I feel truly privileged to live in this part of Worcestershire – the trees are especially beautiful, not only at this time of year but all year round.
But like any vegetation, they need care and occasional attention. Yet when was the last time any tree along the roadside was trimmed by Bromsgrove council?
One cannot pass along any of the rural or major roads in the Bromsgrove area without the feeling that a catastrophe is there in waiting, as the trees get heavier and the overhanging branches more precarious.
In many places, the branches encroach on the road so much that any vehicle higher or wider than a family car is already in peril. Money may be tight, but I cannot help thinking that with all the income the government gets from the motorist, we deserve at least a safe right of passage?
Surely, the best way to minimise cost is to stay on top of all types of maintenance – little and often? The whole national infrastructure (road, rail, property) has a serious whiff of neglect and decay – or is it just me?
On another matter: I wonder if any Village reader can enlighten me as to the cause of a strange event recently.
Our house on Ten Ashes Lane (Cofton Hackett) has Cofton Park 200 meters to the rear, and uninterrupted views of the Lickey forest to the front. I am unfortunate to be a bit of an insomniac, though. This has led to an unusual sight or two this year in the depths of night.
At precisely 01.42am on Wednesday May 23, around ten minutes of (quite spectacular) fireworks were evident on the top of the Lickey forest hill. There is no carpark at that point. No dwelling. No immediately obvious reason for anyone to be there. I cannot think who/how/why…
It led me to recall a similar unexplained event some weeks previously in 2018, although I did not note the date or time. From a similar point, slightly deeper downhill into the forest, a very bright light shone for about 10 or 15 minutes.
It was a bright as a car headlamp, but only a single light – and seemingly quite still. Curiouser and curiouser. Anyone know the reason(s) behind these phenomena?
Julian Cobbledick, Cofton Hackett