I’m currently trying to work out where I want to live in London.

It’s challenging to balance the important practical things, like affordability and ease of getting to work each day, with considerations like nice places to eat, a good local pub, a good supermarket and/or weekend market and a welcoming feel/vibe/Mabo.

Ideally I’ll be able to find somewhere close to a nice park. I’ve been spoiled for the past eight years living in Canberra, rightly described as the bush capital, and think that having some nature and serenity around will be good for the soul.

My friend, J, was pretty spot on when she said to me that London takes a lot of pride in its green spaces. Generally you can’t go too far without seeing a lovely park – Londoners can, and do, take refuge in these beautiful spaces. If it’s sunny you’ll see everyone out and about enjoying their local park with their friends, family and pets.

I was introduced to one such oasis a couple of weeks ago in Ipswich. Twice a week J and her little one do buggyfit (exercise incorporating a child in a pram/buggy) in Christchurch Park. While they were hardcoring it, I took the opportunity to go for a walk through the park and take it all in.

It’s a beautiful space, taking up 33 hectares in total. And it was the perfect time to explore… spring is slowly creeping out from where it’s been hiding during winter and is gracing us with its presence of new blooms, scurrying animals and more and more sunny days.

The winter dead tree guardians are still about, posing against breathtaking skies, and the contrasting daffodils sprouting up all around their bases is magical.

Here are some of my other favourite captures from the morning:

 

Lastly, I didn’t get photos of them, but in addition to the sights above I was lucky enough to see three squirrels (they are still a very cute novelty for me!) and two rats (random, but not really that exciting!).

Fingers crossed that I find a local oasis like Christchurch Park wherever I end up moving in to London!