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Therfield Heath is situated to the west of Royston and extends
for almost 2 1⁄2 miles, covering an area of some 420 acres.
Although it once belonged to the Church the Heath is now owned by
the Therfield Trust, and is managed on behalf of the Trust by the
Therfield Conversators, a  locally
elected body established by Act of Parliament in 1888. The Heath’s
status as common land has protected it from urban and agriculture
development, thus preserving an important historic site and a valuable
wildlife haven. It now provides a fascinating area for study, and
one of the best sites for informal recreation in Hertfordshire.
Racing has long links with the Heath, a tradition maintained since
at least the time of the Stuart Kings. In the nineteenth century
thousands of people gathered here for the reopening of the local
course. Today, no racing takes place, the only horses allowed being
those trained by the stables at Kings Ride. In recent years winners
of the Derby, Grand National and Cesarewitch have all been trained
on the Heath.
Royston Golf Club was founded in 1892, and is one of the oldest
courses in the county. Although short by present standards it provides
challenges absent from many modern courses, not least that of the
sixteenth hole, known locally as Cardiac Hill. The excellent natural
drainage of the underlying chalk means that the course is playable
all year round. In 1975 Nick Faldo established a record here as
the winner of the Junior Championship. The sporting Club has facilities
for squash, tennis, rugby and a fully equipped gymnasium.
Around Easter the best remaining concentration of Pasque Flowers
in Britain can be seen in bloom on Church Hill, their purple cup-shaped
flowers contrasting with the yellow of the Cowslip. Later in the
season Dropwort and Lesser Meadow Rue flower in areas of taller
grass, while Milkwort, Thyme, Bastard Toadflax and many more of
the vetches survive better in the more heavily grazed areas. Mignonette
and Knapweed are important nectar sources for many adult insects,
while Rock Rose is the specific food plant for the caterpillars
of the Brown Argus butterfly. Although some plants finish flowering
before high summer, many, like Clustered Bellflower and Autumn Gentian,
can be found up until the first frosts.
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