Green space
Friday, 8th May 2009 by JulieWe’re really lucky here in London to have a number of parks and open spaces available. One of the more unusual ones that happens to be just a short bus-ride away from us is the Barnes Wetland Centre. (Formerly the site of the Barn Elms Reservoirs before they decided they didn’t need them any more.)
Jon and I visited it with some friends for the first time last month, and had a thoroughly good day out.
Barnes Wetland Centre as seen by satellite on Google Maps
Jon (21m) striding along in his reins and red wellies
As it happened, Jon was just getting the hang of proper “long-distance” walking when we went on this excursion, so it was his first Big walk outside. In reins, which proved very handy when he tottered straight over to the nearest pond for a closer look!
The bit that I most appreciated was after our picnic lunch when we headed over to the 3-storey octagonal hide they call the Peacock Tower. This is sited on the southern edge of the expanse of grazing marsh and lagoon to the north.
We went up to the top floor viewing area where half a dozen people were quietly bird-spotting from the many windows, and stayed for maybe half an hour.
During that time, Jon lay peacefully in his pushchair (the idea was that he would fall asleep) watching the watchers, while I leaned on a window-ledge and drank in the extraordinarily tranquil view.
A slice of green and pleasant land to soothe the soul…
Marshland to the west and three of the Highland coos that provide natural grass maintenance
