A lovely Autumn Day and, after a great deal of ruminating over maps, David and I set off to Ruislip Woods in Hillingdon – what a treat! Made up of a number of areas – Park Wood, Copse Wood, Mad Bess Wood, Young Wood, Poor’s Field – Ruislip Woods is a fragment of the formerly extensive Ruislip Park, at one time comparable to Enfield Chase. Ruislip Woods chiefly comprises oak standards and hornbeam coppice, which are rare now, and Ruislip has perhaps the best example of the type surviving. Beautiful in the autumn dappled sunlight. Round and through the woods are wonderful bridle paths too… if I could have borrowed a horse today, I would have done!
After the woodlands, one comes to Poor’s Field, a remnant of Ruislip Common and a registered common land on which cattle gaze unperturbed by walkers and cyclists passing by.
Within the site is Ruislip Lido, formed from a lake originally made in 1811 as a feeder to the Grand Junction Canal. This is now a wonderful “breathing space” with play and picnic areas, a 2.5Km running trail, an (artificial) beach for people and, yet, a Beach designated for Dogs!
The whole area passed into public ownership in 1932-38. A core part of Ruislip Woods is a National Nature Reserve and SSSI. A 100-year Long Term Management Plan was adopted in 1982 so hopefully this area is saved for nature, pleasure and enjoyment for many years to come.
See my pictures which will be posted to the Breathing London Website soon. I plan to go back to Hillingdon next week (12th October) to explore the part of the Celandine Walks along the River Pill. See here for more information: http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=8718
