Daily Yaffle: Brent Res to Fryent CP April 26th

Another pleasant spring day under lockdown so I decided to take a different walk starting at Brent Reservoir. I headed over the northern side and diagonally across West Hendon Playing Fields to the hedge on the western side. This marks the boundary between Barnet and Brent Councils and once through the hedge I stepped out into Silver Jubilee Park. Adjacent to Hendon Football Club are more playing fields and then a hill rises steeply up to Kingsbury Road. However I just cut straight across the fields towards the children's play area and then across Townsend Lane and into Elthorne Road.

The route starts at West Hendon Playing Fields

Cutting through the borough boundary hedge to Silver Jubilee Park

Silver Jubilee Park

Heading across towards the play area and Townsend Lane

At the other end of Elthorne Road is Church Lane Recreation Ground, an uninspiring green area that is mostly just mown grass. In winter time this is a popular hang out for Common Gulls but they've all left for their breeding grounds now so I just cut straight across here to Church Lane and then over the road into Slough Lane. This area is mostly 1930s suburbia with plenty of mock-tudor buildings, with a few more recent developments. At the T junction, Slough Lane bears right but you can just keep on going straight ahead down a tarmac path which then brings you into Fryent Country Park.

Entrance to Church Lane Recreation Ground

Over Church Lane to Slough Lane

Kingsbury Baptist Church built in 1931

Path towards Fryent CP

Entrance to Fryent CP

There are a myriad of paths across Fryent CP, I went straight up by the paddocks then turned right and explored the northeast section in an anti-clockwise direction. Blackcaps were singing from almost every hedge and I heard the rattle of a Lesser Whitethroat just beyond the paddocks which was a new bird for me at Fryent CP, which is probably just a reflection of how infrequently I come here. There were also Chiffchaffs, a few Common Whitethroats and one Willow Warbler singing.

Paddocks with Wembley's arch in the background

Pair of Ring-necked Parakeets, the male is feeding the female

The area is little changed since mediaeval times and a big shoutout goes to Brent Council and the Barn Hill Conservation Group for managing this place. It has a great network of footpaths and signs and even interpretation noticeboards which illustrate the old fields and hedgerows. There are many ponds in the area and I made a mental note to return on another day to look for dragonflies.

Looking west to Barn Hill

I wandered up to the top of Beane Hill which is 62 metres above sea-level and offers great views of the surrounding area. Across the road, Barn Hill is higher at 82 metres but is mostly surrounded by woodland so there are limited views. I then dropped down the hillside and crossed over Fryent Way to the west side. This is much more wooded and the birdlife reflects that as I saw several Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Nuthatch. There is a large pond at the top of Barn Hill which usually has a few loafing Mallard and I also saw a Moorhen but I didn't linger here as it was full of noisy dog-walkers and I was after a bit of peace and quiet so I explored the woods on the lower slopes.