CHARM OF ENGLAND

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 64, 8 December 1937, Page 12

CHARM OF ENGLAND

Hastings Resident Impressed with Scenery UiNSPOILED COUNTRYSIDE "The charm of England lies in its green grass, profusion of trees, winding picturesque streams, and wonderful Mstorical associations, such as very Bmall villages, old ruins, some of which have associations that go back hundreds of years," said Mr. W.. Brinsley, registrar of the Hastings Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, last evening when interviewed regarding Ms recent trip abroad. Mr. and Mrs. Brinsley spefit over seveu months on their trip and covered some 4000 or more miles in their motor tour of the provinces of counties of the Old Country and were greatly impressed with the beauty of tbe countryside. "I don't like making comparisons, but really we have despoiled our countryside to a great extent in New Zealand, and, whereas here we can go quite long j,ourneys without seeing any trees, apaxt from willows, or clumps of bush, you cannot motor about the OldCountry without viewing beautiful bush or scenery," said Mr. Brinsley. "Why even the moors in the Old Country have an attraction of their own and you do not get the barren effect that is obtained', for example on the run from Taupo." A prominent feature of the countryside scenery in England was the use made of trees as part of the hedges along country lanes. Though well acquainted with the countryside in the north of England, Mr. and Mrs. Brinsley spent a considerable portion of the tour in the southeru counties and went as far as Land's End. What impressed them greatly was the fact that, though tar-sealed roads were provided, everywhere every care had been taken t0 ensure the preservation of the scenery. "It was a sheer joy to travel along the beautiful roads, or lanes as they are called," he said. "The mere fact that they have been tar-sealed does not mean that the countryside has been despoiled in any way. There are some wonderful trips and journeys to be made in all parts of the country, and wherever you go you find beautiful scenery and a profusion of trees and bush. "It almost appears as though each county or collection of counties, have scenio beauties peculiar to it, and there is plenty of colour and variety wherever you go," he added. "In some there are hills, and huge cliffs clad in vegetation, and the roads wind up these' in some steep grades; tlien along the more or less flat country there is again to be seen a profusion of colour and buslies everywhere. Grass, beautifully green and fresh-looking, is found everywhere and runa right up to the roadsides, ' where other vegetation does not." On one partieular trip, Mr. Brinsley mentioned that they were traversing a very narrow lane and the vegetation was so close to the tar-sealed portion that it was actually touching the car on both sides. Of the main and prmcipal arterial roads, Mr. Brinsley was full of praise for the manner in which the traffio was controlled. The roads were wonderful to drive upon and traffic generally throughout England appeared to be exeellently controlled.