Business Park to Croxley Moor

Bimble to Business Park, Croxley Moor and back. 

Lynda's Bimbles. What are 'bimbles'? Basically it means to walk or travel at a leisurely pace. I first heard my sister use it and liked it, so stole it and use it all the time. I bimble all the time, weather and health permitting (I have dodgy knees and a disruptive foot), but love walking, so just get on with it. And always with my camera for company. I do walk with friends - usually my brother Martin or friend Sue, but quite often on my own, as unfortunately they still work and I retired four years ago. Best thing I ever did. 

So, Lynda's Bimbles. Where shall we start. I intended to start this Blog earlier in the year, but had problems with the website and now I have several long and lovely walks under my belt that I don't know whether to write them up in order or just as they appeal to me. 

Perhaps I'll go back to April, when we had just gone into Lockdown, but were allowed out for 'exercise walks'. They were only supposed to be for an hour and at first and I kept to that. But later, if you could find somewhere a little off the beaten track where you weren't likely to bump into too many people, then I didn't see why they couldn't be extended. And I did. Extend them, that is. 

So .....

Business Park, Croxley Moor and back  - 11th April 2020

I live pretty much on the edge of town, though it is being encroached upon at a rate of knots. Every spare piece of land or every space created by the demolition of something, sees the rapid rise of tower blocks. It's easy to start feeling hemmed in, but there's still enough open countryside near me that I can reach and lose myself in. 

The Business Park is just a few minutes down the road and not like any old business park. It has the most well kept grounds I have ever come across. Apparently there is a small group of seven groundspeople who keep it looking immaculate and this was evident even in Lockdown. Between the shiny offices and units are small lakes, ponds, fountains, ornamental trees, flower beds and even a Japanese garden with pagoda and bridge. On this particular morning it was totally deserted. And do you remember back in April and May, those blues and greens of the most amazing Spring I for one have ever witnessed? And the silence. It has been said by many people since, but it truly was as if the world of humans stopped and Mother Earth heaved an enormous sigh of relief. I loved it. Rejoiced in it. Couldn't get enough of it .....

I wandered slowly around taking photos of the newly-planted flower beds until I reached the far end of the main road where, behind a hedge, there is a grassy path that leads to a gate and the gate opens onto Croxley Common Moor. 

I've known Croxley Moor all my life. It's history as common land goes way back and it's a local nature reserve, SSSI and open space criss-crossed by paths. In summer cattle are brought on to graze. It's borders are bounded by the business park, the River Gade and Grand Union Canal and the Ebury Way. The Ebury Way was once the Watford to Rickmansworth branch line, the tracks long since removed and now a very pleasant walk/cycle/jog. As kids we would walk the line to the moor, across to the canal and picnic. John Dickinson's paper mill was still there then and the canal not so bad that you couldn't swim it. I wouldn't now, but the Gade is great for paddling and for spotting herons and egrets. 

I made my way to my dead tree to check it was still standing and then continued across the moor, passed flowering blackthorn - so pretty and white - and yellow gorse, spotting a few rabbits along the way. The river Gade was very still and glass-like and I stood on the bridge gazing at the reflections of clouds in the water. From there I walked up to the bridge over the canal and then along the towpath beside Byewaters (the residential site that replaced the mill), stopping to look at the swans at their nest. The nest was becoming hidden by willow branches and it was difficult to see if there were any eggs. The pen was on the nest while the cob swam sedately nearby. 

The weir was my last stop; an overflow of the River Gade from the Canal and my favouritest little waterfall ever. I can't pass it without taking photos. 

And then home. Not the longest of walks; easily done in an hour, but enough to lift the uncertainties of Lockdown. 

~ oOo ~

For each of these walks I am going to add photos to the gallery. So please take a look.