Boris and Arwen may not come on my walks around the heath (‘A walk? What are you thinking of? We are cats…..’) but they are actively involved in helping put the blogs together. Well, until they get bored and go to sleep. But they did wake up this morning for long enough to wish you …
Happy Christmas from our Hampstead trees
These are the magnificent copper beeches that look down over the Boating Pond, now shorn of their shining bronzed leaves. And I thought that while you were looking at the trees, you might like to listen to some of our birds – not birds up here on the hill but in Kenwood Woods a few …
A walk down the Heath Extension
It has been grey and damp for the last couple of days but on Sunday the sun was shining brightly so I decided to walk down the the bottom of the Heath Extension – where I hadn’t been since early summer. This involves crossing the ‘north-south’ divide of Spaniards Road, then down through Sandy Heath …
Bird life around the heath
Our swan family are down to just two cygnets – or they were two weeks ago when our swan-watcher caught them having lunch down by South End Green. As you can see the two remaining cygnets are now almost entirely clad in white feathers which presumably means that they are now fully adult and will …
Reasons to be cheerful…
Well, today is the 21st December which means that from now on the days get longer and the darkness starts to recede. It also means that spring is on its way. And, in one small corner of Kenwood, could be said to have arrived. Yes, this is a winter flowering shrub (and I am hoping …
Hampstead heath mud…..
So where do we start? With leafy loveliness? Very soft ground but covered in leaves so a pleasure to walk on. But all too quickly this can turn into leafy sludge – not too slippery but requiring walking boots if you don’t want wet feet. And if you want to hear what it sounds like …