High Elms Country Park

Posted on by Rhi Bowen

Hi again!

Last week I took the train down to Orpington to visit High Elms Country Park. This is the first time in the wild South London series that I’ve been somewhere that’s more than just a wild space with walking trails signposted, or a park; High Elms has a visitor centre and regularly runs educational workshops for kids.

Parts of the park were fairly busy when I went, and it’s also very popular with dog walkers- so it wasn’t the most remote place I’ve been! The whole place is very well signposted, and there’s a lot of varied woodland, as well as open spaces great for picnics and games.

The route I took began at Orpington station and took me through the suburbs of the town until I reached the village of Farnborough, which with its quaint cottages and beautiful little church is very picturesque.

The walk goes through the churchyard and out the back, into a wide open space with a stunning view of the hills of Kent. From this point on, it’s very well signposted.

There’s something really exciting about heading towards those hills; it feels like the start of an adventure! There’s then a walk through a piece of woodland, before you cross the road to enter the carpark of High Elms.

There are lots of different trails to follow through the woodland; I was in the mood for open spaces, so I was especially pleased to find this view at the top of a hill!

High Elms is evidently well cared-for, and a local gem for families and ramblers alike. It’s easy to access, with trains straight from Charing Cross and Cannon Street running regularly; and if you don’t fancy the walk through the suburbs that it takes to get to the park from Orpington station, the bus station is right outside, with buses running by the park entrance every ten minutes or so.

Next time I should be exploring deeper into Kent, taking a day trip to Shoreham! Hopefully the weather will improve in time for that…

Rhi xx

Kånken – the Swedish Spine Saving Backpack

Posted on by Tove Haavisto

My Kånken and I have been companions for a good few years now and it hasn’t let me down once. I bought it in my late teenage years, but growing up in Sweden, the iconic backpack has always been present – one way or another.

In the late 70’s statistics showed that 80% of the Swedish population had back problems, partially due to the not-so-very-ergonomic shoulder bags that were popular at the time. Experts and school nurses all over the country expressed their worry about the future of the school kids backs. And so, in swoops the founder of Fjallraven, Åke Nordin, and saves the day. Together with the Swedish Scout Association  he designed the back-saving Kånken.

Ya boy Åke Nordin.

With the weight distributed evenly on the shoulders, the spines of Swedish school kids were saved! Kånka means carrying something heavy so it comes to no surprise that a backpack called Kånken was made to do just that. And as well as being comfortable and ergonomic, it’s made from the super hard-wearing Vinylon F fabric and has got lots of handy features; such as pockets on the side, a reflective badge, and a seat pad for when you’re feeling like having a picnic in the forest.

The concept of having a seat pad in your backpack doesn’t seem to be much of a thing here in the UK,  but when I was a kid in playschool we would very often go on day trips to the woods, and we would never leave without the teachers making sure that each and everyone of us had a seat pad of our own to take on the trip. I still find this feature incredibly handy, the seat pad has saved me countless times from having to sit on the wet ground.

Ever since the launch of the backpack in 1978, the Kånken has been one to stir up many emotions. The eco-friendly and functional design made it popular among liberal thinkers, which made it a bit of a left wing symbol and inspired to the nickname “the communist pack”. I think this notion has been left behind today, but I grew up knowing a Kånken was definetly a synonym to being left wing.

The Kånken has been a popular choice for both children and adults since the start. Today, over
200 000 of the bags are sold every year. The design is still the same  – the only thing that’s really happened is that they’ve complemented it with a few more models (the Kånken Big, and the Kånken Laptop to name a few) and colours, so there is a Kånken suitable for everyone – whether you want a subtle Forest Green or a bright Burnt Orange.

My own Kånken

40 years later some of the first backpacks are still going strong. My own trusty Kånken is only 7 years old, but I know it’s got a long life ahead of itself. An example of this is my friends backpack, which she inherited from her grandmother  – purchased nearly 40 years ago! The reflective logo has worn off giving it a unique look, but it still stands the test.  The Kånken is really a backpack you can trust!

Check out our Kånken range here

puss och kram,

Tove

Save the Blue Heart of Europe

Posted on by Adam Charlesworth

May 24th we’ll be screening the documentary ‘Blue Heart’ in-store. The documentary, presented by Patagonia, is part of the ongoing campaign to protect the last free flowing rivers in Europe. If you want a much more detailed account, you should check out Patagonia’s latest blog post ‘The Dam Truth’ but the devastation of dams is well documented across multiple sites. Signing the petition stands with them, as well as the endangered species that cannot stand up for themselves. Ultimately, it puts immense pressure on banks and investors and stops them from commissioning the construction of more dams.

There are already over 6000 dams in Europe; Save the Blue Heart just wants to prevent a further 1500 dams being built on exhausted landscapes. Many reservoirs become unsafe for drinking water through contamination and the landscape around them, the capillaries of the earth, are left with nothing to feed it. Nothing to carry. In the UK alone, there are over 400 dams built and hydro-power has always been sold to us as a clean, renewable form of energy. The reality is the destruction of habitat and environment, as well as the displacement of people, have always been conveniently left out.

We stand behind the campaign because of the cause, and because of the dedication of those on the front lines and those bringing attention to it. It’s important to have a constant assessment of what’s good for us and the land we live on- it’s important to debate. In the search for alternatives there will always be good and bad; but dams aren’t anything new and have become rapidly popular since the 18th century. The issue is that they’ve been sold as clean energy when they’re far from it.

We hope the screening will enlighten us to people’s struggles, as well as inform us on the situation. Is there an alternative? If you take away one form of energy, surely there should be another? A quick search will show that both wind and solar power set-ups create more jobs, are less destructive to the environment and produce much less carbon contributing to climate change. Personally, I’d go with what’s better for the economy and for the air I have to breathe.

Check out the trailer below and if we don’t see you in-store then be sure to grab a copy of the documentary on itunes in August. There’s a link if you want to see what’s what’s happening: here.

 

 

Adios,
Adam

Joydens Wood, Bexley

Posted on by Rhi Bowen

Hi again!

 

Last week on the one day that really did feel like the beginning of spring (13 whole degrees!!), I went to Bexley to explore Joydens Wood, a piece of ancient woodland which has a long history stretching back to Roman times. Cared for by the Woodland Trust, there are multiple trails you can follow through the area. This is a lovely ramble; a couple of times I stopped just to listen to the sound of- well, pretty much nothing, other than the birds! The roar of London is only there in a very distant sense.

There are a few entrances to the Wood; the one I used took me down Stable Lane, just outside the village of Bexley. After you pass the stables, there is a gate on the left leading up into the woodland.

There are still traces of ancient human activity in the forest; including Faesten Dic, a boundary made up of a ditch and a raised bank, which runs through the woodland for about a kilometre. You can follow this as one of the trails, which are all really well sign-posted.

You could probably spend most of a day exploring the woodland- not only are there numerous trails to follow, there are also remnants of ancient settlements, such as The King’s Hollow, part of an old dwelling; also a well which would have been the area’s original drinking water source.

It’s very evident from the size of a lot of the trees just how old this woodland is; my favourite was the “Old Oak” towards the Summerhouse Drive entrance to the woods.

Another thing I noticed was how much wildlife there was about; the birdsong was so loud there, and there were squirrels absolutely everywhere!

Joydens Wood also forms part of a longer walk around the Bexley area which is fully outlined in the “London’s Parks & Countryside Pathfinder Guide“. This walk also involves a lovely stretch of the River Cray, which I’ll have to test out very soon!

Rhi xx

P.S. One thing I did find was that most of the trail I took was seriously muddy, so best to wear walking boots or an old pair of trainers you can stick in the wash afterwards!

 

Floating on Cloud Ridge nine.

Posted on by Jake Kenny

New for us this season is The Patagonia Cloud Ridge Jacket. It comes in a few colours but I’ve gone for the yellow, which is the perfect tone of an old cornish Fisherman’s jacket.

I’m moving on from my Patagonia Torrentshell which has been a real staple and has treated me well over the years. But, finally, it was time to move on as it has been worn to death and definitely had its day, I will be sending it back to Patagonia for their recycling program.

The Cloud Ridge is a 3 layer waterproof that is breathable and packable. It has a 100% recycled face fabric with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish, and the inside layer is also made from a recycled polyester which is comfortable on the skin even in heat and high humidity.

It also has a few other simple features such as microfleece on the back of the neck and chin for comfort, and the hood clips back and out of the way.

The main zip and the pockets are both watertight and the pockets are mesh-lined, which help to vent body heat if you keep them open.

For wet or humid conditions this is a perfect jacket for any outdoor activities, and with a down sweater underneath it was perfect for me when i was hiking in the snowy storms of Sweden too!

I have loved my Torrentshell so much and it’s the perfect companion if you’re looking for a basic jacket for out and about in the city or some basic wandering and cycling. But for me, as I am starting to do a lot more hiking and climbing I feel that the Cloud ridge has the comfort and features that will make my life all that easier when I’m out and about, regardless of I want to do.

The hood is adjustable and alpine helmet compatible and the classic P-6 logo stitched on the chest.

 All zips on the jacket are watertight.

Hook and loop cuff closures.

Check out the Patagonia Cloud Ridge Jacket on our site here.

Best wishes from the wilds of Sweden

Over and out

Jake

Hawkwood Estate, Chislehurst

Posted on by Rhi Bowen

Hey!

It’s been a long time, but I’ve finally gotten around to writing this post- a while ago, I went to visit the Hawkwood Estate in Chislehurst, having scanned Google Maps as per usual for big green spaces in Southeast London I somehow haven’t gotten round to exploring yet!

    

Chislehurst itself doesn’t feel like London- the moment you step off the train you seem to be breathing Kent’s air instead. Climb the hill to the left out of the station, and head across the cricket ground towards the village- it’s even got a pub called the Rambler’s Rest.

The part I was specifically heading for was up the road a way from the train station, past the also-lovely Chislehurst Common, which I’m fully intending on giving its own post at some point soon.

My favourite part of this walk is actually the beginning, as the buildings gradually peter out along Hawkwood Lane; once you’re past the two schools along this road, you reach what appears to be a cul-de-sac; but leading off to the left is a dirt track called Botany Bay Lane. Take this track and suddenly- BAM!- you’re completely and totally in the countryside.

        

The tree-lined track keeps pretty much straight on; there are a few other footpaths leading off it, which, again, I need to explore soon. There are some amazing views (and friendly sheep) along the track, and it’s generally pretty quiet save for a few dog-walkers (one of them even said hi, which I feel is pretty conclusive evidence that this wasn’t London!). Essentially you could ramble around the whole area for hours feeling like you’ve totally escaped from the city.

       

Hawkwood Lane then runs alongside the train tracks for a little while; after this point you can either cross the bridge into more woodland, or curl back around onto a boardwalk and find yourself in the Petts Wood conservation area; more recently I visited this in the snow with a Klean Kanteen full of coffee!

                    

Side note: there’s a bunch of pubs in the picture-postcard centre of the village; so if you happen to find yourself here in the cold weather that’s supposed to be making a comeback this weekend, there’s plenty of places to warm up!

Rhi xx

 

Chief Jim Hopper With the Patagonia Bivy Down look

Posted on by Jake Kenny

Stranger things, arguably one of the best tv shows of recent years.

While watching I feel there’s loads of Brokedown Palace style throughout with the ’80s nostalgia and middle American vibes.

But one scene in particular stood out to me of a look you could literally get from us..

Chief Jim Hopper In the final episode of season 2 rocks what looks very much like a Patagonia Bivy down jacket

If you wanna look like the chief and go drink some beers at the local. Maybe even try work out whats going on at Hawkins lab, you can grab it here…

 

Elmstead Woods

Posted on by Rhi Bowen

Hi again!

It’s a good bet that somewhere will be fairly lush and green when it’s got “woods” in its name.

Elmstead Woods is only 15 minutes from my house on the train but I’d never even heard of it before a couple of weeks ago.

Right from when you get off the train, you can tell you’re somewhere with a lot more trees per square metre than most of the city. It actually feels like Kent more than London- the air smells fresher and cleaner.

Even the station has greenery- there are ornamental gardens on the platforms which are maintained by a community group.

Access to the woodland itself is up the hill- turn left out of the station and keep walking until you get to a turnstile into the trees.

 

It stretches for longer on the map than in reality; the lower part that borders onto the outskirts of Bromley town is now (unfortunately for most people) a golf course.

The accessible area of the woods is beautiful, and there are multiple trails you can follow- it also makes up part of the Green Chain walk, like so many of the other places I’ve explored so far (one day I might even try and do the whole thing if I’m feeling particularly ambitious!)

Because of the time of year there was an added element of danger to this exploration- conkers! I nearly got whacked on the head countless times- the whole walk was punctuated by them thumping to the ground around me (I tried not to stop too often, especially not under big trees…)

It’s easy to immerse yourself in the woodland here- although there are trails to follow, there are no designated footpaths as such, and in most areas, not much undergrowth; so you can kind of wander in any direction you want. This time I ended up coming out the other side of the woods and getting the train back from Grove Park, the next station along the line.

My only advice for this one is maybe wear a hat if you’re here in the autumn. More adventures to come soon!

Rhi x

A Thames Fit To Swim

Posted on by Dee Dee

An urban hike on the banks of the Thames, with Patagonia, Proper Magazine and London Waterkeeper.

A Thames Fit To Swim

 

“In a bed, in a bed
by the waterside I will lay my head
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul”

Living on the banks of the Lea, rivers are close to my heart, and I see daily how polluted London’s rivers are. This first hand experience inspired me to become a founding-trustee of London Waterkeeper – an independent charity set up by  campaigner, Theo Thomas, to challenge polluters and defend rivers in the capital. We’re a member of Waterkeeper Alliance – the fastest-growing environmental movement for water in the world.

Last year we successfully applied to become a Patagonia environmental grantee, and they supported our Riversides campaign. This year we applied again, this time for our A Thames Fit To Swim campaign, and I’m excited to say that we’ve just been awarded the maximum grant of $10,000 USD. The good folks at Patagonia are not only funding us, but they’re also helping spread the word about the campaign.

The aim of A Thames Fit To Swim is for people to be able to safely swim in the Thames in London. It might seem like a dream to think that the general public could safely bathe in the Thames for recreation, but it’s been done in Copenhagen and we can do it here!

We want to see live bathing water quality updates, and swim zones between Putney Bridge and Hampton Court. There are times when the Thames is clean enough to swim in, and others when it’s not, but no one knows when they are. Without this knowledge, people who swim there are putting their health at risk. Raw sewage is still discharged into the Thames when our sewers overflow, and we have a right to know when this happens.

We met up with Patagonia and the guys from Proper Magazine to go on a Thames-side urban hike, so Theo could tell everyone more about the campaign. Our route took us past Richmond Park and Kew Gardens, and it was incredible to see how rural the scenery can be in the heart of the capital.

A Thames Fit To Swim
Theo collecting water samples. The froth (christened “crap-puccino” by Proper Mag Neil) could be sewage. We also saw sanitary products and other evidence of sewage.

A Thames Fit To Swim
Our Jake and Proper Mag Neil admiring the view.


Proper Mag’s photographer, Mark, has he spotted some rare wildlife?


Theo telling us about the history of Old Deer Park,  it takes its name from the hunting park created by James I in 1604.

A Thames Fit To Swim

No hike is complete without a pint and a burger at the end. The Express Tavern at Kew Bridge definitely ticks all the boxes and keeps you in that bucolic bubble for a wee while longer. I was especially happy with my bramble cider 🙂

Sign up to London Waterkeeper’s petition to ask Thames Water to tell us when its sewers overflow. 

Ladywell Fields

Posted on by Rhi Bowen

This is the first post in a bit, but I’ve been exploring wild spaces in South London again!

Ladywell Fields is spread across a fairly wide area, sprawling out between Lewisham Hospital and Ladywell Station. It was opened as a public park in the 1890s, although there are records in the Domesday Book of it being water meadows. “Ladywell” is a reference to a well in the area containing water that was supposed to have medicinal qualities (it was called “Our Lady’s Well”). The park is such a strange shape because areas of land were gradually bought up at the end of the Victorian era to make a public green space.

 

The Ravensbourne River runs through the whole park, which is an expanse of lush green meadows and trees. Although it’s lovely to ramble around, I mainly like it because it’s so calming to sit on the bench that faces onto the River just the other side of the train tracks. The sound of trickling water is really relaxing.

 

 

It’s great to have such a huge expanse of green so near to the centre of Lewisham. You’d never guess it’s so close to a busy town centre, other than the trains occasionally rushing past as they come through Ladywell.

Popular with cyclists and dogwalkers, the park also makes up part of the Waterlink Way, a South London cycle route that follows various rivers and streams throughout Lewisham, Bromley and Southwark.

More exploring to come soon!

Rhi x