Letter: Thoughts on the Loss of a Path

Published on: 9 Mar, 2026
Updated on: 9 Mar, 2026

Lorimer Burn being interviewed

From Lorimer Burn

chair of St Catherine’s Village Association

See: Village Association Chair Pleads His Case to Keep Path Open

I thought I would offer my further thoughts on the loss of the fieldside path which The Dragon has covered in several articles and readers’ letter.

Country paths can be very different. Most paths are simply a route for getting from A to B. Or to give an alternative route home.

But sometimes, and less often, there is a path that gives something more, far more. It provides access along its length to something special – of a walk alongside a river or canal, through the rustling leaves of a beech wood, somewhere protected from the sound of traffic or the chill of a north wind, or where bird song is abundant – or of stunning views.

This particular path, where locals have recently been denied access, provides the last three – in abundance.

As a dramatic contrast to the urban views available to the north of the Hog’s Back, there is peace and quiet to the south. But far more than that, the views are over fields down into a valley and in the distance, to hills and even the South Downs. Mist gathers in the valley in early mornings, and there are views of the sunrise and sunset during winter months.

In the autumn after harvest there are flocks of Canada geese to be seen on the field, sometimes 100 strong or more. Large flocks of pigeons wheel in the sky.

From early spring to summer the bewitching call of the skylark rings out throughout the day. Roe deer, a doe and her fawns are often to be seen too.

The agricultural year is experienced as the crop is sown, germinates, grows, matures and is eventually harvested. Then there’s a cover crop and eventually ploughing before the new year starts the cycle again.

One three-year-old girl, when seeing this view for the first time said, “Granny, real countryside!” And an elderly lady said she enjoyed this place so much, she scattered her dog’s ashes there.

People have spoken of a sense of mental wellbeing, peace, relaxation, even joy, in walking in such a beautiful place with such dramatic views.

There is a feeling of extreme selfishness when all of this is suddenly denied to local people; certainly there’s an acute sense of loss, consternation even.

If there’s anything to be gained from such an event, it’s a completely new camaraderie among the thousands of local people who live adjacent to this part of the Loseley Estate; a coming together in anger, frustration, and sadness. But primarily, a huge sense of loss at what for decades had been valued and immensely enjoyed.

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