Green Chain Walk Visitors Book

We would love to hear from you about your experience of Walking London – what you enjoyed, what you noticed along the way, what would make the walk even better. Please share your observations and comments – whether they are factual, amusing or poignant, we would be interested to learn, and to share with others who may be considering walking the path.

3 (Bostall Woods to Oxleas Meadows)

GREEN CHAIN SECTION3 BOSTALL WOODS TO OXLEAS WOOD This is to let you know urgently that there is a badly organised closure and diversion to GC3 in the area of Woodlands Farm. The route is closed between the road junction Dryden Road & Keats Road, and the A2 Shooters Hill. There are notices at each end where a gate has been locked, on the A2 and on the GC path. But there is no notice where the route has been formally closed at Dryden Road. The closure notices suggest an alternative route, via Keats Road, Chaucer Road, turning on to public footpath 245 at the Green Man pub on Chaucer Road, and Hill View Drive to the A2 Bellegrove Road, regain the route and proceed to Oxleas Wood. The notices are under the imprimatur of Woodland Farm. There are no official Green Chain notices, and I urgently suggest that at least one notice needs to be placed on the big GC signpost at Dryden Road. The present notices tell walkers that a gate has been closed and locked at entrance to the path from Dryden Road, but this is DEFINITELY NOT SO. We were walking on Friday 16 July, in the direction from Bostall to Oxleas. There is no notification of what is to come at Dryden Road, but entering the path we found it difficult and overgrown with bramble and nettle. After between a quarter and half mile we found a small tree felled across the path, beyond which was the metal gate closed and locked, with a closure notice. This notice read: "The gate at Dryden Road and some farm gates have been closed and locked because of vandalism, thefts, and threats to farm staff and volunteers." There was also the suggested diversion route. You may imagine we were not happy to have to retrace our steps through the overgrown path back to Dryden Road! The diversion route did work, but it involved more road walking. Public footpath 245 from the Green Man pub is well kept but hemmed in by the most atrociously restrictive fence, with small mesh severely restricting the view. You are probably aware of the sign at Dryden Road informing us that the land is private and belongs to clients of KSLAW LLP Solicitors. I form my own ideas on the real reasons for the closure, which of course has a drastic effect on the integrity of the Green Chain. I suppose there are also consequences because it is one of London's Strategic Walks under the aegis of the Mayor of London. I hope that better sense may prevail with the landowners, and meanwhile repeat my suggestion for properly informative official Green Chain signs. Of all the Strategic Walks I never thought that the Green Chain might be so vulnerable to the actions of landowners. We have been walking the Green Chain routes for the past four years, with never a problem before. I would be happy to let you have photos of what we met and the closure signs if you give me an email address. Sincerely, Peter Buell-Fay buellfay@hotmail.com 18 July 2010
PETER