Walking and Writing
We walk uphill across an open plateau which used to be a golf club. Richard smiles and says he likes the idea of a golf course turning back into a wilder terrain because this makes a change from tearing up fields to make golf courses. We hear jays cackling as we walk. Richard tells us a funny story about hearing a jay who sang and sounded like a snow shovel scrapped along the ground.
We stop at Nick’s view and survey the landscape laid out in front of us. Just visible at the blue haze of the horizon is Drax power station near Selby and Goole. Drax sounds like a villain from a James Bond film exerting power, aiming for world domination. Richard talks about how Drax is powered by wood pellets which are shipped from Canada to Hull. He gesticulates, drawing a line with his arm linking the trees around us to larger global systems,,transport and the timber trade.
Walking down the carriageway Jim tells us the history of this route which leads towards the Middleton Railway. Jim brings history to the present, recalling an incident in which a carriage carrying two young boys overturned. The boys were the sons of the owner of the Middleton Estate, one body was injured in the accident and the other was killed.
As we approach the north entrance to the park, Richard delves into his rucksack and brings out a copy of Keith Waterhouse’s book City Lights. He reads out a passage that refers to the spot we are standing on.
Back at the visitor centre several members of our walking group order cups of tea and cake. Richard hands out a collection of maps of the area as a writing prompt. Christine begins a short story about a detective Sergeant investigating a murder in the woods. Sarah reads out a ghost story that evokes Jim’s account of the carriageway accident. Lee’s story about a group of children rabbiting in the woods was based on his childhood experiences.
We stop at Nick’s view and survey the landscape laid out in front of us. Just visible at the blue haze of the horizon is Drax power station near Selby and Goole. Drax sounds like a villain from a James Bond film exerting power, aiming for world domination. Richard talks about how Drax is powered by wood pellets which are shipped from Canada to Hull. He gesticulates, drawing a line with his arm linking the trees around us to larger global systems,,transport and the timber trade.
Walking down the carriageway Jim tells us the history of this route which leads towards the Middleton Railway. Jim brings history to the present, recalling an incident in which a carriage carrying two young boys overturned. The boys were the sons of the owner of the Middleton Estate, one body was injured in the accident and the other was killed.
As we approach the north entrance to the park, Richard delves into his rucksack and brings out a copy of Keith Waterhouse’s book City Lights. He reads out a passage that refers to the spot we are standing on.
Back at the visitor centre several members of our walking group order cups of tea and cake. Richard hands out a collection of maps of the area as a writing prompt. Christine begins a short story about a detective Sergeant investigating a murder in the woods. Sarah reads out a ghost story that evokes Jim’s account of the carriageway accident. Lee’s story about a group of children rabbiting in the woods was based on his childhood experiences.
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| old sign from Middleton Golf Club |
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