Keeping the Natural landscape at Avebury | Forum

Littlestone Dec 2, 2007 18:30:50

This is one of the best blogs I've ever read on TMA - http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/64709/weblog/ And among the many observations and fears this one caught my eye -

There was a time when you could walk up there along a narrow path, with a bank on one side, wildflowers existed and in particular I always noticed the little field pansy, so translucently delicate.

I used to love that little narrow path up to West Kennet Long Barrow; you had to go in single file, and there was something almost processional about it. I've taken lots of people up there who had never visited the barrow before and I would always say to them, as we climbed the path, "Don't look back yet." And then about halfway up I'd say OK, you can look back now, and they would turn and gasp at Silbury and the landscape spread out below.

Now the path's gone. The two fields that it once separated ploughed into one with some ghastly plastic path from the Kennet to the barrow.

What next to go in the Natural landscape at Avebury...?

starfury Dec 2, 2007 19:41:26

Replying to Littlestone

Probably a plastic path to Swallowhead springs......

Andy >>>>>>>--------------------------------

scubi63 Dec 2, 2007 20:03:11

Replying to Littlestone

Littlestone wrote:

I used to love that little narrow path up to West Kennet Long Barrow; you had to go in single file, and there was something almost processional about it.

Quite agree LS, twas a lovely blog and stired something within...
I remember the path too, lined with nettles and other plants in the summer and a muddy 'trench' in the winter.
One year (about 1990) it had snowed quite heavily and the whole path had been covered by a drift. The 'other half' at that time and I decided we would venture to WK and waded to the top through the deep snow. It took ages to get there with me making the first steps in the virgin snow and the G.F. following in them behind, but we were rewarded with a rare view of the landscape. We built a small snowman in front of the barrow and had the place to ourselves for a good while (we were still young at heart then).
Ahhhh those were ther days...as they say.

Avebury and its surrounds has changed dramatically since I first went there in the late 70's and I guess that it will continue to do so until it is either destroyed by man or by nature. It is still my favourite place to be but every year that view changes as more is done to attract and accomadate the tourists.