Restoring the historic lakeside parkland at Hatfield Forest

The Lake and the Shell House

The lake and the Shell House were built by Jacob Houblon III around 1750, as a "pleasure ground" detached from the main residence, Hallingbury Place, about 2 km to the west.  House parties would travel to the forest, to admire the ancient woodland, and then retreat to the Shell House for refreshment and further entertainment.

Capability Brown plan

In 1757, Capability Brown provided a plan for improving the lake itself, and the eastern bank of the lake.  This clearly shows a much larger area of grassland with a few selected specimen trees left to grow naturally.

The intersection of the two rides shown in the plan is about where the horse hitching bar now stands, on the left of the access, just before entering the main car park.

At this time, pollarded trees began to be seen as unrefined and ugly.  Instead, the romantic ideal of leaving a tree to grow naturally was in vogue. Also, the traditional uses for pollard materials, such as heating for baking ovens, domestic firewood and leaf fodder for overwintering livestock, declined as coal and hay took over.  

Fin de Siecle - 1900

The Visitors book from the end of the nineteenth century shows several illustrious guests, including Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (who became Edward VII in 1901), Frances Evelyn Brooke (later better known as Daisy, Countess of Warwick), her husband (Lord) Brooke, two of their children (Guy and Marjorie Greville) and three friends..

We have an image which shows the area in front of the Shell House going to the lake to be laid to lawn.  This was probably maintained by sheep grazing, rather than cut with a lawn mower.  There are two old oak trees outside the front entrance, the stump of one being still visible today.  Looking north, along the eastern bank, the grassed area continues and there a scattering of specimen trees, more parkland than coppice.

The Ordnance Survey map, surveyed in 1871, shows the Shell House in a small enclosure, with limited tree planting to the north.  Note that the cruciform tree lined rides of the Brown paln are no more.

Fin de Siecle  - 2000

Fast forward to the end of the twentieth century.  Whilst the area immediately around the Shell House and lakeside cafe was still surrounded by an approximation to lawn, the area further north had reverted to a wilder state.

Lack of grazing cattle during the military occupation of the forest in World War II had allowed the area to become overgrown with scrub hawthorn, followed in later years by trees, so that the area became more like a woodland.

In the recent past, a programme of work has seen the restoration of wood pasture in the northern section.  Scrub and trees have been cleared, so the area is now more open.  Grass growth is returning and our summer visitors, the red poll cattle, now graze this area. 

The central section of 1.8 hectare (about 2.5 football pitches), immediately next to the cafe area, and by the side of the approach road, remains as unattractive woodland, with low value as a natural habitiat.

In addition, there is no proper lake side path, and views across the lake are obscured by trees and bushes.

The final phase

The new programme of work starting in October 2019 intends to restore this area to its historic glory, at the end of the nineteenth century.

A small number of specimen trees have been identifed and marked up, for saving.  These will be allowed to grow naturally, rather than being pollarded.  The remaining trees will be felled and the scrub cleared.

Henry Bexley, Operations Manager, explains further...

"Once the scrub has been cleared, a variety of specimen trees will be planted including oak, hornbeam and field maple from the Hatfield Forest nursery, using seeds collected on site. The grass will be allowed to reseed naturally and will be maintained by a dedicated team of volunteers.  

By restoring this area, not only will we be reinstating the historic Capability Brown landscape, but we will be replanting native trees and creating a variety of new habitats for wildlife to flourish. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the newly restored views across the lake and we will extend the picnic area once the new grass has established. Long term, we hope to restore more areas of the Capability Brown landscape including restoring the lake itself.”