Rare passage migrant and former summer visitor.

From the nineteenth century until the 1960s Tree Pipits were common and widely distributed in Hertfordshire but have since declined rapidly. This decline is attributed to habitat changes, such as coppiced woodland becoming overgrown, and the maturing of conifer plantations, which does not suit their need for open woodland.

The 1973 Breeding Atlas confirmed breeding from the tetrad covering Norton Green and, as probable from the tetrad covering Boxbury Farm. Neither the 1992 or 2012 Atlases recorded any breeding activity.

The records for Stevenage are: three singing males Box Wood 1964; recorded from Box Wood 1965; recorded from Box Wood and Monks Wood 1966; one Box Wood on 17 April 1967; one Box Wood on 24 April and 2 May 1970; a bird in song Box Wood on 12 May 1971; one Box Wood on 7 May 1972 and, one feeding young  Watery Grove on 7 June 1972; two different pairs Watery Grove in May and June 1973; two Watery Grove during April, May and, July 1974; birds seen Box Wood and, Watery Grove 1975; a pair Box Wood 1978, two seen at Box Wood on 12 May 1979 and three the following day which were seen displaying and one carrying nesting material; a male displaying Box Wood on 25 May 1981; one seen Box Wood on 30 August 1984; one at Norton Green Tip on 10 September 2018.

The most recent record is of one on migration at Norton Green Tip on 4 September 2020.