Still walking...

...Remember a while back I told you I had been filling the time between when I leave the office I work in and when I collect MrEH from his train by going for a walk several days of the week? Well I'm still doing this, and as a result am constantly looking for new routes to walk round. Thankfully we've got some nice bits of surprisingly open countryside locally to where my work is based, so as well as the lake I mentioned previously this week I've been exploring a bit of heathland/woodland. Do you want to keep me company? it's always nice to have someone to chat to as you walk...

We start off by heading along one of those rather nice Victorian roads that you get sometimes in this bit of London. This one is quite a mix of very posh and rather more modest houses, but so many of them have wonderful original features to look at as you pass, and the majority obviously take a real pride in their gardens too - there are some beautiful ones ranging from chic little courtyard style efforts to beautiful overgrown cottage garden affairs. Spotted this rather pretty pink plant flowering away merrily in one, look...

...just a bit further now - we reach the end of the road, turn left and then look - this is what we have to walk round...

...apologies, is IS a bit grey and overcast looking today, I know. Plenty to look at though and hopefully we won't get TOO damp walking round. Oh look - there's the promise of summer loveliness to come over there - elderflowers!

Might have to pick some of those once they are fully out - MrEH fancies making some more Elderflower Cordial I know, and these are far enough away from any passing traffic that pollution won't be an issue - how wonderful! Those aren't the only things flowering either - look over there...

...Wild Roses - so pretty and delicate in colour!

Now I'd not realised but this area official forms part of the Corporation of London's Epping Forest - and apparently they have set up lots of "walking trails" all named after the trees commonly found in the individual area of the woodland they they are in - I found this sign telling me all about it...

...I know each and every one of these areas, and several of them might possibly make good alternative after-work walks for me too so I might have to investigate those. For now though we've got the rest of THIS walk to finish, so come on, let's step out before the rain starts in earnest!

One more patch of colour to look at before we've done - and what a lovely bright colour it is too...

Is it Gorse, you say? No, although I can see why you'd think so (and until recently I probably would have done, too!) - this is Broom, and when you look at a slightly wider angle photo you can see where it gets it name, look...

I hope you enjoyed our walk - it's just under 3 miles by the time we get back to the car so that's a good bit of exercise for the end of a working day isn't it!

Robyn

Ps - In case you want to find out more about where we've been walking - it's got its own website HERE with a bit more information and some links.