Asteys Row Rock Gardens, Islington, London

Another part of the old New River that has been turned into a pleasant little strip of park. The end nearest Angel features an ‘installation’: the pavement has contour lines and words in it, talking about water, which become more visible when wet with rain. This end also has some lovely plantings.

In common with most parks along this route it features grey layered rocks (sedimentary in fact), which give it a Japanese feel. In keeping with the name the ones here are quite impressive, and in places you are walking through mini gorges. The planting does quickly lapse and gives way to bare soil under the trees. But it’s still nice: many of the trees are lovely willows, and there’s splashes of green from ferns.

It’s very tempting to sit on the rocks, but do check them carefully. One I plonked my bag on turned out to be covered in giant bugs, and my bag is now decorated with red splotches where some of them burst as I brushed them off…