COWHIR’S LOVE OF THE COUNTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 26 July 1929, Page 8

COWHIR’S LOVE OF THE COUNTRY

William Cowper is a poet who is not in fashion nowadays, but lovers of country- lift hold his poems in affection, because of Cowper’s deep love of Nature, and especially of trees. Cowper lived almost entirely in the country, in one neighbourhood, and in his poems lie described the scenes of his daily' walks. Mis association for so many years with Olncy, in Buckinghamshire, and the village of Weston Underwood near by, lias made that part of the Ouse valley famous. The place remains not very different from what it was in Cowper’s day r , a century and a-lialf ago. One of the poet’s favourito walks was from Olncy' to Weston Park, about a mile away, to see his friend Throckmorlon. His way lay through woods and avenues in the park, so designed that they' have held the world’s admiration from Cuwper's -day till modern times. The chief glory of the place was an avenue of about 200 ■ magnificent lime trees. Now many' of these trees have been felled, and- avgroup about an. alcove which makes a viewpoint in the poet’s stroll lias been almost entirely destroyed and the whole avenue is threatened.