WOODLAND Trust plans to buy the additional land around Munces Wood are progressing in an encouraging way as indicated by the Free Press report last week. The danger now is that, in the final straight, the population of the valley becomes complacent. The total has not been reached quite yet.

It is difficult to estimate how close we are to achieving the ambitious goal because pledges are sent or handed in to the Residents' Association collection points and to members, as well as to the Woodland Trust direct. In addition, it is not readily calculable how much additional value the pledges will attract from the Gift Aid tax refund process. Further to that, there are other non-governmental organisations and charities who have committed to add to the overall fund, partly dependent on how much is raised locally, and partly dependent on the Woodland Trust being able, irrevocably, to set in motion the legal process of purchase before the end of the financial year of those NGOs.

The net result of all this is that it appears that a couple more thousand pounds are required, and, realistically, that has to be committed by the end of February to allow the Trust most of the month of March to initiate conveyancing so that the greatest benefit can be reaped before April 5. So this is probably among the last pieces you will read in support of the appeal.

This was all revealed at a Residents' meeting last Tuesday and plans were drawn up to make one last effort with a renewed campaign on certain areas of the valley which had received least attention in previous door-knocking visits.

Most people will be unaware of most of the foregoing financing intricacies and so will not readily realise that timing is important and, while the great majority of the funds are now clearly accessible, the whole project could still founder for the want of a relatively small amount.

One of the problems in the valley has been that, while the average pledge has been encouraging, less than a fifth of the population has given.

Some may feel that the risk of development on the subject land is small, but it probably only needs the acquisition by a developer of one house in the Andrews Way and Stewarts Way area to provide access to the plot which could potentially provide scores of houses. The economics are clear and the history of development in the valley suggests that it may be a long term investment, but developers' persistence has often paid off eventually.

The more positive viewpoint that the Residents Association prefers is that purchase of the land will provide an invaluable additional social amenity and help create a sort of critical mass factor to attract wildlife as well as enhance the important corridor effect to the same end.

Some people, on the other hand, have been extraordinarily generous. It has been observed that some have made more than one pledge as the campaign has progressed, and the biggest supporters have not necessarily been those with the greatest perceived vested interest.

The message from the Residents Association is clear. Whether you envisage an improvement in the environment, an increase in your house value, the blocking of undesirable development, stopping increased strain on valley services, or simply because you want to keep the valley unaltered, please pledge generously and, above all, urgently in the last week or two of the campaign. If you suspect your neighbours are unaware of the project, do prompt them to make a pledge.

TALKING about communicating with the valley population, the end of next week sees the dead-line for the spring issue of Valley News. By then you should get your copy, advertising or editorial, to Anne Shave or one of the other editorial members. If you are a regular contributor, at least confirm by next weekend the extent of your space requirements.

TRAFFIC speed monitoring has had some impact in the last couple of weeks. A number of residents got tickets for quite substantial margins over the limit, while a dozen or more other drivers received cautions and guidance about their driving behaviour.

While the police are still convinced of the valley road and Ragman's Lane being used as a rat-run for drivers escaping the worst congestion from Handy Cross, they gathered no hard evidence. It is ironic that when they have resources available to monitor, it is often because Handy Cross is flowing freely, removing the incentive for rat-runners to take drastic measures to avoid it.

One matter that worries the police is that there seems to be a dilemma among residents. Many complain publicly about excessive speed, but a spokesman commented, with surprise, that so many motorists (most of them, seemingly, valley residents) were flashing apparent offenders to warn them of police presence. The spokesman pointed out that, apart from potentially placing themselves at risk of being accused of obstructing police activities, modern technology makes such action pointless.

Years ago, a sudden and severe reduction in speed might help reduce your average to acceptable levels, within an observed distance, to compensate for initial speeding. Today's machines need no such averaging. Measurement is now recorded continuously and the legal requirement for an average over a set distance no longer applies, as the camera system indicates.

By the way, there will be further monitoring sessions in weeks to come, and I only publish these details having sought the approval of members of the Amersham Traffic Force.

CROCODILES are breeding. There is now a third one in the valley, the Juniper cross route, and all are breeding responsible road habits in our younger generation. Rosie Brake reports that, in spite of the temptation to ride in a warm car, the winter walking to school figures are remaining encouragingly stable - they will almost certainly rise as the weather improves.

The unaccompanied walkers in the 'Go for Gold' scheme now number some 160 and the first batch of county produced badges have been awarded to those completing their record cards. Rosie has negotiated with a Wooburn company to produce an exclusive Burford badge for the next batch.

Rosie's objective, to be presented in a 'Travel Plan' to the school governors, shortly, is to provide a structure for increasing what she calls 'sustainable means of travel', crocodiles, independent walking, or cycling. Sustainable in this context implies both the environmental meaning and the expected persistence of the habit into teenage and adult life.

One encouraging factor is the way in which businesses are cooperating. Ted Rehill was an early supporter, allowing TJ's car park to be used as a dropping off point for the southern crocodile. He has now extended that to afternoon pick ups.

Lollipop man Barry Sims is set on a campaign to get local companies to donate awards to foster the walking schemes.

The only blots on Rosie's landscape, at the moment, come from dogs, still being allowed to foul the footpath.

OBSTACLE course sponsors must note that today is your last chance to help the children of the village hall pre-school to get new equipment.

By Mike Williams