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Post 12

Two small trees to the right of the path here are rowan, another tree that often forms the understorey underneath the larger oak, beech and hornbeam. In summer rowan is easily recognised by its pinnate leaves (that is, the leaves are divided into many smaller leaflets, see image below). Even in winter, rowan is recognisable by its purple buds with often profuse white hairs.



Rowan leaf image by Dinny Geeeyethree, Creative Commons licence

Just ahead a post marks where the London LOOP path leaves to the right accompanied by the Bentley Priory Circular Walk ‐ but we ignore this and continue ahead. Soon a series of three ponds appears to the left of the path . These were created in 2022 to improve the site for amphibians and other wildlife, in a project funded by Thames Water. Once again, as well as being good for nature, damming the streams provides a service for human residents downstream, preventing flooding at times of heavy rainfall. Aquatic and damp-loving plants have been planted around the margins of the new ponds, so please keep off to allow the plants to establish, and as noted earlier do not allow dogs into the water.

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