Some random and (mostly) rhyming observations on the Forest of Dean

The Forest starts near Sedbury,

And goes almost up to Ledbury

With half a million trees in between

This convenient little rhyme

Inspires a Forest trip through time

And provides some local observations for this week’s Forest theme.

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This historical doggerel was inspired by the adventures of Sir John Wintour, a prominent local Iron works owner and leader of the royalist forces against the Roundheads in the 1640s. The Roundheads were led by Colonel Massie, and these two military leaders chased each other up and down the River Severn and burned each others’ churches during the English Civil War:

Wye Oh Wye

A famous cavalier in a forest full of deer

Became perforce a mountaineer

For when the Roundheads were asleep

He escaped down Wintours Leap

Sliding down that cliff side steep

Descending to the River Wye

Where the rescue boat lay by

Which took him safe away

To live another day

To recover from the splashdown

In which he did not drown

And to carry on the losing battle for the crown.

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And further observations on some places in the Forest:

The Sad Demise of the Birds of Prey Centre at Newent

The famous birds at Newent,

They now have all gone truant

These fearsome birds of prey

Have spread their wings and flown away

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Outrageous Aspersions on the People of Ruardean

In Ruardean, I wouldn’t dare,

To idly ask ‘Who killed the bear?’

To ask that question please for-bear

This nasty little rumour

Does not promote good humour

It is time this insult ended

For the very much offended

Gentle people of the serene

Bear-friendly place called Ruardean

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From my Parkend Days

There is a house in Moseley Green

They call the Rising Sun

And it’s been the ruin of many a poor boy

And Lord I know I’m one

(With apologies to the Animals, a north-eastern pop group of the 1960s)