It's easy enough to get to Colliers Wood. We started this walk with a row. I can't remember the genesis of it, and it had no lasting consequence. He declared that we must join the Wandle Trail at Colliers Wood. Take me there, then, I hissed. He didn't know how, by public transport.
Then we wanted coffee and a snack, and the only choice seemed to be the café at Sainsburys. (We had forgotten the existence of the William Morris pub).
We passed the Water Wheel at Merton Abbey Mills. I keep doing this, photographing water wheels to convey the motion, but this never comes across in stills photography.
Merton Abbey Mills is forever associated with William Morris, the Pre-Raphaelite textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist, and with Liberty & Co. There was a railway station there for a relatively brief period.
The day we walked was London Open Garden Squares day and Deen City Farm, which is usually open Tuesday to Sunday with free admission, had nevertheless laid on a special - not least by putting out signs inviting us in. We'd always passed by: it's a City farm, it's for kids.
We looked round their gardens, and looked at their animals, although many of my photos were not worth keeping sadly, they were mostly turkeys.
My absolute highlight was getting to stroke this tame owl, called Edna. I've never stroked an owl before!
We also watched some small children displaying their basic dressage skills
From the City Farm, the riverside path leads to Morden Hall Park, but first we must pass the tramline. At this point the trams go pretty fast - it's not like crossing them in central Croydon. You have to have your wits about you. I know, this photo would be better with an actual tram, but when you know another opportunity will arise another day who can be bothered to hang around!
We normally head along the path directly to the Mansion but for a change we took the path through the Wetlands. It's promoted as haven for wildlife, but I rarely see anything of interest anywhere. Too little patience and I've not trained myself to spot things!
We rejoin the main path by the stone bridge.
The heart of the park is busy, many people have a picnic or are snoozing or strolling in the sun. A dog plays in the river.
We follow the Wandle Trail through the Hay Meadow, looking glorious, and nearly impossible to photograph. It's only later that I realise we have been here many times and the Wandle Trail does not go along the Wandle, which meanders through a rose garden and arboretum. We don't join it again until we cross Morden Road and enter Ravensbury Park. Ravensbury Park includes a conventional municipal open space. The children's play area was audible although not intrusive. I'm sure it is invaluable in serving the local community.
But the Wandle Trail-ist stays close to the River Bank. I envy the people whose mundane suburban semis have gardens that fall down to the river. Some appreciate it more than others.
We are rarely far from reminders of the Wandle's industrial past or how the river was diverted to serve that industry.
We continue along the path and enter the tranquility that makes me love Ravensbury Park. For a few moments you are totally alone. The passers-by are few, and seem self-absorbed. Do they see what I see and try to photograph?
The coots are irresistable, if tricky to photograph.
Crossing London Road we achieved something we hadn't previously achieved - finding how we walk alongside the Wandle without trespassing into the Watermeads Nature Reserve, which is closed to the public. (I'm not frightfully bothered about 'trespass' but desperately want to respect 'Nature Reserve'). There is a narrow path running to the left of the car park at Tooting and Mitcham Football Ground. Radio Jackie were broadcasting live from the car park to a crowd of nearly dozens, and although I retain a fondness for Radio Jackie, I did think they were unnecessarily loud - perhaps audible throughout their entire catchment area without an intermediary transmitter to help. Also I pondered that a ground like T&M's lies empty for most of their time, with an average attendance of less than 200. The local council site does note that it has 'community and mixed sport facilities', nevertheless it does seem such a waste of space to see a sports ground not available for sports even on a fine spring Sunday. Wikipedia writes about the The KNK stadium/Imperial Fields:
The former Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Brentford training ground is adjacent to the River Wandle into which many footballs were lost over time.
For people who 'do' the Wandle Trail end-to-end, the area near the Watermeads is a favourite location to post photos saying LOOK, LONDON, INNIT. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? LONDON!
I am no exception!
It is a stunningly lovely place to walk. The greenery provides shade, the river is tranquil. Relatively few people walk along this path and the aroma is soothing. But it's really boring to photograph. I have looked through my photos from this gorgeous day out, including the ones I'm not blogging, and they're endless unstoppable green green green. The walker (stroller? saunterer?) in me is deeply grateful that south London is so green. The snapper, not so.
And we reach Poulter Park. No doubt a perfectly pleasant park, but the habitat of The Dog Couple. The woman sat on the lawn while the dog bounded around. The dog ran up to and threw itself at me, paws all over me. "Get that thing off me!" I said. The woman just sat their on her arse and with no conviction mumbled "Flopsy, here!" Flopsy ignored her and ran back and forth, attacking me twice more. It is entirely conceivable that I may have sworn when I said "You should keep that thing under control".
We returned to the Riverbank where we encountered the husband fishing - notwithstanding signs saying it was the Close Season - and sneeringly he said that the dog had never attacked anyone before so what was I worried about. Given that neither of them looked like they had ever walked a dog - or done anything that resembled exercise - in ten years (and I'm being kind) I don't know how he could possibly assert his dog was harmless. And its history was irrelevant - it had attacked me. No actual physical harm done, but I am far from alone in being quite terrified of stupid little lapdogs launching themselves at me. Scumbags seem to think they have some absolute right, and I have no rights, whereas I think they have some rights, but those rights do not infringe on my right not to be molested.
Fortunately, we soon encountered more ducks on the river.
The next stretch of the trail is a bit boring, as you are separated from the river by industrial units. We paused in a strangely deserted - and thus slightly intimidating Watercress Park - and took the Easterly fork of the divided river towards Hackbridge.
By now, we were not far from Wilderness Island and could have continued to Carshalton, but it's best to know when to call it a day, especially when you are near a bus stop, and a bus in due in less than ten minutes.
That bus took us to The Sun Pub. Decent enough pub for travellers wanting refreshment and one I wouldn't hesitate to use again when on the Trail. Decent ale and proper attention to non-alcoholic refreshment. I also liked the poster I saw on the door of the women's loos but was disappointed it didn't have an equivalent for the men's loos. I would like to see more, similar signs in other pubs, but would also like an environment where pubs don't need to state what should be basic common sense!
Merton Abbey Mills from Miss Immy's London
Morden Hall to Colliers Wood, Walk (part 3)Merton Abbey Mills and Colliers Wood - Urban 75
Environment Agency Report on Merton Abbey Mill
