The great outdoors

THE VALLEY

Round the pleasant town of Petworth the farming methods leave much to be desired as regards wildlife.

The huge expanse of all crops resembles the prairies in a smaller way and the hedges have been torn out; for what - need or greed?

Scant regard, or rather none, for all the wildlife that uses the hedges as their habitation; after all, what's a few birds, they can go elsewhere; but there are not many elsewheres left!

But Petworth has a jewel in its crown; the valley known as the 'Shimmerings'; here the fields remain smaller with plenty of trees everywhere and all the wild life that goes with them.

There is a road that cuts the valley in half, with the traffic crawling up the hill like beetles, but silent; one can see them but not hear.

The only sound is the cattle lowing and in the spring the sound of myriad birds singing in praise of their world.

There are seats provided where one can sit and watch and wonder. Here one can really enjoy the view and peace of the valley. It is the sort of place one is reluctant to leave; it wraps itself around you and tomorrow never comes.

Let us hope and pray this valley will remain as it is for a very long time a place to wind one's cares down in a wondrous peace of mind.

by Syd Gray

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