Dave Phillips
Dave’s hot under the collar about the 4x4 drivers who have been trashing his local greenlanes
Dave’s hot under the collar over greenlaning vandals
WHAT a month of contrasts this summer has been. We’ve seen a new UK record temperature of 38.7 degrees C and torrential rain that nearly burst a dam in Derbyshire and could have turned the annual Kelmarsh Show in Northamptonshire into a bit of a washout if it hadn’t been for the indomitable spirit of the Land Rover fans that did attend. They just mucked in and got on with the job – just like a Land Rover, in fact.
The same rain that turned the Kelmarsh arena into a quagmire didn’t do any favours to my local greenlanes, about 20 miles away. My nearest byway, which is known as the Drift Road, was once – more than 200 years ago – part of the main road from Oakham, capital of Rutland, to London. Presumably the fine folk of Rutland seldom ventured there in winter, because this unsurfaced road would have been impassable. The heavy, poorlydrained clay soil in this part of Northamptonshire turns to a treacherous mess during prolonged heavy rain, which is why the county council imposed a seasonal TRO (Traffic Regulation Order) on it about a decade ago.
This winter closure did indeed improve the situation. Unfortunately, heavy rain doesn’t just fall in winter and the downpours this summer had the same effect. You’d think 4x4 drivers would have the sense to keep away in such conditions, but unfortunately the mindless morons instead turned out in numbers “to play” as they quaintly describe their wanton vandalism.
The result? What follows are the words of Land Rover fan and Range Rover Classic owner, Nigel Bardon, who lives nearby, in the village of Aldwincle: “I have walked, cycled and indeed driven this lane many times in the past, but not in the last seven or eight months.
“I was recently asked by a neighbour to take a look at the lane. He knew I was a keen off-roader and we had talked about my trips in the UK and abroad on
occasions. This evening I went to take a look.
“The best description of what I saw is devastation. I have never in my ten years of living in the area seen the lane in such a damaged state. It is quite clear there has been a significant amount of motorised traffic up and down the lane which has not only created severely and deeply-rutted areas (some of which look like they have been created by repeated passes through the affected areas) but also there is evidence of off-track driving into the margins creating some areas where the damage covers the full width of the lane.”
Nigel, who kindly supplied the image of the damage that you can see on the opposite page, added: “There is clear evidence of vehicles having suffered damage and of extensive digging to extract stuck vehicles, as well as the use of materials (including a concrete electricity sign) to create ramps in order to escape the deep ruts.
“Whilst it is clear that some of wider and deeper ruts have been created by 4x4 vehicles, there is also plenty of evidence of off-road motorcycles. In some areas the ground is repeatedly criss-crossed with motorcycle tyres in narrow ruts. There was very little evidence of tyre tracks from agricultural vehicles (the tread pattern and size of the markings would clearly differentiate such vehicles).
“The lane in question has normally been one that is used extensively by locals, as well as walkers visiting the area and horse riders. It is now virtually impossible for these groups to use the lane safely due to the extent of the damage. It is certainly too dangerous for children to attempt to use it.
“Admittedly the recent rain has contributed to the lane’s condition, as has the underlying soil structure, but it did not create the damage.
“The damage to this lane has been created by mindless, irresponsible people with no concern for the countryside and little respect for other users and local people. Members of the off-road community who continue to abuse lanes in this way damage the reputation of all considerate and respectful off-roaders.
“I would imagine it is likely that this lane will be the subject of local authority scrutiny. It will be a great shame if a lane such as this is lost to us all because of a few mindless idiots, but I fear this is likely to happen.”
On a brighter note, my companion at soggy Kelmarsh was, as ever, Billy the Wonderdog. He had his usual admirers - including Lola, another miniature schnauzer, who dragged her owner across to the LRM stand to meet him. That owner is Caroline Gammon, an off-road fan who is ever-present at Lrm-organised events, including the forthcoming Ladies’ Day at Billing. Obviously Billy will be missing out on that one, much to Lola’s disappointment.
Meanwhile, the extreme hot weather of the last month had a welcome bonus in the shape of lots of butterflies, which smothered the buddleia bushes in my garden. It reminded me of the summers of my boyhood, before the excessive use of pesticides saw their populations crash alarmingly. Among my welcome visitors were large numbers of Painted Ladies. These, in case you didn’t know, normally live in Morocco and southern Europe, but every decade or so they enjoy a bumper breeding season and millions migrate north to our shores. This summer was one of them and I was happy to share my garden with them during the heatwave. Meanwhile, as the garden thermometer indicated 30 plus C (that’s 90 F in old money), Billy cooled down in his very own paddling pool. What a spoiled mutt he is.
Most of my recent wanderings in the countryside have been at the crack of dawn, enjoying some magnificent sunrises in that spell of two hours of so before the sun climbs above the horizon and really heats things up. One morning I was treated to the sight of five badgers playing together on the path ahead of me – two adults and three half-grown cubs. Sadly, it wasn’t light enough to grab a photo, but the next day, when a red kite perched in a small tree a few yards away, I managed to get a few shots. Magical.