By: Blonde Two
Dartmoor, like ogres and onions, has layers.
In fact for me, the charm is in the layers and I am not talking about rock here (although the geology is fascinating). No, on Dartmoor, what charms me most is the impact that man (and maybe woman) has had on the landscape.
In our time of shrinking countryside, it is perhaps a relief to think that a landscape can be ‘used’ (and I mean this to sound derogatory) yet still, in the end be beautiful. I read a while back that modern houses are only built to last eighty years; maybe one day our housing estates will crumble and nature will again take full rein.
If you sit atop most Dartmoor tors, you will see arrayed before you, layers of man’s impact. A tinners’ hut, a leat, a stone row, ponies, the lack of forest. To me, these are all things of beauty, they are all part of the wonder and interest of Dartmoor. We have, some would suggest, already ruined this natural landscape; but surely we have also helped to save it?
This weekend’s wander with Mr B2 proved my point, I had some things of beauty that I wanted to show him, every single one was man made.
80 years? Some near here were built two years ago and already have problems!
This crumbling away reminds me of one of the Planet of the Apes films – forget which – when the hero comes upon the remains of the Statue of Liberty right at the end and realises mankind had, finally, destroyed their own civilisation.
Layers in onions and Darmoor I understand but “Ogres”? I thought they were basically hideous child-eating monsters. I don’t get the reference but then I am a bear of very liatttle brain.
I post these trivial comments on blogs mainly so that blogmeisters/meisterinnen know that their hard work is appreciated and they are not just voices posting in the wilderness.
I’m afraid it’s probably your age Strider. The ‘Ogres’ reference was from the film Shrek. Shrek is trying to explain to the girl he loves that ogres are not just green, scary creatures.
Blonde2, you are probably right -I’m well past my sell-by date.
Keep up the good work.
Quite possibly, but like ogres, you almost certainly have layers!
We will!
Brick does degrade over time. especially modern mass produced bricks. Stone lasts forever, vide Stonehenge, York Minster. If you are looking to buy a house, buy a stone one.