The Rookery

If you live in and work in London then you have probable heard of STREATHAM or St. Reatham as some ‘funny’ people call it and you probable have the usual sense of what it’s all about, and that probable boils down to nothing really really bad and nothing really really amazing, and that’s fair enough I s’pose, I’m mean it has a fairly a typical high street with a fab 99p shop, an Odeon, an ice rink, a bowling ally (oh no that’s gone) a go cart track, and a nice big green common, its own Festival! AND… THE ROOKERY! The what? THE ROOKERY! It is without doubt the shining jewel in lambath‘s otherwise rather tatty crown. Its a hidden place, so read on to have it secrets revealed.
To get to the rookery just head up to the top of Streatham common, make sure you just ignore the common for nice though it is, it is but a starter for a much much more impressive main course, as you head to the top veer toward the far right hand side path, it runs along side the boundary road. Eventually you will see a little café on your right, and then just past… some gates and through those gates almost entirely hidden from view lies a secret garden know as THE ROOKERY, with open grassy space magnificent old trees, winding shady paths, bubbling little streams, sundials and wishing wells all just waiting for a sunny and YOUR sense of adventure, if you have kids TAKE them, if you have a Camera TAKE it, if you have picnic basket/​blanket take them!
And just enjoy its many delights.
If the wonders of the walled garden do eventually fade fear not for there is yet more to this lost world, face up the hill looking at the row of benches and exit to the right of them and, straight ahead is a mysterious woodland just asking to be explored, or hang a left and head towards the free car parking area for a fabulous view toward central London. Then listen, and you will find your ears can hardly believe you are still just in plain –old-​STREATHEM.
Enjoy!
XJC
PS i have uploaded a few photographs I‘ve taken on my many visits to this fab place.