My London+

Nature in winter

It was a bitterly cold day when I took these photos. I even thought about wearing my face mask to stop my nose from freezing! My fingers ached with cold and got worse each time I took off my glove to take photos. Was it worth it? Yes!

On this walk I retraced my steps to a favourite place – the wetlands at The Hamptons, stopping off at Morden cemetery. Snow and ice clung to shadier parts. There was even ice on the water at the wetlands. The horses in the field wore coats and were being called in one by one to go return to their stables. Along the bank behind the Equestrian Centre is where the wild rats live. I watched them flitting across the path and into holes by trees and vegetation. As my son keeps pet rats, I have become fascinated by wild ones too, and this is the place to see them. Hope you like my photos.

And then we had snow!

Finally, snow worth taking photos of! I ventured out while it was snowing to do some shopping and came back via a local park where a brief blizzard ensued. With freezing temperatures I have also been taking care of the birds. Each morning I break the ice on the water bowl and throw out handfuls of seed, top up the peanuts and suet. The squirrel is rather partial to the nuts, of course, but it has encouraged a pair of robins, a great tit, pigeons, wood pigeons and starlings. In fact, the robins seem to have moved into the variegated bush and I am hopeful that in the future there will be a whole family of little robins.

At the end of last month I took part in the Birdcount run each year by the RSBP. We didn’t have many visitors in the hour I did my count. They all came in flurry towards the end. When I say all, I mean a wood pigeon and a starling! The pair of robins showed up at the beginning, so there was a lot of staring out of the window watching lots of birds fly over, but they had to land to be included in the count.

Now the weather is colder, the birds are more frequent and they are getting through mounds of seed. It gives me a good excuse to get out my camera and take a few photos. Enjoy!

A local circular walk

This short walk is local to me, following a route I have used many times, except for the last part. It meant walking alongside the busy bypass (rather similar to the walk to Richmond Park, except this was on the other side of the road!)

I began the walk by cutting through my local park, crossing the railway line (the railway cut was beneath me), passing the allotment where my granddad once grew potatoes (that’s all I remember about it!), and walking along the cut that runs between the golf course (the same golf course that the railway cut also runs alongside of!). Out on to the A3 bypass I walked until I came to a left hand turn which took me up to Traps Lane and back down into my town.

The railway cut from its joining point at the bridge in New Malden. Today I walked over the bridge.

The cut that literally cuts the golf course in half!

A view across one half of the golf course

The busy A3. I turn left here towards Traps Lane

The houses around this latter part of the walk are truly expensive. The area is full of gated roads, gated houses and private roads. It is the posh end of where I live! The walk was full of contrasts. I also had the perfect day for walking. It wasn’t too cold, and the sun shone.

Between the road and the houses on Traps Lane, I always think this grass verge should be a moat!

The highlight of the walk was veering off of the main road and entering a private road. Whether I should have been there I am not sure, but had I not ventured there I would not have come across the delightful scene of a small pond surrounded by trees and houses. It rather took my breath away.

Tranquil. This beautiful scene was unexpected. Such is life in a private road!

I would also like to mention that the author John Galsworthy lived in Kingston, just a couple of miles from here. His book, The Forsyte Saga, became a popular TV series which first aired in the late 1960’s. I remember watching it when I lived at home with my parents! There are buildings in Kingston named after him, and a road by the local hospital, which is close to where John Galsworthy lived on Kingston Hill. I also came across Soames Walk on my travels yesterday. Soames was a main character in The Forsyte Saga.

So, there we go, a short walk with a little history thrown in.

In Search of Spring – A Walk to Raynes Park

Spring is bursting out all over in Holland Gardens

Torn between two walks, I decided to head towards Raynes Park and to Holland Gardens. I’d not been there since sometime last year. I went in search of pretty flowers; signs that spring is on the way!

I set off using the ‘pretty route’, via my local park and the railway cut. After that it is all uphill! Holland Gardens, which I have posted about before, is coming into flower, with sprays of yellow in the bank by the tennis courts, and in the flower beds. From the top of the gardens, there is a lovely view across the whole park. I sat for a short while contemplating what to do next. Consulting Google Maps I saw there was another park nearby. I headed in that direction.

Cottenham Park has a large playing field, tennis courts, and a children’s playground. There is also a nursery on site. There is not much in the way of flower beds, just sprinkles of spring bulbs. I much prefer Holland Gardens! So, I did not linger, and I came home the quick way (along the busy main roads). I’d had the best of the day, as an hour later the rain came!

An abandoned walk and Richmond Park

Last week when I left home for a walk, I had no idea where I might go. I only knew that I wanted to walk somewhere I’d not been before, or at least not for a long time. I ended up walking towards Beverley Meads, a place I’d not visited for about three or four years. It meant walking along a busy bypass to get there, and I was a little unsure of the way in.

However, the first part went well, as I followed the sign to Beverley Brook walk. But then came a part I didn’t remember. I was standing on a bridge off the busy bypass (where the photo above was taken). Google maps wasn’t helping much, so I used my instinct to get me there. It wasn’t long before I encountered a great deal of mud, and the path I needed was totally awash with it. I ended up back on the bypass trying to find another way in.

Not an inviting path! No way could I use this.

I came to Colliers Wood Football Club and wound my way round the side. Someone had laid plastic steps across the worst of the mud, and I made it into an area known as Fishponds Nature Reserve. As I crossed a bridge, I was faced with an astounding amount of mud! I tried to find some drier places, but my feet sank into it. Mud sucked at my walking shoes and went over the top of them. I found a boardwalk and followed it until the path ran out. Beyond was more mud. I knew when I was beat and I turned around and retraced my steps.

Back out on to the A3 bypass, and feeling defeated, I realised I was not yet ready to go home. If I kept walking, I would eventually come to the Robin Hood Gate entrance to Richmond Park. It was further than I thought, but there was not turning back.

Richmond Park, near the Robin Hood Gate entrance

Once I entered Richmond Park the noise of traffic was replaced by the sound of birds, especially the Parakeets. What are Parakeets doing here? Well, there are many stories of how these birds got here into this part of London, but possibly it is no more than a few escaped pets. However, they have spread to other parts of England, and if you want to know more about them, then click on this link.

Looking at the park map, I decided I would walk to the Kingston Gate. To walk around the whole of Richmond Park is about ten miles. Many years ago I did a charity walk around the park with my brother, but I’ve not done it since. Although the day was fast losing its brightness, it was lovely to walk surrounded by so many trees. Even in the park the recent rains had made parts of it muddy, but it was okay as long I kept to paths.

At the car park to the Isabella Plantation (a much visited place when I was younger) there was a cafe. This was new to me, but very welcome. I bought tea, but due to lockdown, the seating had been cordoned off. I considered walking to the Isabella Plantation, but I was conscious of the time. During winter I was sure the park closed around four-thirty, and it was already close to four o’clock. I was keen not to get myself locked in! So, I carried on walking towards Kingston Gate. Just before arriving there, drizzle began. Thankfully, I had an umbrella. I considered catching a bus home, but using public transport at present is not encouraged unless it is essential during lockdown.

My legs felt tired, and this was a longer walk than I’d set out to do, but as long as I didn’t stop, I was sure I could walk all the way home. And that is what I did. I am not sure how many miles I walked in all, but it must have been at least seven, maybe more. I’d walked non-stop for just over three hours. I felt much better in myself from being outdoors, despite the aching legs. To see a map of Richmond Park, click on this link.

On the walk home I saw these lovely flowers in a garden

The Royal Oak pub. It’s been many years since I’ve been in here.

The Cut

Before the snow came (see previous post) I took a short frosty walk along the local railway cut. I wondered if I would find anything colourful to take photos of in January. I didn’t walk the whole length of the cut. I doubled back and went off at a different exit and then walked through Beverley Park before going home. Here are a few photos from that walk.

Snow!

London finally had snow yesterday. Which means everyone goes mad. Having been locked indoor families went out tobogganing and building snowmen. Me? I just ventured into the garden a took a few photos before it all melted. By today most of the snow had gone. It’s been a few years since snow stayed longer than a couple of days. The rest of the UK has had snow a few times already, but being so far south, and down in a valley, London gets a day of snow a year, if we are lucky.

I love snow, but I am happy for it to go the next day. I hate it when it freezes over and gets all slippery. At my age the bones don’t mend so fast or well, so I’d rather sit it out at home than venture onto icy pavements.

So, while I was excited as everyone else yesterday, I’m not too sad that it’s gone.

Today the snow was just hanging on in my local park

Re-visting The Hamptons Wetlands (again!)

Finally, a day for a walk, but where to go? Back to the place I have grown to love in the last year. I am always finding new ways into this place as there are various access points around the estate where the wetlands is situated.

This time the entrance I usually use had a large puddle that even I was not prepared to wade through. Last time I went through on my heels to stop the water going over my shoes. It was not possible yesterday as the puddle was bigger, though a family were attempting to bypass it by walking along the fence next to it!

We continued along the path as I wanted to see where that particular path led. It comes out into a road which leads down to North Cheam (which I could see in the distance). We took a right turn and followed another road which eventually led back into The Hamptons and down to the wetlands. The cygnats, or rather young adults, are still there, still moulting. I guess there is a never ending food source there, so it seems worth staying. Couldn’t see the heron this time, but the Egypitian geese were there.

There were many families out walking with dogs and children enjoying a rare day when it wasn’t raining or too cold.

We came back home through the horse field. The field was muddy and as the horses walked you could hear the ground squelching underfoot! I always enjoys saying hello to the horses.

Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Playing Field (beyond the trees is the horse field)

From the Archive – Sky Garden, London

The day my friend and I visited the Sky Garden we encountered every kind of weather – from sunshine to snow. While looking out from the top of the tower we watched the sky change as clouds drifted in and snow hurtled down. We couldn’t believe it as earlier on the sun had been shining and the sky was blue.

It was April 2016 and the Sky Garden had been open since January 2015. It is the highest public garden with 360 degree views across London. The venue is free to visit, but you do need to book in advance.

The garden terraces are planted with South African and Mediterrenean species that are drought resistant. If you wish, you can book a table at the restuarant, or there is a small cafe for the casual refreshment.

The garden is situated at number 20 Fenchurch Street in London and is surrounded by other tall buildings, making it rather photogenic!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with its surprising array of plants and flowers on the terraces, as well as the fantastic view you get across London. When London opens up again, I’d recommend a visit. It’s not often you get to see such a wonderful place like this for free. Enjoy the lift ride too!

Buildings known as The Cheese Grater (left) and The Gerkin (right)

The Thames – looking across to City Hall

National Lockdown – re-thinking my options

The UK is now in national lockdown until…well, that is the question! Possibly mid February, maybe until the end of March. It all depends on numbers of cases, but with hospitals at bursting point, normal life will not be returning for some time.

What does a travel blogger do? I cannot go anywhere except to exercise once a day, and only to local places, places I have blogged about and taken many photos of in the last nine months. Not only that, but it’s winter, and very, very cold right now. Today it might get to 1 degree. Not my kind of weather!

So, today I thought I’d share with you some photos of what is keeping me sane, which is still taking photos, and when I get desperate I bake! Of course, I can do what I did earlier in the year during the first major lockdown, and dig out something from the archive to share with you. I guess it will be a mixture of things, so bear with me.

I stupidly decided to start a new challenge to take one photo a day for a year which I am sharing on Twitter and with my Facebook friends. What was I thinking! It’s going to be quite a ride.

Wherever you are in the world, stay safe and think positive thoughts.

Twitter: @Heather91404743