Walk No.6 - Trent Park

Date: 17th January 2009.
Weather: Dry, sunny, uplifting
Length: Difficult to say, but we walked for about an hour and a half (probably about 4 miles).

Trent Park is in London Borough of Enfield. It is apparently a surviving remnant of the Royal Hunting Forest of Enfield Chase. It covers some 413 ha and includes stretches of woodland (such as beech and oak), open meadow, amenity grassland, an animal hospital (donations welcome), an assault course and cafe.

I think it is my favourite London park for a number of reasons:

1) It's in Zone 6 and I love the fact that I can be in Zone 6 within thirty minutes and by public transport (Cockfosters, Piccadilly Line, turn right out of the station and you're there).
2) It forms part of London's Green Belt. One of the most ancient and enduring planning policy designations and Trent Park Park is proof of it's importance.
3) It's a 'proper' Country Park - once you're in it you can forget about London and get lost in the long grassland.
4) It has a great cafe. Like my friend said today some of the 1970s signage in there would sell for a packet in Shoreditch! It also does a nice bap and cup of tea.
5) It has nice views into London particularly when you emerge from some of the deeper woodland areas.
6) It always reminds me of happy, sunny days and doing active things with friends.

The end of the line
But the start of something wonderful

The main park thoroughfare: STOP
LISTEN
Happy birds sing

A frozen pond
Up the hill
In and out the beech forest

A view to the east through beech boughs.
Emerging at the assault course.

Amicable chat
Companionable silence

Long cafe queue
Desperate for tea

A lottery ticket for baps
And a jolly nice bakewell tart.