The Citizen Gardener: Woodland escapes
‘Hugely overlooked’: Hollow Ponds. Photograph: Daniel Burke
In my last article, I explored the narrowboat community — an insight into life on the waterways. But what about life amongst the trees? It’s not as far as you might think.
As I continue to promise a guerrilla garden plant-out in Mabley Green, life and work have somewhat been in the way of my passion project and community interest company, The Hackney Flower Show.
You’d be right in thinking the timing of my plant-out was going to line up with the Chelsea Flower Show — but no dice. We still need to finalise some admin duties and I’ve been kicking like a can down the road for a while, to secure a few more working parts before we hit go.
As well as gardening, I’m involved in music — often a graft more labour-intensive than wielding a spade. I was lucky enough to get a call and swapped out the trowel for my guitar. What a call. I joined a touring band to stand in for a member no longer able to partake in fairly extensive tour dates. It was a lovely jolly in and around Europe with a band called Black Market Karma. A fun-filled blast, taking in a different town or city each night for just under a month.
On my return home, I decided I needed to reconnect with some green spaces. Specifically, the woods!
As much as I love Lea Bridge Road, the place I call home, I wanted to put together a list of places that are easily accessible for a day out — places that are a bit bigger than your local park.
I needed a bit of calm after a busy stretch — something we all need at the end of a hectic workweek or a period of time that’s all go. I decided a day’s getaway was the tonic, something I could get to from Hackney within the hour.
If you can give up the Friday booze-up and get up early, you’re in for a treat. If you can’t get up early, you’re still in for a treat. You’ll be back before dark, telling your mates all about the heritage trees and the foil-wrapped cheese and cucumber sandwiches.
As an aside, I love London plane trees. Just hulking, pollutant-resistant beasts. They stand proud through so many of the capital’s parks, including London Fields. I often wonder if the people who planted them knew how grand and tall they’d stand.
Within the beep of an Oyster card. Photograph: Daniel Burke
Anyway, here are my top recommendations for that country feel — all within an hour from Hackney on public transport:
Hollow Ponds (part of Epping Forest)
• Whipps Cross Road, Leytonstone
• transport: Central Line to Leytonstone, then a short walk
• travel time: ~25 minutes from Hackney
Hampstead Heath
• Hampstead, NW3
• transport: Overground to Hampstead Heath or Underground to Hampstead
• travel time: ~30–40 minutes
Highgate Wood
• Muswell Hill Road, N10
• transport: Northern Line to Highgate Station
• travel time: ~35 minutes
Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve
• Bollo Lane, W4
• transport: District Line to Chiswick Park
• travel time: ~45–55 minutes
Beckenham Place Park
• Beckenham Hill Road, BR3
• transport: Thameslink to Ravensbourne Station
• travel time: ~50–60 minutes
Don’t worry, you don’t need your camping gear for any of the above, you can get to them for the price of an Oyster card beep, chugging and skipping the flat, long streets. The train, the bus, the Overground too — you’ll soon reach those tall trees and a pub stop.
I must say, my favourite on the list — and quite frankly, a hugely overlooked spot — is Hollow Ponds. Renting a boat and cruising around the pond is joyous now we’re fully in the throes of spring.
Why not check out some of these stunning spots that won’t break the bank? Pack your sarnies and get on your way!
Daniel Burke is a trained gardener with almost 10 years’ experience. He is a founder of a community interest company The Hackney Flower Show, which aims to renovate public spaces and create an annual community event celebrating the borough’s horticulture. You can get in touch with him at dan@hackneyflowershow.org.