Friday 4 January 2008

Westbere Copse - an idyllic spot worth pausing in...

Hidden away - it's not that hidden, but it naturally lies along Westbere Road - is Westbere Copse.

At one time the land was farmed, but in the 1860's the arrival of the Midland Railway changed the landscape for good.

Over the years the site has been used for a railway signal box, public toilets and allotments - but since 1988 it has been a local nature reserve.

There is a nice pathway through the site and it's great for photography of nature and especially to capture trees and leaves. It is laden with wildlife - especially bird, insects, frogs and foxes and has a lot of fungi and natural tree growths.

When I popped down there the other day - I pass the site a lot as I'm a governor at Hampstead School just along the road - there was a lovely big hedgehog negotiating the steps. It was a beautiful moment to pause and watch - a great part of North London...

No comments: