As many a Rambler will tell you, the pleasures of a church can often be as intense outside as in, where the gentle hum of bees & trill of birdsong owe their presence to a peaceful churchyard.
In this age of vast garden centres & expensive "features ", the un-sung heroic volunteers of these beautiful green spaces are ignored, and yet gaze ye upon their handiwork. Can the modern lawn owner not learn from their modest means, plying the ground with the most basic of tools, shared, kept, passed down the generations, like surnames in a parish register?
Ramblers have long appreciated such relics of the common man (and lady), coming across them as they do in their diligent investigations, and at times have celebrated them in their own right. The Bugle archives contain many a yellowing memory of fine traditions, which the privations of war brought to a sad end.
One such was The Great Home Counties Watering Can Relay, where history, motoring and eco-friendly sportsmanship came together, in spectacular style.
So as the threat of summer drought looms large over the promise of a rich green summer, methought this little memento from the back-catalogue may help some reconsider their gardening vices.
 |
| A Fine Specimen - Dougie Womptoncroft with his Great Home Counties winner, July 1927 |
After all, were there not many centuries of fine green sward before some money-grubby tradesmen invented hose pipes and lawn sprinklers?! My father's gardeners were up with the lark & out with their watering cans, as it should be, world without end, you idle, simpering, one-click & you're bored - no no, sorry, sorry! I'm at the end of… oh, god, look, better just enjoy the pictures… Phew. Breathe…
