As the population of London grew during the 19th century (from just under 2 million in 1801 to just over 6 million in 1897) the need for more clean, fresh water became urgent. The Victorian planners’ answer was to develop the already boggy land around the River Lea in east London into reservoirs. The first …
Gardens
Christmas at Jackson’s Lane
Straddling the borders of Highgate and Haringey on the Archway Road, is the Jackson’s Lane Arts Centre, originally a Wesleyan Methodist church built in 1902. Since the 1970s however, it has been a largely volunteer run arts centre, nurturing dance, circus and theatrical talent (alumni include Eddie Izzard and David Walliams) while running a collection …
Save our water voles!
Any of you Wind in the Willows fans? If so I am sure you will know that Ratty (seen here chortling away with Mole in Philip Mendoza’s delightful sketch) was a water vole, not really a rat at all although water voles were often called water rats – or water dogs! But Ratty’s descendants are …
A day out in Greenwich
Tuesday was such a perfect late autumn day that I decided to down tools and go on an expedition. Where to go? Somewhere which would offer both nice walking and something interesting to see. Greenwich seemed a no brainer. In fact, Greenwich offers so much to see that I could have been there a week …
Bracken and ferns in Highgate cemeteries
Did you know that although they look almost identical brackens and ferns are very different plants? In my ignorance, I didn’t, until I showed up for last week’s gardening session at Highgate cemeteries. This is a fern, all of its leafy stems shooting up, fountain-like, from a central bole. While ferns do spread they are …
Reopening of Camley Street Natural Park
After four years of dedicated work – majorly delayed by the Covid crisis – the much loved Camley Street nature park in the heart of King’s Cross is to reopen on October 13th. 10 – 4pm, Wednesdays to Sundays. To quote from their new website: Camley Park is a unique urban nature reserve, surrounded by …