nature – Page 2 – My London+

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.

Design Museum/Holland Park

I suppose it was the 1980’s when I first realised that a lot of music I was listening to had electronic overtones – OMD, Flock of Seagulls, Gary Numan – but really it was when I came across Trance in mid 2000 that I became hooked. I heard a version of William Orbit’s Adagio for Strings (Samuel Barber) in a Trance mix by Ferry Corsten. That’s when I bought my first Trance CD (‘Pure’ Euphoria Vol 4 mixed by Matt Darley) The rest is history.

So, when I saw the Design Museum advertising their Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers exhibition, I just had to go along. What I loved was seeing the electronic equipment, but I hadn’t realised the origins of electronic music, how many decades it spanned, and the range. Going through the exhibition there was a chance to listen to sounds from across the years. Here you could plug in your own earphones or headphones (you need to take your own due to Covid 19 restrictions) and listen to the first attempt to record electronic sounds right through to club music of today. There are lots of screens and music pumping out generally across the exhibition.

Vinyl records that create spinning pictures when played

My favourite place was the light display, a room with strips of changing lights moving to the rhythm of the music. In the final room you can have the whole experience with The Chemical Brothers song Gotta Keep on Makin’ Me High. There is a warning here due to the flashing lights/strobe lighting, and you can miss this out should this not be something you want to/should not experience for health reasons. Wow! Even I had to close my eyes near the end as the white light was so bright, but what an experience.

Costumes from The Chemical Brothers show

I don’t profess to like all electronica, but I love Trance especially the chill-out, classic, uplifting and some progressive. I am addicted to music in general and my taste is very eclectic. I listen to anything from the 1960’s to the present day, including classical, but if I had to pick an era, it would be the 1980’s.

If you like electronic music, then this exhibition is for you. If you are bored rigid now then maybe a quiet time in Holland Park is more to your liking. Do read on!

Holland Park is lovely any time of year, but with the trees turning colour I couldn’t resist popping in. Conveniently there is an entrance right alongside the Design Museum. Being midweek it was quiet. The Kyoto Gardens were beautiful and peaceful, a complete contrast to the thumping beats of techno. It was a chance to unwind and be with nature.

While the large cafe was shut, the kiosk by it was open and I was able to grab a hot chocolate and sticky peach tart. I sat under cover just in time because the heavens opened. It was rather soothing watching the rain fall. Luckily, the worst had cleared by the time I was ready to leave.

A day of contrasts for sure!

Erith to Crayford Ness – where the Thames Path Extension officially ends

It was business as usual this week. The heatwave has subsided and we had to contend with rain instead. So. choosing the right day for a walk was important. Luckily we chose the best!

Believe it or not, this is still classed as London! You can catch a train from Charing Cross to get here (about 40 minutes on the stopping train). Erith has a town with shopping centre, but you need to cross a very busy road to get there and to the river – there is a public underpass with a couple of neat art instalations about the river. The walk itself is a short one, at a guess, about three miles or so. It was an ambling day!

We walked along the pier and I was fascinated by the ripples in the sand. We then doubled back. To the left is the Thames Path leading into London. Last time we were here in Erith we walked that way as far as Woolwich. At Erith you cannot see the tall towers of London, but across the river is Essex and Rainham Marshes. However, today we were heading right.

The first section we walked was mainly off river. We had to leave the quiet behind and cope with the noisy road with an industrial estate on our left. Then finally we found the path leading back down to the river. Here was a wind turbine. They always fasccinate me and you could hear it as whirled around. This section is lovely as you come out into the wild. In the distance we could see the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at Dartford. This crosses the river and you get good views of it. On either side of the path is scrub with bushes and grass, lots of grasshoppers and butterflies. We found an old railway sleeper to sit on and eat our lunch. There were harldy any people about.

Walking further around we did encounter another industrial estate on our right but at least we had the river on our left. We approached the leaving point of the river Thames where at Crayford Ness you meet the River Darent running into the Thames. Here we followed the Darent (there is nowhere to cross it for this is the end of the Thames Path Extension) and found Dartford Creek Barrier which is used for high tides (possibly in conjunction with the Thames Barrier). More on the River Darent can be found here.

The Dartford Crossing – Queen Elizabeth II Bridge

We followed the river until we came to another path. We needed to get to Slade Green Ststion and thought we knew which path we needed, but there were was no signage. Before I could consult the book another walker came along and he confirmed the path we needed was the one we thought. The other path (he was taking) was part of the London Loop which goes around all over London.

The walk back to Slade Green Station was lovely. Trees overhung almost forming a tunnel. It was a nice respite from the hot sun. On our left and right were fields with horses. Then the best find of the day. Over in one field where two horses roamed I could see what looked like a moat! I consulted the Thames Path Book which informed me that what we were looking at was indeed a moat. This is Howbury Moat, formerly part of a Manor which dates back to the 11th century when Odo, Bishop of Bayeux lived there. He was the half brother of William the Conqueror!

Howbury Moat, mentioned in the Doomsday Book

From there it was just a short walk to the station and the train back into London. I have walked many stretches of the Thames Path over the last few years. Put together I’ve walked from Staines (Middlesex), through the whole of London to where the Thames path ends at Crayford Ness. This section was perhaps the shortest part I’ve walked, but it was lovely all the same.

This excellent guide has travelled with me on the routes. This one I have now completed and have edged into the the one from the source to Hamtopton Court!

If you want more river walks I have written about Gravesend (Thames Estury) on another blog : https://pieceoftheattraction.blogspot.com/2019/09/gravesendwhat-is-that-all-about.html

Heatwave

Last week, with temperatures in the low to mid 30c’,s it wasn’t a time to go out walking or visiting places. The best hours were dawn to about 11am and then again from 6pm onwards. I could sit in the shade on patio until about 11.30am and then I’d have to retreat indoors. Everything – shopping, chores (what chores?) had to be done early morning or not at all. Functioning in that heat was draining.

So today I offer you a selection of photos taken last week, mainly in my garden, a bit like my week in pictures that I resorted to in early lockdown.

The park this morning looking a little like autumn

A mystery walk

Sometimes a walk takes you to unexpected places. This was one of those walks. I set off with only a vague idea of the direction I was going, but not the destination.

I began by retracing some of the steps I’d taken a few weeks beforehand, when searching for the source of Beverley Brook, crossing the field I call the horse field around Motspur Park way. On getting to the end, instead of turning right towards Worcester Park, I turned left to see where it took me. This turned out to be a lovely mystery walk. The footpath is well laid in tarmac. The only cars to come through were going to an Equestrian Centre, but I only encountered two cars the whole time. The path is tree lined and I found two other pathways – one leading to Arthur Road (Motspur Park) and the other to Trafalgar Road (I think it was), labelled as Sutton, though I believe it is actually Cheam.

Along the tree lined path there are blackberries growing. It seemed a popular walk on the late Sunday afternoon I was there, but became quieter the further I went. As I walked along it began to border a cemetery, and when I reached the end of the path, there was an entrance into the cemetery, known as the Merton and Sutton Joint Cemetery. I do find cemeteries and graveyards quite fascinating, so I had a quick wander before heading off again. Not sure now of quite where I was I continued down the winding road. To my left there appeared to be a green overgrown space which I felt must be accessed from somewhere. Then I found a stream. It ran underneath the road and out on the other side. I took photos and wondered if this was another part of Beverley Brook.

The unknown brook which turned out to be Beverley Brook after all.

I continued on until I came to another cemetery – The North Surrey (confusingly also known as Morden Cememtery), also an ecological space. Through the gates it looked impressive and well laid out, so I went to investigate. And it was impressive with wild areas, the mix of old and new graves, a beautiful garden of remembrance and circled enclosures with seating around a tree. The buildings were also impressive. Situated at the end of the driveway, they are the first things you see as you enter. And there is a beautiful memorial pond with fountain. It has been made to look like branches of a tree and each ‘leaf’ has the name of someone who has died. With plenty of space and benches to sit on there was the temptation to just sit and relax in this place. However, I aware of the time, so reluctantly said goodbye.

Heading left out of the gates I walked to the end of the road as I could see there was a pub on the other side of the roundabout. I could just make out that the pub had ‘Brook’ in the name. I thought I might be able to solve the mystery of the stream I had crossed (which, incidentally, runs through the North Surrey Cemetery). The name on the pub said The Morden Brook. I’d never heard of a Morden Brook, but I know there are many long forgotten brooks and streams that run through places. I decided I was look it up on my return home.

I began the journey home retracing my steps, with one exception – I took the path to Arthur Road. I’d heard the name of this road and thought I knew where it came out (I was right). The path was beautiful, shady and it ran between the cemetery and the horse field before running along side the park. I took a slightly different route home, crossing the level crossing near Motspur Park station and cutting off down other roads.

Once home I looked up the pub name and feel rather chuffed that I had been right about the stream. It is in fact part of Beverley Brook before it heads off to Beverley Fields, RIchmond Park, Barnes Common, Putney and into the Thames. The pub, The Morden Brook, was originally The Beverley and built in the 1900’s. Read about it here. I love it when things come together.

My Week in pictures (6) and something from the archive

I visit Sussex quite regularly, especially around the Brighton and Eastbourne areas. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that I shall get there this year, but I live in hope. I thought I’d share a few photos of a walk I took with my family back in 2004 along the South Downs Way taking in The Old Man of Wilmington. The countryside is stunning and I miss being able to walk there, or anywhere in the countryside right now.

This week I reached a mini goal in my jogging by running down the side of the park and along the back until I came to the where the main path slices the park in half, all without stopping. Then it’s a walk until I come to a certain post then off again until I reach the trees. That is my favourite part of the journey. It is peaceful and I always stop (I need to by then anyway!) and admire the undergrowth. Them I set off again to the top of the park – another breather – a short run, another stop and then I’m in the final stretch. At the end I sometimes visit the flower garden and take some photos.

I’ve been binge watching Look Up London videos of virtual walks in London and Museums in Quarantine on BBC4, catching up with some art exhibitions that closed before I could see them, plus others I probably wouldn’t have gone to, but I found them interesting nonetheless. These included Young Rembrandt, Andy Warhol, and a documentary about Monet’s garden and other artist’s gardens. The later was particularly beautiful and relevant to me as we were due to visit Monet’s garden in June. This is the nearest I would get to it this year, sadly, but I am even more excited about the prospect of visiting next year (all being well).

So, here is my week in pictures.

My Week in Pictures (4)

This last week, aware that I am putting on weight (probably not helped by Easter chocolate!) I decided that I would do some jogging. Mindful that the last time I did this (in 2012) I did my knees in and could barely walk, I have taken it easy by not running every day. About every third day I am power walking up to a nearby park and then run one lap around it, stopping every so often to take photos (a good excuse for a breather). It’s early days yet, but I hope to continue. I go early (about 7am) when social distancing is no problem as there aren’t many people out.

I was thinking of posting some pictures of past visits to London, but all my photos from last year and further back are on a server which has gone into meltdown. My son tells me that when Windows 10 updates it does ‘something’ to the server and messes things up. Hence I could not get into it this morning, and though my son had a go at fixing it, he couldn’t manage it. I do have the photos on my old laptop so I might try and transfer them all onto memory sticks because this is jolly annoying.

So, here are the usual week’s offerings of trees, flowers and whatnot.

My Week in Pictures (2)

Every day seems the same right now. It’s hard to keep track of them, a bit like when it’s Christmas and you can’t remember if it’s Tuesday or Sunday. Routines have gone out the window, yet I find I am rather enjoying slow time. Having had such good weather has helped. I have been gardening again – weeding, sowing more seeds. Reading has also been high on the agenda too and I washed the patio furniture (attempting fate) so I have more sitting options!

I go out about every three days to shop but avoid the big supermarkets as I hate queuing. I’ve noticed that I have more washing up to do but less clothes washing (there are four adults in my house), I am up to date with most of the housework and I think we are actually eating better. I’ve certainly cooked more scratch meals. The meat eaters of the family (two of them) have eaten more veggie and vegan (they usually cook their own meat), and we have settled into this weird way of life. I take each day as it comes and try not to dwell on how long this might last.

There is less traffic and pollution (much better for the planet) and I am more aware of birds singing and bees buzzing. I love watching wildlife from my window, though in this urban area wildlife is usually birds and a visiting cat. Nevertheless, I find it all calming and it’s an opportunity to take photos, which is good news for the blog! So, here is a selection of photos that make up this last week.

Flowers, trees, green spaces and night skies – My week in photos

I’ve been out only to shop and exercise this week (as we have been told to do). I do my exercise and shop together on the whole as I have two parks near to me. One is a cut through to the high street, the other makes a nice round trip. We’ve been lucky weather-wise this week and gardening has been high on the agenda. Digging over beds, planting seeds, potting up, cutting the grass has all been done. I’ve got my pea plants in and hope they can take the winds that have come in the last two days, along with a severe drop in temperature.

So, here is a snapshot of my week in pictures. Hope these cheer you up in these worrying times.