Misty morning

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness" said Keats ... and there it was, the morning mist, perfect for a short walk before the world got busy. I wended my way through the streets - and rediscovered the Parkland Walk -

It's known locally as The Old Railway, running along the discontinued line between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace -

Since being declared a local nature reserve in 1990, it's been rejuvenated, signposted, maintained -and "of course" grafitti'd. It runs over roads and under roads, with some high and open spaces -

but is mostly sunken into cuttings and enclosed by trees -

In half an hour I encountered 4 walkers (all men, most on the way to somewhere), 8 dog-walkers (all women), 10 cyclists, and 21 joggers. The blackberries have been well picked, with incursions into the bramble jungle well stamped down to allow access. Traffic noise is distant; there is birdsong. There is a patch of rare acid grassland, a sort of mini site of scientific interest -

How could anyone forget having this pleasure path almost on their doorstep?