Holland Gardens – My London+

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!

The pedestrian/cycle path runs along the side of the railway line

On Monday I set off on a walk with my youngest son who had a few days off from work. We’d both been considering a walk in the same area so when I asked him if he wanted to walk with me, he said yes. Like me he often likes walking on his own, so I never push it, but it was nice to have his company and a chance to chat.

Beverley Brook or Coombe Brook runs through Malden Golf Course

Our destination was a park in West Wimbledon called Morley Park. I’d read online that it has a nature walk. Getting there was easier enough. We managed to avoid most of the busy roads by going back ways and using a pedestrian/cycle path. The park itself has a children’s play area and tennis courts. It is also has regular usage by Urseline High School in Wimbledon. Walking up through the park you come to steps that take you to a pond. Thought it had dried out somewhat, there was a dog enjoying what was left.

The nature walk was rather smaller than I envisaged and we were through it quickly. We then had a choice to make – go back down or walk up to Copse Hill. We chose the latter where you get a wonderful high view looking down towards where we live.

Nearby is Holland Gardens (not to be confused with Holland Park in Kensington). I have been here before. Again the views are great and the park is in two halves. The top park has the flower beds, a grassy area dominated by a large tree. Here we sat on a bench to eat our sandwiches.

To the side of the park are the tennis courts, a rose lined pathway runs along on edge of it. Below the main gardens (which are being prepared for new plants) is the main playing green. The other entrance gate is down here and was the way we came out. We decided to walk back home the same way to avoid most of the roads. This turned out to be another two and three quarter hour walk, yet it didn’t seem as far as the Beverley Brook walk of the previous week – maybe that’s because I had company and I didn’t get lost!