Roughdown Common

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Roughdown Common, Scientific interest site in Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom

The 3.6-hectare chalk grassland contains meadow fescue, meadow oat-grass, and multiple orchid species across its steeply sloping terrain in the Chilterns.

The site, purchased in 1886 by the Box Moor Trust, previously served as a chalk quarry utilizing pillar and stall mining methods.

In 1809, the chalk pit hosted a Good Friday funfair, while in 1939 young London evacuees played the first recorded football match there.

Visitors access the site through footpaths starting at Roughdown Road and Roughdown Avenue junction, with an information panel near the quarry entrance.

The common remains the sole location in Hertfordshire where juniper plants naturally regenerate, supporting a local distillery in creating regional gin.

GPS coordinates: 51.74020,-0.48500

Latest update: March 7, 2025 02:26

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« Roughdown Common: Scientific interest site in Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

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