A Walk Along the Folly Brook to Darlands
A walk on the wild side
On 10 October 2009 Derek Warren led a walk along the Folly Brook to
the Darlands Nature Reserve. Setting out from Woodside Park station
the walk traced the Dollis Brook to the confluence of the Dollis and
Folly Brooks before taking the path along the northern bank of the
latter.
The group setting out along the Folly Brook in search of Darland Lake
A Nature Reserve Revisited
As a former warden of Darlands Nature Reserve, Derek was familiar
with every foot of the walk. In his usual informed way he pointed
out bird calls, trees and plants on the way. We saw the rare Wild
Service Tree and the Cut Leaf Alder, heard longtailed tits, crows,
robins and parakeets. Red winter berries were much in evidence. Wildfowl
on the lake were a little disappointing - to pairs of teal and a moorhen
or two. (The exotic wildlife – Hobbies, Sparrow Hawks, Muntjac
and Grass Snakes were not in evidence.)
Derek explained how there were plans to expand the nature reserve
in the near future and it is understood that there are plans for the
Darlands Lake Nature Reserve to be managed by the Hertfordshire &
Middlesex Wildlife Trust once again. .
The boathouse had rotted away, and could not in any case have served
its purpose, as the lake is silting up and has retreated by several
yards. Apart from some patches of slippery mud, going was easy, and
I shall certainly add this walk to my list of regulars and follow
some of the many paths that intersect the route. To see some photos
taken on this walk, click on the thumbnails below. For more details
about the Reserve, click on http://wildweb.london.gov.uk/wildweb/PublicSiteViewFull.do?pictureno=1&siteid=5970
.
Last updated 11 October 2009