St James's Park
This isn't something you expect to see in the middle of London: an idyllic country dwelling. But here it is - Duck Island Cottage, which can be seen across the lake.
Duck Island Cottage in Summer
Follow the path from here around the lake and it is possible to walk right up to the cottage and to find an English country garden with vegetable beds and flowers, all grown organically.
Duck Island Cottage Garden
And nearby there is a waterfall with water lilies floating in a rock pool, surrounded by stones and ferns.
The waterfall
Then, an even more surprising sight: tropical plants, thriving here in the city, kept damp even in the middle of a summer heatwave by the underground springs here.
A tropical garden
On the other side of the lake, there is another tropical garden. The area is South facing but it is shady. And so the plants here are what would be found in the the understory of rainforests.
Tropical plants in the shade
And a little way from here, on a grassy mound, a collection of Mulberry trees, dating back to King James I in the 1600s. He had them planted here so that silk worms could be fed their leaves - hoping to begin silk weaving here in England.
Mulberry Trees on the Mound
There is so much history to discover here. This was once marshland, then laid out as formal gardens in the French style with straight lines and sharp angles. Later it was changed to more natural look with meandering paths where cows grazed - until the railways arrived, fresh milk for Londoners meant that cattle were kept close by.
And now, even in the middle of winter it is a place to visit to discover nature and to enjoy its micro climate - it is one of the warmest spots in the British Isles.
Reed beds sway along the edges of the water and provides a habitat for damsel and dragonflies that will reappear in the warmer months.
The lake in winter
At dusk, bats can be seen flitting around - they love to be near water and even in the coldest months there are insects aplenty around the park for them to eat their fill. Tree trunks are left to decay by the side of the lake, a home for insects on which so many of the wildlife of the park depend.
A home for insects
Even on a dull winter day there is colour and brightness in the park.
Winter Colour
Nature and history come together here to make exploring this park a pleasure. And now it is time to look forward and think of how the future can be, with more sustainable planting and plans to maintain and improve the environment for us and those who will come after.
Hyde Park Corner, Green Park and St James's Park underground stations on the map of North and Central London
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