Crossing the boundaries between Datchworth Parish Council in the area of North Herts District Council, and Welwyn Parish Council in Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Burnham Green is a small hamlet, located between the villages of Datchworth, Tewin and Digswell.
Burnham Green Common had for many years been looked after not by Hertfordshire County Council who own it, with Datchworth Parish Council and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council maintaining the two parts separately as the border for both ran through the community. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council decided to pull out of maintaining the half which fell in their area and Datchworth Parish Council were quickly on the case and engaged Welwyn Parish Council as their opposite number to help ensure not only that the area didn’t deteriorate, but that improvements in the overall arrangements could be made.
The current lease and agreement means that Burnham Green isn’t just maintained to a good standard, but also that activities are better coordinated across the entire space. The Burnham Green Joint Management Committee, which includes local residents, has responsibility for looking after the common as per the elase granted to both councils by Hertfordshire County Council a number of years ago.
Working together with Datchworth Parish Council, Welwyn Parish Council help to maintain the land owned by Hertfordshire County Council which makes up the “green” at Burnham Green.
To help keep contracts, and indeed contacts, simple, one council is nominated each four year period to take the lead. Welwyn Parish Council are the lead council from May 219 to May 2024.