I wrote the other day about finding a little haven of peace in the midst of the bustling town centre at Hertford.  Arguably, it’s easier to do that in a country town than in the middle of a huge city like London.  But we sometimes forget that London is one of the greenest cities in the world, with lots of large open spaces and parks, each with their own individual features and character.

But for me, finding a moment’s interaction with nature (and perhaps an intriguing image too!) need not be about visiting a large open space.  Sometimes, just a single plant or animal can be an interesting or inspiring sight, even more so perhaps when it is thriving in a busy, noisy and overwhelming urban setting.

Mayfair is a beautiful area of London, but is nonetheless very urban with brick buildings towering above you, the drone of cars negotiating the sometimes narrow residential streets, and the bustle of shoppers.  So this little pollarded tree, stretching its branches skywards, seemed to me to be quietly proclaiming its presence in the city.

Tree in Mayfair