Adlestrop
Yes, I remember Adlestrop -- The name, because one afternoon Of heat the express-train drew up there Unwontedly. It was late June.
The steam hissed. Someone cleared his throat. No one left and no one came On the bare platform. What I saw Was Adlestrop -- only the name
And willows, willow-herb, and grass, And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry, No whit less still and lonely fair Than the high cloudlets in the sky.
And for that minute a blackbird sang Close by, and round him, mistier, Farther and farther, all the birds Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.
A lovely poem. I am a member of Cheltenham racecourse and travel through the Cotswolds to the meetings on winter days. As I pass Adlestrop I always think of this poem and it makes me happy.
To find out how to manage your garden for wildlife - blackbirds included - visit our Homes for Wildlife pages.
Mark I don't think you realise farmers have been on a treadmill of lower prices or at least not going up with inflation so have to produce more to stand still.Suggest you look back fifty years or whatever you like and see how many minutes one had to work to buy a product and compare with today you will see how poorly average working farmer is paid.absolutely certain RSPB could not buy dairy farm and make a profit of reasonable amount without ignoring most conservation methods and Farmers first priority is to his family.Try making profit and conservation on 20 pence a litre.Really RSPB needs to consult with farmers and listen and help rather than continual criticism.Ref about June 20th about Defra and MAFF.