Layout 7 - Biggleswade Rugby Club

28 BULLETIN DECEMBER 2011 TEL: 01234 843905 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.uk“tHErE were more dances andthere were forfeits, and moredances, and there was cake, andthere was negus, and there was agreat piece of cold roast, andthere was a great piece of coldboiled, and there were mincepies, and plenty of beer’this was how the ChristmasDay Feast was celebrated inCharles Dickens’ a ChristmasCarol’.over the Christmas season weall perhaps partake of too muchfood and do lots of sitting around -so why not take a walk in the beautifulBedfordshire countryside andwalk off that excess of food anddrink and the tiredness that goeswith it.in the tourist informationCentre we have a large range oflocal walk leaflets, many of themare circular routes, some are byrivers, others are amongst the ridgeof greensand that spans the county,some go through arable fields, andsome through woodlands and parklands.one of the many walks you canundertake this winter is the oldWarden Circular Walk – details ofwhich are set out below:-The Old Warden walkthe walk is nearly eight miles inlength and takes approximatelyfour hours. Parts of this walk passthrough pine forests and so thousandsof Christmas trees and otherpines and spruces can be seen andJam and OpenMicrophone SessionsRoger, Peter and Dewie, with local saxophonist Geoff.tHErE’s a date, 1667, inscribedjust inside the front door of thered lion, Biggleswade. one canonly wonder about what life waslike then, in a building which wasthought not to have originated asan alehouse (more likely a domesticdwelling). these days it’s a pubwell-known for its focus on theprovision of music of varioussorts, depending on whether youwant to just listen, or, better still,take part.Consequently, it attracts visitorsof all ages. over the last fewmonths the jam sessions have beenparticularly interesting to regularattendees, and tim (landlord) andZoe (bar manager and organiser onjam nights) are keen to keep up themomentum. these sessions hadbeen fortunate to have regularplayers like roger Banks, Peter(Jam Dude) and Dewie to act asmainstay players while many othersplaying semi-acoustic guitarscontributed to exciting evenings.roger, Peter and Dewie haveWarden winter walkreturned to Florida but are expectedto spend some time with usagain next year.now and again this jam session/openmic event throws upsome surprises. We’ve had a highlyskilled guitarist playing aGibson sG, a spanish operasinger, and, more recently, asuperb young alto-saxophoneplayer from Biggleswade JohnDiggle, who delighted us all withhis expertise in playing jazz. themessage is that a good time is to behad by stepping forward and joiningin these jam/open mic sessions.in particular drummers,bass players and singers are verywelcome though there is roomenough for all musicians of all talents,especially beginners. Whynot come along on a Wednesdayevening, from 8 o’clock? the pubhas its own Pa equipment and virtuallya full set of drums (bringyour hi-hat). Guitarists shouldbring their own guitar and amplifiers.a good time is guaranteed!the nose can enjoy the scent ofChristmas.this Walk explores the countrysidearound the pretty villages ofold Warden, northill and ickwell.one can enjoy stunning landscapeviews and walk through the woodlandsand villages and get aninsight into the history of this beautifularea.old Warden is a picturesque villagerecreated in a swiss style in theearly 19th Century by lord ongley.Further houses were added in acomplementary style by theshuttleworth family when theyacquired the estate in the 1870s.the present mansion house standingin the 500 acre old WardenPark, was rebuilt for Josephshuttleworth in 1876. near themansion are the famousshuttleworth Collection, the Birdof Prey Centre and the 19th centuryswiss Garden – some ofBedfordshire’s top attractions. the12th Century Church of st.leonard is noted for its woodcarvings,some said to have come fromthe private chapel of anne ofCleaves and is well worth a visit.northill this village contains anumber of thatched cottages andbuildings of various periods.northill’s parish church, which isbuilt of local ironstone containsfine examples of 17th-centurypainted glass.ickwell this is a hamlet ofnorthill and is famed for it’s largeVillage Green, surrounded by anumber of thatched cottages. onthe Green is the permanent red andwhite striped maypole, whilst closeby standing in its delightful park isickwell Bury – a 17th centurycountry house rebuilt after a disastrousfire 1930’s. also to be seen isthe picturesque thatched cottage,birthplace of thomas tomion, thefamous master clockmaker andwatchmaker.Here is a shortened version ofthe route to give you a taster ofwhat you will see on this delightfulwalk.the route - the Walk starts forthe Village Hall Car Park in oldWarden and goes along the villagestreet and proceeds along a footpathto st leonard’s Church andit’s Car Park. leave the Church CarPark via a kissing gate and followthe footpath into Palmers Wood.Continuing through the centre ofthe wood and following the fieldboundary you will then join the‘Greensand ridge Walk’. thisWalk is 40 miles in length stretchingacross the county fromleighton Buzzard, north eastwardsto Gamlingay. the view north westfrom the ridge includes the formerairship hangers at Cardington andravensden Water tower. afterpassing the delightfully namedsweetbriar Farm continue toHighlands Farm, a distinctiveGeorgian residence which duringWW2 was used to house prisonersof war who worked on nearbyfarms.Follow the way marking andcross an avenue of alternating horsechestnut and lime trees which runsfrom Deadman’s oak to ickwellBury. Pass though through HomeWood and thereafter the medievalfish ponds. the walk then leads tovillage of northill. Call in and seeor carry on and pass the large parishchurch and follow the road throughthe village until you reach ickwellGreen.leave ickwell via ‘thesheepwalk’ bridleway and crossthe main road and follow the pathand its two bridges. one then skirtsthe shuttleworth airfield and walksalong the estate drive. after goingpast lowsiebush Covert one goesalong a farm track with a recentlyplanted avenue of oaks.one turns right onto the mainroad with its beautiful woodlandsand one sees the well maintainedlow holly hedge which is theboundary of southill Park, ancestralhome of the famous Whitbreadfamily. the house stands in a parkof 800 acres landscaped by‘Capability’ Brown in the 18th century.after a short distance, passinga delightful thatched cottage, onegoes though Warden Warren Woodwith its mixed plantations andwhere you may get a glimpsethrough the trees of the recentlyrestored 18th century folly, Queenanne’s summer House. afterwalking through the Warren one reentersold Warden. note on yourleft the thatched dwelling with itsrustic pillars called the swissCottage and opposite it one of themany water wells to be seen in thevillage. return to the car park at therear of the Village Hall where thewalk started.this is just a taster of this suggestedwinter walk. Pick up a copyof the old Warden leaflet at thetourist information Centre andmake it a must for this Christmasholiday period or at any time ofyear. or call into the Centre andchoose any of the many local walkleaflets that are available.All GOOD CHristMAsWisHEs FrOM tHE stAFFAt sANDY tOUristiNFOrMAtiON CENtrE