People often forget how many lovely parks and open spaces London has, even away from the centre.

Wanstead Park happens to be down the road from me and it has lovely bluebell woods.

Its also pretty clear on the bluebell code to protect the species.

Which I think is a good thing.

A little haven between the roar of the North Circular and the A102M.

The sun came out today and the weather was glorious.

So I went for a walk round near where I live.

I always forget what a leafy part of London it is.

En route I passed the two parish churches.

The one on the left is St Mary's built in 1787 to a classical design by Thomas Hardwick. It is grade 1 listed an has a virtually unaltered interior it is close to the site of the medieval parish church which was demolished.

The one on the right is Christ Church built after Wanstead became popular in the mid Victorian era with the building of what is now the Epping branch of the central line. The church was designed by George Gilbert Scott in the gothic style. It was built and expanded over the period 1860-1889.

I love church architecture, but I have yet to go inside either of these lovely buildings.

I went for a stroll in Wanstead Park earlier to look at the bluebells. The wood was carpeted with them but the light meant that the photographs weren't as good as I had hoped.

Wanstead Park has several artificial lakes and ponds from the days when it was the gardens of a large and imposing Palladian house. The house if long gone, demolished to pay off the creditors amassed by the errant husband of the final owner in 1822.

As we walked around the Ornamental Water with its twists, turns and islands we turned a corner to find a hawthorn standing on its own at the lake edge in full blossom.

Wanstead Park is managed by the City of London as part of Epping Forest. It's a lovely place to stroll or picnic and you can find out more here:

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_plan...

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanstead_Park

Last night I took the last eastbound central line train to Hainault via Newbury Park.

It seemed like a good idea.

After all I live out that direction.