ABBEY WOODS
BEXLEYHEATH, KENT
JUNE 19 2008
"Hi Pete, Jason here. How's it hanging? Good good.
Listen, this Abbey Woods proposal, yeah it's in my tray right now. I know, I know, those bloody green welly tree huggers are at it again, trying to put a spanner in the works. Round them all up and shoot them all I say.
Oh it should be a formality really, the papers have been received by the planning monkeys and hands are being greased as we speak. I've spoken to several of the councillors and got them on my side, amazing what the lure of a shiny new car will do to make people see things my way. Ha ha
What? Yes, I know, I don't see what all the fuss is about either. Just a bunch of boring trees and a green chain walk for old farts to walk their dogs, amateur cameramen and young lovers trying to cop off! Just wasted land that could be used for a housing estate.
Anyway, it's in the bag. The public consultation meeting is a week thursday, let the plebs blow off some steam, for all the good it'll do 'em. It'll get the green light mate, for sure. A years time and there will be a new town rising from the ashes.
Trust me Pete, I'm also working on the Oxleas Wood proposal as well, a lovely three lane highway coming right the way through the centre real soon. In fact they head hunted me for this one.
OK, mate. Love to Jackie and the kids. I'll take you out for a meal on the filthy dosh I'm gonna make on this deal. Speak to you soon"
| camera | NIKON D300 |
| exposure mode | shutter priority |
| shutterspeed | 1/80s |
| aperture | f/4.5 |
| sensitivity | ISO200 |
| focal length | 22.0mm |
| resolution | 1600x1063 pixels |
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BEAUTY Vs CORRUPTION
ABBEY WOODS BEXLEYHEATH, KENT JUNE 19 2008
"Hi Pete, Jason here. How's it hanging? Good good. Listen, this Abbey Woods proposal, yeah it's in my tray right now. I know, I know, those bloody green welly tree huggers are at it again, trying to put a spanner in the works. Round them all up and shoot them all I say. Oh it should be a formality really, the papers have been received by the planning monkeys and hands are being greased as we speak. I've spoken to several of the councillors and got them on my side, amazing what the lure of a shiny new car will do to make people see things my way. Ha ha What? Yes, I know, I don't see what all the fuss is about either. Just a bunch of boring trees and a green chain walk for old farts to walk their dogs, amateur cameramen and young lovers trying to cop off! Just wasted land that could be used for a housing estate. Anyway, it's in the bag. The public consultation meeting is a week thursday, let the plebs blow off some steam, for all the good it'll do 'em. It'll get the green light mate, for sure. A years time and there will be a new town rising from the ashes. Trust me Pete, I'm also working on the Oxleas Wood proposal as well, a lovely three lane highway coming right the way through the centre real soon. In fact they head hunted me for this one. OK, mate. Love to Jackie and the kids. I'll take you out for a meal on the filthy dosh I'm gonna make on this deal. Speak to you soon"
comments (22)
A very unusually cynical anecdote from you, Paul...do you really think the "planner" are so crass that they would allow such a rare and beautiful place as this to suffer death by 1000 bulldozer thrusts?
It is a beautiful picture.
FLOOG: Good morning Ray, Oh no, 'cynical' has become a way of life in the UK! Ha ha..
Oxleas Wood is under threat of being dug up already, with reports stating that various sections could be used for housing projects! A new road is planned to come through soon, and this will eventually encroach upon Abbey Woods. And Greenwich Park is to under threat of being closed for a whole year to public enjoyment so that it can be turned into an Equestrian centre for the Olympics! If the planners over here have their way, most of our woodlands will be bulldozed in the name of housing needs and progress! In my town, they're continually knocking down fabulous 1930's houses and building low level but multi occupant flats..... Off to work now, have a good day and many thanks for commenting
SIGH! I sure hope you're wrong, Paul!!! What a tragedy if this does not remain like this forever!
FLOOG: Hi Ginnie. I agree. Sadly I think it's just a matter of time before bits of this beautiful woodland are snatched.
It's beautiful and such a fine capture.
FLOOG: Hi Sherri, many thanks
I'm for climbing up those trees in protest to you proposals. With my green wellies to boot Jasons you know what
FLOOG: Good morning Scotia, many thanks.
Paul, this could be a translated conversation from somebody from Holland, a few years back, a lot of people lived in trees for weeks to prevent from cutting down the Forrest to make place for AWACS-planes for Germany.......they cut the woods any way....and now they say.....erm...erm....small mistake...it was not necessary.....
I just read they re-planted some new trees. http://www.nu.nl/news/668020/12/Inwoners_Schinveld_eisen_vertrek_AWACS_(video).html BTW, great picture.....
FLOOG: Hi Astrid, yes it's a worldwide insanity, I'm afraid. Many thanks for your comments.
Ray has pre-empted my words as I read your story ... I was thinking ''Paul you dyed in the wool old cynic you''
;-) richard
FLOOG: Hi Richard, ha ha... yes t'is true. But sadly it will happen one day soon, mark my words!
A tragedy to lose such beauty. What a beautiful place.
FLOOG: Hello Helen, yes it is stunningly beautiful, and a place I have spent so many hours walkng and enjoying the scenery, for so many years.
Many thanks for taking the time to visit and comment
This is a tragedy to think that such a wonderful place could disappear Paul.
Beautiful picture!
FLOOG: Good afternoon, Richard. It's happening all the time over here now. First the small open spaces go, then the childrens play areas and bulldozed for housing estates, and tiny token asphalted areas made for the kids to play in... then there are the plans for ripping up the wooded areas and greenbelt land.
I could weep with despair at times, for mankind is truly greedy and dumb!
I like the falling of the sunlight through the trees
FLOOG: Hi Chantal, and many thanks. It was a wonderful day.
I like these types of woods great photo.
FLOOG: Good afternoon, Vintage (and I didn't even call you Bill today!! LOL)
Yes, you and me both. I spend so many happy hours here just walking, thinking and snapping away with the camera. I'm really fortunate to have them literally two minutes away from my door step.
Find some rare newts or something, quick! The morons are on the march. They'll call he housing estate Abbey woods and preserve 3 trees and build a play area with nice safe rubber matting. There will be a Tesco express and an estate agents.
FLOOG: Bill, you've put it most succinctly, sir. It's already happened in some of my childhood haunts. Many thanks for commenting
Back to Memory Lane! Isn't this where we used to pick bluebells every spring? The area under the trees was a carpet of blue, and we were only allowed to pick from the edges.
Your story made me want to cry - its all so true, not just there, but here in Spain too. I suppose money talks best all round the world. I could be getting on my soapbox now...........
FLOOG: Hi Sheila, oh those greased palms, indeed. Beaurocracy and money rules this beautiful planet.
Beautiful image of these glorious trees. Hope your wrong.
FLOOG: Thanks, Aussie. Yes I hope I am wrong too, but I think in a matter of years/decades, there will be no wooded areas left. Everything will be asigned to housing for the ever expanding population!
Beautiful location. I like the shadows and the light.
FLOOG: Hi Cako, and many thanks for commenting
oh yes for sure sorry but corruption will win everytime if there is big bucks involved
FLOOG: Good evening Tim, many thanks. Yes you are right, corruption is the order of the day.
Obviously somebody is spending too much time picking up around this forest. Why not let the tree fall if its time has come?
FLOOG: Funnily enough, I sawed the tree down Martin as I couldn't get the shot I wanted..LOL
Actually, you raise a valid point. In most cases over here in Blighty they do tend to allow the trees that have fallen, to remain in place and let nature run it's course. This particular one had fallen across a main pathway and probably because of health and safety regulations (Arghhh!), they had to move it!
A story and an image...there's always more than what we "see." Which is a shame.
FLOOG: Hi Alexandra, yes that is so true.
There's also the history element here. So many of the wooded lands in the South were frequented by Henry VIII and others kings and Queens, the history is real and intoxicating. We are slowly allowing our history and heritage to be destroyed, placed in glass bozex and exhibited in museums. Myself, I prefer to walk amongst the history.
Were these woods originally planted by royalty - guessing by the abbey name it could be monks as well. Pity when places like these have to make way for progress.
But it could be worse - you could have lived in Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai hiding in the dutch embassy, more than 60 women and children removed from MDC offices, hands of MDC supporters chopped off so they can't vote etc etc. My president believes in silent diplomacy - or just ignoring democracy. Whichever. The story could have read: "Hi Robert, Thabo here. How are they hanging? Good good ... etc etc"
FLOOG: An excellent comment, Louis. And naturally, I wholeheartedly agree with you, it could 'always' be worse.
With so many attrocities being carried out all over the world, cars about woodlands might seem a little trivial, But I still care passionately about losing my history, and heritage. The woods were originally the open land surrounding Lesnes Abbey, built around 1178 and the history around them is lengthy and significant. I walk in the footsteps of kings, as they say. Many thanks for taking the time to comment.
It's ironic that for such an amazing capture there is a sad story behind it. I mentioned in another blog that we need to worry for our unborn childrens..what would they think of their forefathers
FLOOG: Absolutely, Ade.
I bet your imaginary conversation isn't too far from the truth at times Paul, sad to say. On the picture front a very nice little piece of England.
FLOOG: Many thanks, Brian
I do hope that this is said in jest but knowing the lunatics that run this country and local government, I fear it may not be!
Sad, but true. How much longer we have a Green and Pleasant Land remains to be seen.
FLOOG: Hi JT, yes I tend to enjoy everytrhing for the now, because I honestly believe that most of the good things that we have, will be taken from us within the next few decades.
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