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| An ice way to enjoy the Heath
this Christmas |
Get your skates on and head to Hampstead
Heath for the new Christmas ice-rink writes Roisin Gadelrab
Children from the nearby Holly Lodge estate enjoy a night
on the ice |
KEEN to join the bandwagon of the new crop of expert winter skaters
I had to check out the latest addition to Hampstead Heath.
I may not have the skills to go with it but I’m sure I cut
a convincing figure as I teetered across Parliament Hill’s
first ever Christmas Ice Rink, complete with authentic, if wobbly
pirouettes.
As the days get shorter and the Christmas lights are put on earlier,
the rink is transformed into a genuine Winter Wonderland.
Being the first person to have the privilege of gliding gracelessly
across the 860m square arena, which opened on December 3, I was
reminded of chocolate box images of Victorian skaters braving the
natural frozen ponds of yesteryear.
The last time people went safely skating on Hampstead Heath was
during the big chill of 1962. Four inches of snow fell on Boxing
day and then, on December 30, another 10 inches coated the capital.
It was the start of two months of sub-zero temperatures – and
plenty of winter sports on the Heath.
This Christmas you don’t have to keep your fingers crossed
for the temperature to plummet sufficiently that its not dicing
with danger to take to the ice.
The Heath guardians the Corporation of London (CoL) have teamed
up with ice rink company PWR Events to install an arena on the Parliament
Hill tennis courts: and after being open for two weeks, it has been
an immense success.
PWR have set up these rinks in some of the most picturesque places.
They have put rinks at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, at Hampton
Court and in the moat of the Tower of London, so it seemed natural
to find room for one on Hampstead Heath.
Around the rink is a viewing area serving mulled wine and hot chocolate,
and other cafés in the area have reported a surge in business.
Steaming mugs of creamy Belgian hot chocolate, mince pies and mulled
wine all add to the magic as does the carols piped out on to the
ice music – which will change after Christmas for all those
suffering from festive music overkill.
The knowledge you’re slipping your feet into brand new skates
is also a luxury that can only be appreciated by visitors to municipal
rinks and bowling alleys where the condition of your footwear is
a long-suffered lottery.
But above all, the rink has allowed Heath visitors to finish off
their daily constitutionals with a sport that is increasing in popularity:
and with the success being judged on numbers of skaters on the ice,
it seems a Christmas ice rink will be back against next year.
• Hampstead Heath Ice Rink at Parliament Hill Fields runs from
10am to 10pm until January 15 (except Christmas Day). Tickets can
be bought online at Ticketmaster, by phone on 0870 060 1762 or in
person at the Ice Rink box office from Saturday. £9.50 an
hour for adults. £7 for children. |
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