Page 18 - HGS Suburb News 147 - September2021

S U B U R B

OUT

Photos: Emma Howard
&
Brent Park Nature Reserve and

Dollis Valley Green Walk

EMMA HOWARD Brent flows through the park and is home to egrets and a variety of
ducks, grey wagtails and other interesting birds.
ver the last two years, I’m sure we have all looked for new walks The main feature of the park though is a large pond and two smaller
on our doorstep in order to avoid the crowds and enjoy a bit of ponds, remnants of a lake constructed as a duck decoy long before our
Ovariety. To my surprise, I found a lovely new walk from the Suburb time. The wooded island on the large pond is home to swans, moorhens,
over to Brent Park which runs parallel to the North Circular Road. I had ducks and other birds. There is often a heron fishing on the middle
often seen the tall trees of the park behind the flats on the road here pond. The viewing platform on the large pond enables you to take a
but never guessed how nice the hidden treasure behind it is. good look as part of the walk round the ponds. You can also access the
The footpath along Mutton Brook takes you in an easterly direction park from Brent Street and the North Circular Road. The weir and two
until the Mutton Brook joins the Dollis Brook which rises in Barnet and fairy tale style towers near the Brent Street access are also rather fun.
flows through Finchley. There is a children’s playground just before the This spring a pair of swans has been proudly raising their five
point where the streams merge to form the Brent River. If you turn left cygnets which are now getting big, and mum is now sitting on more
here, you emerge on Bell Lane and you cross this to arrive at the park. eggs. The moorhens have raised several babies in their second litter.
The small park is a Grade 2 nature reserve managed by Barnet. The Do take a stroll there if you haven’t previously done so.
ABOUT
ISABELLE FICKER There has been a lot of talk
recently on the HGS Chat Line about
Hedges hank you to those who are overgrown hedges. As a community,
helping keep pavements free
we can all help pedestrians by
Tfor pedestrians by pushing
bins to one side after collection. It keeping our hedges properly cut
back. To take a couple of Suburb
makes such a difference, particularly leases at random, they state: “The
Keeping our to the elderly, disabled and parents front fence shall be of York stone
kerb nine inches high above the
with young children and prams.
path with close clipped green
pavements privet behind.” This suggests two
things: (1) that keeping hedges Wildwood Road Holly
free for properly trimmed is the
householder’s responsibility; and
pedestrians (2) that the hedges should not
extend beyond the York stone
kerb. This leaves a good two
paving stones’ width available to
pedestrians, in addition to the grass,
Photos: Isabelle Ficker tarmac or brick verge. Maybe that
should be the guiding principle.
Hedges invariably grow taller
and wider over time, even if one
keeps them closely clipped, so
cutting them back from time to
time (top/outside/inside) over a
three year cycle, before birds start
nesting, helps to keep them in Hedge being rejuvenated in
Willifield Way privet Hampstead Way
check and also rejuvenates them.
The West

End Café

SHELLEY-ANNE SALISBURY

everend Ian Tutton’s delightful
West End café has been
R open since May this year
on a Saturday morning between
10-12, serving teas coffees and
biscuits for a modest contribution.
Located on the West lawn of Central
Square it’s a lovely stop off after a
dog walk or a stroll and a great
Photo: Shelley-Anne Salisbury
meeting place for HGS residents.
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