For Stickford Parish Council; Notes by Ken Richard, Stickford Resident and Footpath Volunteer
The first report was initiated at a meeting of the Stickford Parish Council in May 2016 when it was announced that the ELDC Footpath Partnership was being withdrawn due to budget cutbacks and we in the village felt this could be given attention by our own community on a volunteer basis.
IS THIS STILL THE CASE?
This report has been has been updated in September 2024 from the original 2016 One.
LCC holds a "Definitive Map" showing a code for each individual public footpath but this does not seem to be accessible online and can only be accessed by visiting one of their main offices therefore for this report it was decided to use a descriptive identification which can be identified on the ordinance survey map. It is the intention to prepare our own parish map to show these footpaths.
1 CUL-DE-SAC TO FEN ROAD
2 FEN ROAD TO CHURCH ROAD
3 CHURCH ROAD TO BACK LANE
4 BACK LANE TO HAGNABY LOCK
5 BACK LANE TO HAGNABY LANE VIA BOSTON LANE BRIDLEWAY
6 CHURCH ROAD TO BOSTON LANE BRIDLEWAY VIA MANOR FARM FIELDS
Of course these footpaths can be considered in the opposite direction!
None link up in a way to allow a circular walk but can be in some cases this can be achieved using the public highway.
All routes have public footpath signposts at start and end and Waymark signs on the route to direct walkers between these signs. All the public footpath signs are on metal posts except for route 5 which has a wooden post at the Back Lane bend on this track. None of the stiles have dog passage features but walk 5 is fine as there are no stiles and gates. Walk 4 is passable for dogs as the fence alongside the stile has wide bars that can allow passage.
All routes would benefit from monthly minor attention to vegetation around stiles and bridges during the growing seasons.
1 CUL-DE-SAC TO FEN ROAD
Footpath is from the end of the Cul-De-Sac across the pedestrian footbridge over East Fen Catchwater Drain, turns left on the far side though a narrow path to join the unmetalled lane running down to Fen Road near the junction with Keal Bank.
Condition
Signs good, bridge very good, some nettle growth on bridge support bank, access muddy caused by vehicles turning.
Grass path walkable until joins the good rough surfaced lane.
2 FEN ROAD TO CHURCH ROAD
Footpath is from Fen Road alongside cottage near junction Cul-De-Sac, though short path to a stile (1) into large field, far side another stile (2) onto a footbridge across a ditch with a stile (3) at end of bridge, across small rough pasture field to wooden swing gate, short path to A16, crossing directly to opposite side where another short path leads to another swing gate, route across edge of rough pasture field to swing gate into St. Helen's churchyard, follows church metalled path to metal swing gate into Church Road.
Condition
Signs good, all stiles, gate and bridge good.
Vegetation growth at all these points needing occasional cutback particularly hedgerow with bramble and blackthorn at bridge blocking easy passage and entrance to field from A16.
Cattle in field at Fen Road and often with calves, bull maybe present.
Great care needed crossing A16
Entrance at swing gate to churchyard can be muddy, water laying-loose brick stepping stones to assist passage provided.
A16 short paths vegetation can overgrow route. Great care needed in crossing A16.
3 CHURCH ROAD TO BACK LANE
Entrance by short path between bungalow and house, cross stile into pasture field to far corner where a second stile leads onto Back Lane.
Condition
Signs good but pole on Church Road very rusty,, stiles good, the first short path can be overgrown, vegetation around stiles needs controlling, field is quite thistle overgrown at times, cows in field (docile rare breed)
4 BACK LANE TO HAGNABY LOCK
Route is from Back Lane across stile by Stickford Barn/Harvest House onto track running to the left of the properties until emerges onto open field, footpath leads accross middle of arable field to far side where wooden footbridge crosses Hagnaby Beck wider new bridge installed 2020, route is then diagonally across field corner to left headland where wide grass track leads to Hagnaby Lock hamlet.
Condition
Signs good but ivy growth heavy on Hagnaby end post. Bridge good and was replaced by a wider one in 2020. Problem may be in crossing the large field if the footpath is not cleared across the agricultural crop by the landowner (in 2024 this crop was oil seed rape and no path was prepared for walkers until a complaint was made by a walker- to either LCC or ELDC- and the landowner attempted a token flattening of the crop with a vehicle which at that time was high and dense. The route was only then passable after subsequent walkers beat back the flattened stalks).it can also be muddy and rough underfoot after ploughing.
Footbridge has some vegetation-nettles-overgrowing access points.
The diagonal path from the bridge to the grass headland (set aside) to allow continuation is not maintained for walkers most years with vegetation overgrowing.
The stile by The Barns is being replaced in autumn 2024 by the resident as part of his gate-fence upgrade.
5 BACK LANE TO HAGNABY LANE VIA BOSTON LANE BRIDLEWAY
Off Back lane on the right side from the village is a well signposted route along the old bridleway to join Hagnaby Lane after a quarter of a mile
Condition
Signs good but the metal post at Back Lane end unsightly with severe rusting. The sign at the Hagnaby Road end is damaged, the grass is regularly cut by a nearby resident and the ditch alongside managed by the farmer with adjacent fields. This wider open route is much used by walkers and dog walkers, good grass surface, some bramble overgrowth from hedgerow to sides until cut by adjacent landowner in late summer. Deep ditch to one side.
6 CHURCH ROAD TO BOSTON LANE BRIDLEWAY VIA MANOR FARM FIELDS
Entrance is by stile (1) near Community Centre, diagonally across sheep pasture field, past pond to middle of field side where another stile (2) leads to second pasture field with cows, continues to far side with stile (3)leading to another field and finally after crossing this field there is a final stile (4) allowing access to footpath 5 above
Condition
Sign at Church Road end damaged, post good, stiles good, some vegetation overgrowing base of stiles and stile 1 has brambles and blackthorn making passage difficult at times unless attended to regularly.
First field has sheep and seasonally lambs, field may have wet sections as small streams cross. Second two fields often have cattle with calves and often a bull. Stock if present can be inquisitive of walkers and may cause concern. The farmer informs me this bull is very docile.