Turkey Brook rises near the Fir and Pond Woods 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...

 near Potters Bar

Potters Bar

Potters Bar is a town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire, England, located north of Central London. In 2001 it had a population of 21,618....

, 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...

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Etymology

The brook named from the street which is recorded as Tokestreete 1441, Tuckhey strete 1610, Tuckey street 1615, Turkey street 1805, probably 'street of houses (i.e hamlet) associated with a family called Toke(y) from Middle English

Middle English

Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....

 strete.

The modern form of the name Turkey, not in use before the 19th century, is no doubt due to folk etymology.

Watercourse

The brook flows in an easterly direction and is joined by other streams including Cuffley Brook

Cuffley Brook

Cuffley Brook is a tributary of the River Lea in Hertfordshire, England.Cuffley Brook is one of the longest brook tributaries of the Lea, forming from Grimes Brook north west of Cuffley, Northaw Brook south-west of Cuffley, snaking for several miles through the south-east Hertfordshire hills past...

, Cattlegate Brook and the Small River Lea

Small River Lea

Small River Lea is a minor tributary of the River Lea, which flows through the Lee Valley Park between Cheshunt and Enfield Lock. It forms part of the Turnford and Cheshunt Pits Site of Special Scientific Interest as it flows through the River Lee Country Park.- Course :The river leaves the Old...

. Along its course it flows through Cuffley

Cuffley

Cuffley is a village in the Welwyn Hatfield district of south-east Hertfordshire located between Cheshunt and Potters Bar. It has a population of just over 4,000 people. Politically, Cuffley is part of Broxbourne Constituency in the House of Commons, and sends a Councillor to Hertfordshire County...

, Crews Hill Golf Club, Clay Hill

Clay Hill, London

Clay Hill is a small area of Enfield, London, England. It is located to the north of Enfield Town. Mainly a residential area which almost borders Crews Hill to the north and forms part of London's Green Belt...

, Whitewebbs Park, Forty Hill

Forty Hill

Forty Hill is a largely residential suburb in the north of the London Borough of Enfield, England. To the north is Bulls Cross, to the south Enfield Town, to the west Clay Hill, and to the east Enfield Highway.- Etymology :...

 and Albany Park

Enfield Wash

Enfield Wash is an area in the London Borough of Enfield, North London. It is approximately located in the area either side of Hertford Road between Turkey Street and Albany Road.- Etymology :...

 before merging with the River Lee Navigation

River Lee Navigation

The Lee Navigation is a canalised river incorporating the River Lea . Its course runs from Hertford Castle Weir all the way to the River Thames at Bow Creek. The first lock of the navigation is Hertford Lock the last being Bow Locks....

 below Enfield Lock

Enfield Lock

Enfield Lock is an area in the London Borough of Enfield, North London. It is approximately located east of the Hertford Road between Turkey Street and the Holmesdale Tunnel overpass, to the River Lee Navigation, including the Enfield Island Village. The locality gains its name from the lock on the...

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Also see: http://www.perimeter.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/turk/index.htm

Ecology

The brook is mostly shallow, fast flowing and clean and can support wildlife. Coarse fish

Coarse fishing

Coarse fishing is a term used in the United Kingdom and Ireland for angling for coarse fish, which are those types of freshwater fish other than game fish . The sport and the techniques used are particularly popular in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe.-History:The term "coarse fishing"...

 including dace

Common dace

The common dace , also known as the dace or the Eurasian dace, is a fresh- or brackish-water fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. It is an inhabitant of the rivers and streams of Europe north of the Alps as well as in Asia. It is most abundant in France and Germany, and has also spread to...

 use the brook to spawn

Spawn (biology)

Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...

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