Folly Brook facts for kids
Folly Brook is a small stream, about 3.6 kilometers (2.25 miles) long, located in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a tributary, which means it's a smaller stream that flows into a larger one. Folly Brook flows into Dollis Brook, which then joins the River Brent. The River Brent eventually flows into the famous River Thames.
Along most of its path, Folly Brook is surrounded by thin areas of trees and bushes. These areas have many different kinds of trees and shrubs. The brook is also a great home for tiny water creatures called aquatic invertebrates. These include different types of caddis flies and stoneflies. Finding these creatures is a good sign because they only live in very clean, unpolluted water.
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Journey of Folly Brook
The Upper Part of the Brook
Folly Brook starts near the bottom of Highwood Hill in Mill Hill. From there, it flows east through open fields and public green spaces. It continues its journey until it reaches Woodside Park.
The section of the brook from Highwood Hill to Darland's Lake Nature Reserve goes through private land. This means people cannot usually visit this part. However, there is a short path through Folly Farm where you can see the brook.
Darland's Lake was first made as a decorative lake by building a dam across the brook. Today, this lake and the woods around it are a special nature reserve.
The Lower Part of the Brook
The lower part of Folly Brook is open for everyone to enjoy. This section starts from Darland's Lake and goes through Folly Brook Valley. It ends where Folly Brook meets Dollis Brook.
You can find a walking path next to the brook near the Darland's noticeboard, just east of the lake. This path leads you through woods and then into grassy areas. These grasslands are between Burtonhole Lane and Pasture, and the Woodridge Nature Reserve. Here, another small stream called Burtonhole Brook joins Folly Brook.
After this, Folly Brook flows under Southover. It then meets Dollis Brook not far from Woodside Park Underground station. This connection links it to the Dollis Valley Greenwalk, a popular walking route.
Folly Brook and Darland's Lake Nature Reserve are very important for nature. They are recognized as a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade I. This means they are among the most important places for wildlife in the area.
Historical Boundary
Before 1965, Folly Brook served as an important boundary line. It separated two different local areas, called boroughs. To the south was the Municipal Borough of Hendon, and to the north was Totteridge.
Hendon was part of a larger county called Middlesex. Totteridge was part of Hertfordshire. So, Folly Brook was also the border between these two counties.
