Take the Piccadilly tube line direction east, to the last stop. Cockfosters. (or the 2nd to last stop Oakwood). Explore the 169ha Trent Park.In the 14th century it was part of Enfield chase, a woodland and royal deer park, and a favoured hunting ground of Henry IV. Prior to this it had been an enormous woodland forest.
In 1777 it was divided between various authorites. The area that became Trent Park was given to Dr Richard Jebb by George the III as a reward for saving the life of his brother the Duke of Gloucester at Trento.
During the second world war the park was used as a prison for German generals and staff officers. Given special treatment including rations of whisky, walks in the park and rooms with hidden microphones giving the British military much useful information.
Today it is a public park and campus for Middlesex University.
The graceful dance on stage was not repeated by these akward and far from graceful swans on the frozen lake yesterday.