Hodgemoor Woods – A paradise, whether you have two legs or four.
The New Year is a good moment to address to all members and friends of the Hodgemoor Riding Association on the extraordinary amenity, a jewel in the crown for many of our lives, which is Hodgemoor Woods. Yes, I say members and friends because many walkers and cyclists join the Association – without any tangible benefit – or support our aims and contribute to the amicable ambience in the woods.
Hodgemoor Woods is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Countryside Act 1949) is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) and, as we now know from LIDAR research in the last three years, is crossed at the diagonal by a Roman Road. The heath where pigs were bred in the middle ages is now a deep and bounteous forest owned by Buckinghamshire Council and tended by Forestry England. We can feel grateful and privileged that under the contract between Hodgemoor Riding Association and Forest England of 20 years standing, we have the right to ride in the wood. We take on obligingly our obligation to maintain the horse trails and bridal paths in the woods and we extend our work elsewhere in the neighbourhood when suitable.
It seems unbelievable that in 1998 Forestry Commission was about to prohibit all horse riding in Hodgemoor because of the quagmires the horse is created around the car park and many other areas. The all-weather riding trails now not only permit riders to exercise all year round but also improve walking on foot both because the trails give a firm footing and because horses do not turf up other areas. In those 25 years, you, members of the Hodgemoor Association, have raised over £350,000 from modest membership fees and fundraising events, all of which have been invested in the construction and refection of trails. Our public-private partnership has been acclaimed by the British Horse Society, local and government bodies as a model of how a community can get positively involved. You have on three occasions won awards for this work. This is a matter of pride and satisfaction both for you the riders and Susie and me in helping run it.
Every time you go into Hodgemoor Woods do please think about how blest we are.
You might be wondering what your New Year’s Resolutions might be, although I say in haste that I started writing this monologue without any thought of making demand on you! You might choose to come on at least one volunteering party every year; to our dismay, from 250 members, we get half a dozen volunteers max. You might choose to come to our annual party and meeting in November; drinks and food punctuated by a short relevant talk (2025 was the Thames Valley Air Ambulance and resuscitation advice) and an open discussion of affairs of the woods and the Association. Your last resolution needs no prompting; ride into Hodgemoor frequently, love thy neighbour and pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming.
Happy New Year, from Marcus
We thought you might like to read more about Geoffrey’s life, in fact several in the riding and writing communities have asked to know more.
On Saturday 10th May the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, at their Stokenchurch HQ open day, received a donation for £500 from the Hodgemoor Riding Association, Frank Everest, Susie and Marcus Bicknell. Our photo shows, Nicola Bishop (Community Fundraising Manager) and Ruth Dunkin (Head of Community & Events) of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance with Marcus Bicknell (chairman) and Susie Bicknell (secretary) of the Hodgemoor Riding Association. £300 of the donation was from Frank Everest whose fee for maintenance work in Hodgemoor Woods he wanted to give to charity. Frank at Waylands Equestrian is a great support to the riding community. £200 was from Susie and Marcus.