Solitude

London’s parks are one of the many joys of living in this great city. And Battersea Park across the road from us is a green riverside gem with beautiful planting, quiet lake and pleasant walks. It is, I am glad to say, relatively unknown to visitors, despite the many Art and cultural fairs and festivals that take place there.

On a bright cold winter’s day Battersea Park is deserted but for local joggers and well wrapped-up walkers like me. This Saturday I disconnected from my computer and left my mob at home to spend a quiet morning of solitude, walking its delightful tree lined Thames-side pathway from the Albert Bridge to Chelsea Bridge and back.

I stopped awhile at the beautiful golden Buddhist Peace Temple in the centre. It was cold day beneath a bright blue sky and the world was still. London's bustle was forgotten here. There was snow underfoot so I didn’t pause for long in the sub-zero temperature, but came away refreshed by the stillness and the solitude. 

The trees surrounding the park’s quiet lake are the flourishing home to one of London’s many heronries. When this cold spell is over, I shall enjoy time away from my typewriter and mobile again to visit the lake and watch the activity in the noisy colony. Herons are such silent, elegant birds when adult, but the hatched chicks keep up a steady squawking din with an incessant  chack chack chack for their food.


Sadly, many chicks will not live if this winter weather continues much longer. Perhaps only one in five will survive to leave Battersea Park as an adult.