Wild in the city

How fantastic! After six years in south-east London we've finally found unspoilt woodland that is easily accessible by train from our station (with only one quick change a few stops down the line). It's really liberating as we struggle living in the city sometimes with no way of quick escape when the roads are choked up. We don't own a car, but even when we hire one it can take an hour to get out of the city.

Box Hill is an area of scientific interest due to the amount of British flora and fauna (especially insects) and the box trees that grow on the chalk cliff. The woodland is magical and the views from the top of the hill are amazing. The wild garlic was blooming and butterflies were flittering around (40 of the 58 species of British butterfly can be found at Box Hill). We past some wonderful houses at the foot of the hill (what a great place to live!) and there is a strong Bronze Age connection here, too, with burial mounds at the peak.