The bright and breezy day seemed to contribute to the rural feel of this pond, designed by people and set in the busy heart of the city of London. Construction is everywhere with tall, brand- new towers alongside skeletons of those still growing.

The sound of pneumatic drills, diggers and lifts escalating surround the island of water, plants and trees. The water is cooling and pale green jade, in the sunny atmosphere, and the gentle ripples of the breeze that catch the surface. At one side the reeds that purify the water stand tall and blot out the building activity at the low water level of the swimmer.

The pool is naturalistic in design and the planting turns the concrete desert into an oasis of relative calm. Dragonflies dart to and fro and hover overhead and between the grass stalks. Under the water level, the sound echoes like water splashing into a bucket, as it laps against the sides of the pool. The earthy taste reminds me of the pool at Hampstead Heath, which works under a similar principle of natural filtration and purification.

It is therapeutic to stretch out, wallow and wriggle in the water, and almost forget where I am.