Where Kinsbourne Green (previous post) is to the north of Harpenden, Hatching Green is to the south of the old town, to the west of the common and the main Harpenden Road.
The remaining patch of green space is alongside Redbourn Lane, which has a steady flow of traffic. The shape of the grassy patch with some lovely old cottages and a pub makes it seem like Hatching Green is striving to maintain its identity by turning its back on expanded Harpenden.
Despite that defensive air and the nearness of the roads, Hatching Green has easy access to open spaces. A path in one corner leads over some fields to Harpenden Common. Or you can walk a couple of hundred yards down a quiet road to the grounds of the agricultural research centre at Rothamsted (below).
