By Joan Pring
safety@mo-ra.co
21 October, 2021
F
or the last few years the National Trust has gone back in time in the way it conducts its management of Morden Hall Park’s meadowlands, by harrowing in February and then cutting and raking for baling in late Summer to enable the dispersal and regeneration of wild flower seeds. It has proved that, from all aspects, this method of employing heavy horses with the old fashioned machinery is the best and most efficient way for maintaining its conservation efforts. Importantly also, the more use there is of ‘heavy horse power’ the more it prevents these old breeds dying out. I understand that the two beautiful Shires above were on loan from Hampton Court.
An oasis for a tranquil walk in South East London, the fact that the estate around Morden Hall is also part of the (River) ‘Wandle Trail’ is very evident as the picturesque channels of the frequently fast flowing river wend their way around the Park, crossed by various footbridges. The Wandle has a fascinating past and history of its own by supporting many different industries, in the form of working water mills, through the centuries by providing natural water power along its route to the Thames.
It was, in 1805, described and quoted as ‘the hardest worked river for its size in the world’. Particularly during the 1700s, when snuff-taking became popular, there was an emergence of snuff mills, not the least at Morden Hall where the old snuff mill is still in situ, although now converted into a Learning Centre.
It does rather beg the question as to why examples of bygone usage of hydro power aren’t more obviously considered in this day and age, particularly with the concern of climate change.
Not to be missed on a visit to the Park are the welcoming café and the very well organised second-hand bookshop, both of which are in the Park’s old stable yard.
The Park, which is free to enter, is easily reached by public transport as the tram for Wimbledon also stops at Phipps Bridge directly outside an entrance point.
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