Blocking Sandpits Road

The damage to the car tells one story and its position another. Obviously the collision did not happen where the car is now, as there is nothing there to collide with, so it was moved there which makes me wonder why it was left at that awkward angle severely restricting access to Sandpits Road.

Clearing the clearing

The management of Ham Common Woods is something of an issue due to costs which tends to means that little bits of work are done infrequently and only rarely is anything significant done. One of the recent little jobs was the clearing of the edges around the large clearing just to the south of Ham Gate Avenue more or less opposite Ormeley Lodge.

This is the south-west corner of the clearing.

 

A few trees were cut down to open the area up to more light and to give space to the other trees. My default position is to object to the removal of any tree but this seems like a reasonable decision.

What I am less impressed with the the thinning out of the section between the clearing and Ham Gate Avenue which has made the road, and all its traffic, very visible from the clearing and reducing its value as a place of restful nature.

Storm Eunice comes to Ham

Ashfield Close.

Petersham Road

Ham Common.

Craig Road.

Riverside Drive.

Filming on Ham Parade

Filming is not uncommon in Ham and while this can include celebrities or exotic features like horses, on this occasion it is just a lot of people in hi-vis jackets. The filming was something for BT Openreach and the team had been in Burnell Avenue before moving to Ham Parade.

Major works in Burnell Avenue

Once upon a time the houses on Burnell Avenue all looked the same then the owners started to build extensions in all directions and they look, to be honest, something of a mess. This house had avoided the extension epidemic until now and is catching up quickly with extensions to the front, side and roof, and removal of internal walls.

There is also a new building at the end of the garden. You cannot see it from this angle so I will try to take a photo that features it prominently. At least I now know that the builders down tools at midday for lunch so I can take photos then.

Sculpture

This sculpture is a familiar, and welcome, sight to anyone who walks along Ham Farm Road. I once, several years ago, went to an Art House Open Studios exhibition at that house so I am guessing that this work was created by the owner.

The house has a new owner now and there are plans to redevelop the house so the sculpture will probably go. I hope nor.

Road closed

The vans in the adjacent roads have Thames Water logos on them so I presume they are the ones that have closed this short section of Beaufort Road; that is Hardwicke Road on the left and Dukes Avenue ahead.

Clearing the pond

This is one of the toad ponds in Ham Common Woods and some of the small trees around it have been cut back to allow more light in to the area.

The Dog & Groom

I was intending to post this as a picture of changes underway at The Dog & Groom but then I discovered that I had, inexplicably, not posted a picture of it before so now it may be the only picture of it here before it goes.

Whatever happens to the shop, I hope the pink door goes.