WILLIAM CHASTELL'S TYE GREEN CHALLENGE

The Tye Green Challenge was conceived two years ago, when I told officers of the Tye Green Indoor Bowls Club (Harlow) that Rita had found six villages named Tye Green in Essex on the computer. They then challenged me to cycle to all six in the same day.

Since then I have explored various options for the route, not an easy task as the great conurbations of Chelmsford and Braintree each lie directly between two Tye Greens. Also there are hazardous major road intersections to be confronted, particularly adjacent to Stansted Airport.

The resulting route gives a variety of scenery and terrain, sometimes a challenge in navigation and an enjoyable day out on a bike.

Essex is a beautiful county with tiny hamlets, pretty villages, verdant farmland, beautifully managed parkland type areas and what I enjoy most, open rolling countryside. On my chosen route there is all of this to enjoy.

When I first opened the maps to consider a circuit of all the Tye Green's I immediately found that Tye Green, Elsenham was on the site of a proposed second runway at Stansted Airport. To annihilate such a lovely and historical village and destroy a large area of beautiful countryside is an outrageous concept. I resolved to raise awareness of the threat and to raise funds to help fight it.

I contacted the organisation Stop Stansted Expansion just two weeks before my ride and was pleased with the warmth of their encouragement and their help in publicity for my event. I was impressed by the team which has been assembled. They are professional and dedicated, very nice people too. The campaign is in good hands.

The weather forecasts leading up to Sunday 21st were dismal but as the day drew nearer, this improved. The day started cloudy but bright, sunny periods became longer and by early afternoon it was clear blue sky, bright sun and strengthening headwinds.

My son Rob accompanied me on the tour which started and finished at Tye Green, Elsenham. Four people from SSE came to give us a friendly, encouraging send off, that was really nice and unexpected.

My route south to the next Tye Green at Harlow traverses the busy roads and junctions serving the airport but immediately after crossing the A120 we plunged into quiet, tranquil country lanes. In my mind these two completely different environments are like the parallel universes of science fiction - all you need is an ordnance survey map to find the connecting gateways and a bike to make the transit.

At Tye Green, Harlow, we made a visit to the indoor bowls club, there was the usual banter and leg pulling but sincere wishes for a safe and successful day.

We left Harlow via Potter Street and passed the location of the former Thompson's Café, a popular venue for cyclists in the 50's and 60's. From there it was over Harlow Common and through the lovely villages around Matching Green and into the Easters.

At Tye Green, Good Easter we were surprised to find people who had read of our quest in the local newspapers and donated to our fund. We contacted villagers at every Tye Green for a signature on our verification form - they were all interested in what we were doing, supportive of the work of SSE and proud to tell us about their community and its history.

On the next section of our journey we rode for a few miles on the A1060, not universally popular with cyclists but good fun for a bit of high speed cycling.

In Writtle there was a major village event, crowds of people, buses, coaches and cars. Coned off diversions etc. made it difficult to keep to the route, we missed a vital turn off and it took more than half an hour to correct the mistake.

Tye Green at Stock is so tiny it is difficult to locate - it is on a narrow lane which goes through farmland and small woods. Tranquil isolation but only a few miles from Chelmsford, Ingatestone and Billericay.

After leaving Stock we had to circumnavigate Chelmsford to the south east - fortunately the lanes bridged over the bypass and trunk roads. Only once was it necessary to confront one of the dreaded roundabout intersections.

Tye Green, Cressing is on a busy B road which radiates from Braintree - we used this road into the town centre and then on the B road up the lovely valley of the River Pant to Shalford. We continued on very narrow lanes and quiet roads across to Thaxted.

Tye Green, Wimbish is approximately 5 miles north of Thaxted. It is situated in the open rolling farmland of North Essex which I find so enjoyable. It is however only 12 miles from the airport, aircraft noise is becoming intrusive and the locals are not happy with it.

For the last section we took a fast road towards Newport and than quiet lanes to Elsenham.

After crossing the railway line at Elsenham we were in Tye Green Lane riding through small woods and farmland. The tranquillity was broken only by the roar of aircraft, a reminder that this idyllic corner of our England is worth fighting for.

And so we were back in the place from which we started. We expected to find Rita waiting for us with the car but were surprised to find also a reception party of four from the SSE. After greetings and congratulations we were escorted to a nearby pub and treated to good beer in congenial company. A perfect end to a wonderful day.

William Chastell

Time on the road - 7 hrs. 0 mins. 23 secs. Total tour time - 10 hrs.