Geograph - photograph every grid square

View north, not far from Roehampton Gate.

Pollarding work is traditionally carried out in the winter months, and a number of willows along this stretch of the brook were dealt with during the winter of 2014-15. Curiously, a start seems to have been made on the tree in the foreground but the job has then been left unfinished.

In the past pollarding would have yielded an economically useful crop - material to be used in hurdle- or basket-making. These days regular pollarding lessens the risk of willows blowing over in high winds - and also helps maintain a traditional feature of the landscape.

Richmond Park is a National Nature Reserve.