King's Cross/St Pancras Development
Behind 56 acres of King’s Cross development, the Camley Street nature reserve observes a maniacal cacophony of crane, drill and truck with relative impunity. The social stigma of wasteland wilderness that has blighted both King and Saint is its salvation, for this is the London Wildlife Trust’s flagship site, which, by virtue of environmental status, has stood its ground against bulldozing levellers.
Nothing is sacrosanct however, and a new canal bridge entrance has planning approval, enabling pedestrian and cycle traffic to traverse from side to side. Rare and biodiverse wildlife thrives here probably because Camley Street only has a single, offbeat access which by its very nature, controls frequency of footfall. Thus there is resistance to the proposals but the pay-off is a new Visitor Centre and time will tell, too late perhaps, what effects a thoroughfare will have here.
waterworld
Meanwhile, amongst the tapestry of woodland, reedbed, pond and meadow, adults and children come to learn about ecosystems, identifying wildlife species and basic bushcraft whilst creatures and passers-by alike, enjoy all the amenities of a 2 acre rural habitat in the metropolis.
icy grip in the waterways
Some days though are deserted…Frozen in time and February, holding aquatic plants in a cryogenic grip, when gloved fingers stiffen and waterfowl swim half-heartedly beyond the shallows
ice textures on the meadow pond
when pond life lies locked beneath ice layers, rippled and textured like a cooled lava flow
wood consumed by ice and fire
And when it is even too cold to coppice the Hazel trees for fencing and dead hedging, then it’s ideal for collecting unusable wood, broken nest boxes and diseased hive combs for a cleansing conflagration. In a fire pit hollow, a spark of life is lit and bellowed with cold air, the smouldering tempted with tinder until a burning appetite roars for dead limb and timber stumps.
blowing hot and cold
Time for a fireside lunch of soup and some Aesop as one fable rises from the wayward smoke:-
One bitter winter, a man lost his way in a woodland. As he roamed about, he met a Satyr who offered him food and hospitality and a guided way out of the forest in the morning. So the two went along to the Satyr’s den. As they did so, the Man would raise both his hands to his mouth and blow on them. “What do you do that for?” said the Satyr. “My hands are numb with the cold,” said the Man, “and my breath warms them.”
Once they’d arrived at the den, the Satyr put a smoking dish of soup before him. But when the Man raised his spoon to his mouth he began blowing upon it. “And what do you do that for?” said the Satyr. “The soup is too hot, and my breath will cool it.”
“Out you go,” said the Satyr. “I will have nought to do with a man who can blow hot and cold with the same breath.” 1
And the moral is obvious but…those seeking consistency could be missing out on adaptability!
Coming up this week is a newer, replacement computer which means I shall be off the airways for a while but I wish you all a Happy Valentine’s Day and hope that Love blows your way, neither too hot nor too cold.
“What more miraculous thing may be told
that fire, which all thing melts, should harden ice:
and ice which is congealed with senseless cold,
should kindle fire by wonderful device?
Such is the pow’r of love in gentle mind
that it can alter all the course of kind” 2
Wonderful glimpse into a rural paradise and a visit with the thoughts of a very talented writer. See you on the far side of computer heaven…
Too bad about the encroachment into the natural site, but a visitor’s center is little reward. I have designed (at a firm with an architectural team) the architectural structures for three of these facilities on nature preserves, and it really is little consolation for all the foot traffic that comes to these areas. The building were called Interpretive Centers, and I did my best to site them and and have them meld into there surroundings, but in the end it is the people that visit, so many of them. I loved your look at fire and ice in images. What a great dichotomy.
Donna read my post..The Niagara Falls Garden Magazine for GGW and GBBD
Marvellous, and as for the man lost in the woodland! a tale for one to recall.
Alistair read my post..The Tender Trap
http://www.intaka.co.za/island.php
We mean to go here. It is the heart of Century City, with Canal Walk shopping mall. Altho there has been a huge amount of building, the seasonal pans now support birdlife in peace. The visitor centre provides education. Ultimately nature is better off if the land is not seen as a convenient place to dump garbage. Or build yet another …
On the other hand, we are still fighting the battle of Chapman’s Peak, with an activist on a hunger strike. Again hot and cold!
Elephant’s Eye read my post..My tree
looks lovely Diana. Hot and cold issues is recognising the importance of this ‘green’ site and then allowing a thoroughfare. More people = noise, litter, anti social behaviour
Laura – I’ve kept a book of Aesop’s fables from when I was a child, I don’t know the one you quoted though. Thanks for explaining the moral, because I wouldn’t have guessed it. I thought maybe “everything’s relative”.
The Ice & Fire picture is incredible, it’s like an optical illusion. I can’t figure it out – wasn’t there water under the sheet of ice ?
b-a-g read my post..Thanks (10 FEB 2012)
a photoshopped illusion b-a-g, where fire image has been overlaid on ice
Reminds me of molten toffee
- nice to be so appreciated Judith. Fingers crossed I make it back after tomorrow
- spot on Donna, its the sheer scale of visitor numbers that are likely to have a detrimental effect
- an apt fireside tale for cold days Alistair
These small wild places, in the midst of any metropolis, are so important. It really is a shame to disturb such a site at all. I hope they can achieve access with the minimum of impact, but I’m sure there’ll be some price to pay. Clearly I’m more Satyr than adaptable by nature
Curbstone Valley Farm read my post..The Goat Shed – Part II
Fascinating post. It must be an interesting place–whether the weather is inviting or not. I love your photoshopped image–definitely elicits interesting emotions. Well done.
PlantPostings read my post..To attract a gardener, grab a rake
Lovely thoughts there at the end and a Happy Valentine’s Day to you…It is sad that we feel the need to continue to encroach on the wild lands…I do hope it does not have an adverse effect!
Donna@Gardens Eye View read my post..The White Garden Revealed
Many’s the time I have sat on a train heading north out of London from King’s Cross. I had no idea there was a nature reserve there. I love the fable! Hadn’t heard that one before.
more likely to see it entering/leaving St Pancras on HS1, Janice
- bit of a pyromaniac’s take on Valentine, Beth
- Donna@GEV, and if only things were always changed for the better
What a fabulous habitat to have hidden away in the middle of London, I do hope the extra access doesn’t wreck it. I love that last image – and thank you for the burst of Aesop. Hope your migration to your new computer goes smoothly! It always takes so much longer than one thinks, but oh the joy of having a new, faster toy to play with!
Janet/Plantaliscious read my post..Adjusting Expectations
Janet, the plans for extra access look like a cut through thoroughfare
Happy Valentines Day. Loved the fable. Good luck with your new computer.
Carolyn @ Carolyns Shade Gardens read my post..February GBBD: New Hellebores for 2012
It is a nice place to visit. Hope you had a wonderful Valentine. I look forward to more of your beautiful posts in the future, now that you have a new computer.
Autumn Belle read my post..My DIY Home Garden in Malaysia – February 2012
I think wildlife areas sited deep in cities are special simply because of the contrast with their surroundings – and the fact they have not been covered in concrete. While parks and gardens are welcome they do not have quite the same magic.
easygardener read my post..Blooming Friday – Old fashioned
the contrast with surrounding ‘civilisation’ is what makes this wilderness so special,
- thank you Carolyn & AB, it’s so good to now have a computer that reacts rather than just cogitates
I hope the new canal bridge opens the consciousness of those who pass by to the ecosystem of the nature reserve and to its fragile beauty. It looks like a beautiful place.