office!
14. If you see any evidence of misuse, again, please tell the office.
15. You may be approached by passers-by in the lane who ask for access. If so, please respectfully refer them to the office so that they can sign up to these conditions.
16. If you are happy to sign up to these important rules a user card will be issued to you. Please make sure to bring this with you to the hide and show it if asked. You also have the right to respectfully ask to see the user card of other visitors. This will help to ensure that the site is used responsibly.
17. Make sure that when visiting you always have a fully charged mobile phone with you and that someone knows you are here (e.g. family member, friend or the Box Moor Trust office).
Apply via the link below.
