I entered Wanstead Park through the corridor that runs south of the Golf Club. Here’s there’s serious woods, with paths that wander naturally. Something it’s so rare to find in London. Further in the park opens out, and there’s a notice board. It turns out it’s officially part of Epping Forest. It’s also the remains of the gardens of a stately home, laid out 200 years ago, and is grade II listed. You can still see the artificial ponds, avenues and some of the buildings, including one used for events.

However the house is gone, and the rest is overgrown. No posh flower borders or manicured lawns. Instead the woods are nearly impenetrable and full of brambles and deadfalls. Heading north there’s an open grassy ride, and I found a small path turning off it and wandering through the woods. Though some of the deadfalls have been cut away, there’s still places you have to step over fallen trunks. I find it wonderful to get away from the manicured walks found in so many London parks, even the wilder ones such as Richmond and Hampstead Heath. Here nature really does seem to have claimed back some ground.

I’m sure many would like to see it returned to ‘former glory’, but I rather like it as it is.

On the webpage given one of the links, to a leaflet, is broken. The correct link is:

http://213.86.34.248/NR/rdonlyres /B0689AE5-87D4-4AC2-B3FB-6423E56D7988 /0/OS_EF_WansteadPark.pdf (take out gaps: added as otherwise it doesn't display)