Yay for Clissold Park

The first day of March felt very springlike--it was a perfect day for a walk around Clissold Park, just a few minutes' walk from home.

I can never resist the charms of spring crocuses, scattering their spring hellos:

Even the Clissold Park birds seemed happy to have the sun on their faces,

and there seemed to be a new resident in one of the enclosures:

After spending the autumn and winter completely covered with green sludge, the stretch of the New River that runs through Clissold Park has finally returned to its usual self.

I was reminded that we don't have to go far to see dates like "1563" posted over doorways--this photo is of St Mary's old church, whose grounds adjoin Clissold Park.

Speaking of dates, today was the first time I noticed this stone, marked with "1799," near one of the park entrances.

When I did a bit of searching online afterwards, I found out that Clissold Park started out as the landscaped grounds of a private mansion (which now houses the park café). The landscaping was completed between 1790 and 1799, and the grounds weren't converted into a park until 1889. So, perhaps the stone marks the completion date of the original landscaping? Stoke Newington Church Street was busy with people enjoying the sun, although, miraculously, there were still seats to be had at Spence Bakery, which is not usually the case.

Nothing like a bit of sun and a flipping over of the calendar to shake off that feeling of winter hibernation!