Folly Brook
Encyclopedia
Folly Brook is a 2¼ mile (3.6 km) long brook
in the London Borough of Barnet
. It is a tributary of Dollis Brook
, which is a tributary of the River Brent
, which is a tributary of the River Thames
.
Folly Brook rises near the bottom of Highwood Hill, Mill Hill
, and flows east through fields and public open spaces to Woodside Park
. The water quality of the brook is very good, especially in its upper reaches. It is lined for most of its length by narrow strips of woodland and scrub, with a good variety of trees and shrubs.
From Highwood Hill to Darland's Lake Nature Reserve
, the brook passes through private land which is not open to public access, apart from a short section next to a footpath through Folly Farm. Darland's Lake was originally ornamental, created by damming the brook, but the lake and surrounding woods are now managed as a nature reserve.
There is a footpath along Folly Brook from Darland's Lake to Dollis Brook
. This path starts close to the Darland's noticeboard east of the lake, and follows the brook through woods to grassland between Burtonhole Lane and Pasture
and Woodridge Nature Reserve
, where it is joined by its tributary, Burtonhole Brook. It then crosses Southover Way to meet Dollis Brook not far from Woodside Park tube station
, connecting it with the Dollis Valley Greenwalk
.
Folly Brook and Darland's Lake Nature Reserve are a Local Nature Reserve
, Borough Grade 1.
The brook marks the boundary between the ancient parishes of Hendon
to the south and Totteridge
to the north. Until 1965 Hendon was in Middlesex
and Totteridge in Hertfordshire
, and the brook was thus also the boundary between the two counties.
Brook
-Places:*In the United Kingdom:**Brook, New Forest, Hampshire**Brook, Test Valley, Hampshire**Brook, Isle of Wight**Brook, Kent**Brook, Surrey**Brook, Carmarthenshire*In the United States:**Brook, Indiana-People:...
in the London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 331,500 and covers . It borders Hertfordshire to the north and five other London boroughs: Harrow and Brent to the west, Camden and Haringey to the south-east and Enfield to the...
. It is a tributary of Dollis Brook
Dollis Brook
Dollis Brook runs through the London Borough of Barnet in North London. It is a tributary of the River Brent, which is itself a tributary of the River Thames. The Dollis Valley Greenwalk follows almost all of Dollis Brook, apart from a short section at the beginning which passes through private...
, which is a tributary of the River Brent
River Brent
The Brent is a river within Greater London which is a tributary of the River Thames. It is 17.9 miles long, running north-east to south-west, and it joins the Thames on the Tideway at Brentford, Hounslow.- Hydronymy and etymology :...
, which is a tributary of the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
.
Folly Brook rises near the bottom of Highwood Hill, Mill Hill
Mill Hill
Mill Hill is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a suburb situated 9 miles north west of Charing Cross. Mill Hill was in the historic county of Middlesex until it was absorbed by London...
, and flows east through fields and public open spaces to Woodside Park
Woodside Park
Woodside Park is a suburban residential development in the London Borough of Barnet, in postal district N12.It is very varied in character. The area to the east of the tube station consists predominantly of large Victorian and Edwardian houses, many of which have been converted into flats...
. The water quality of the brook is very good, especially in its upper reaches. It is lined for most of its length by narrow strips of woodland and scrub, with a good variety of trees and shrubs.
From Highwood Hill to Darland's Lake Nature Reserve
Darland's Lake Nature Reserve
Darland's Lake Nature Reserve is a nature reserve south of Totteridge Village in Barnet, England. It is owned by the London Borough of Barnet and was managed from 1971 by the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, and more recently by the borough council...
, the brook passes through private land which is not open to public access, apart from a short section next to a footpath through Folly Farm. Darland's Lake was originally ornamental, created by damming the brook, but the lake and surrounding woods are now managed as a nature reserve.
There is a footpath along Folly Brook from Darland's Lake to Dollis Brook
Dollis Brook
Dollis Brook runs through the London Borough of Barnet in North London. It is a tributary of the River Brent, which is itself a tributary of the River Thames. The Dollis Valley Greenwalk follows almost all of Dollis Brook, apart from a short section at the beginning which passes through private...
. This path starts close to the Darland's noticeboard east of the lake, and follows the brook through woods to grassland between Burtonhole Lane and Pasture
Burtonhole Lane and Pasture
Burtonhole Lane and Pasture is an 8.5 hectare Local Nature Reserve, Borough Grade II, between Mill Hill and Woodside Park in the London Borough of Barnet. It consists of Burtonhole Lane between Partingdale Lane and Burtonhole Close, two fields east of the Lane, and a narrow belt of privately owned...
and Woodridge Nature Reserve
Woodridge Nature Reserve
Woodridge Nature Reserve is a small Local Nature Reserve in Woodside Park, London, owned and managed by the London Borough of Barnet. It was designed as a nature trail for local primary schools, but is now very neglected....
, where it is joined by its tributary, Burtonhole Brook. It then crosses Southover Way to meet Dollis Brook not far from Woodside Park tube station
Woodside Park tube station
Woodside Park tube station is a London Underground station in Woodside Park, north London.The station is on the High Barnet branch of the Northern line, between West Finchley and Totteridge and Whetstone stations, and in Travelcard Zone 4...
, connecting it with the Dollis Valley Greenwalk
Dollis Valley Greenwalk
The Dollis Valley Greenwalk is a long distance footpath in the London Borough of Barnet between Moat Mount Nature Reserve in Mill Hill and Hampstead Heath. The route is designed to act as a link between the Capital Ring and the London Loop,and between the many green spaces and wildlife corridors...
.
Folly Brook and Darland's Lake Nature Reserve are a Local Nature Reserve
Local Nature Reserve
Local nature reserve or LNR is a designation for nature reserves in the United Kingdom. The designation has its origin in the recommendations of the Wild Life Conservation Special Committee which established the framework for nature conservation in the United Kingdom and suggested a national suite...
, Borough Grade 1.
The brook marks the boundary between the ancient parishes of Hendon
Hendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
to the south and Totteridge
Totteridge
Totteridge is an area of the London Borough of Barnet in north London, England. It is a mixture of suburban development and open land situated 8.20 miles north north-west of Charing Cross....
to the north. Until 1965 Hendon was in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
and Totteridge in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, and the brook was thus also the boundary between the two counties.