Parks & Gardens in London, the UK & abroad
Blythe Hill Fields in SE London in is a large grassy park on top of a steep hill in Brockley. There are wide views towards the City, One Tree Hill (!), and over leafy suburbs between Brockley and the River Thames. These are perhaps surprising views to those who regard London as consisting of streets of dull houses and tall office blocks!
Ravensbourne Park in SE London is a small green space in Lewisham which isn’t actually on the Ravensbourne River! The Ravensbourne Park Estate os high-class housing started developing in the early 19C. At the same time land for a park was set aside on the development. Today the park continues to provide an open space for the surrounding homes. With parking restrictions all round the park it certainly maintains a feeling of exclusivity for the neighbourhood!
The Horniman Museum & gardens in south east London is an interesting and popular small museum. It stands on a hill with good views over London, surrounded by parklands. The Museum and its cafe are very popular and well-used by local people and offer many varied experiences to the curious visitor.
It is the beginning of October in The Fortnight Garden but it is definitely a new season as well. Autumn has arrived and the garden is starting to slowly pack up for the year and retreat into itself for the long winter months. I find it quite sad.
You can easily pass by St Bartholomew’s Churchyard in Sydenham. It looks like another church on another busy road. But do visit, and linger. As soon as you step inside the walls, or pass through the Lych Gate you are in another world – quiet, somewhat derelict, but peaceful. Yet again the churchyard walls seem to create and protect another level of being.