healingwords: poetry for the soul

This is the discarded root from the tree chopped into logs on the hillside. It was one that was leaning dangerously from the crumbling bank and I guess it was no longer safe for people using the track but it still hurt to see the roots discarded. 

Today is Earth Day, an annual event celebrated throughout the world since 1970 to show support for environmental protection of our Earth, its habitat, flora and animals. The news, internet and areas not under lockdown are full of messages and events calling for more resources and action to be taken to protect our world. The corona virus crisis and the slowdown in economic activity and travel has reminded us how polluted our normal lifestyle is for the planet and how quickly change can be affected. Whilst we hope that lessons can be learned as the dreadful pandemic hits countries across the world, in one small wood in Warwickshire nothing has changed. Under Government instruction, taking advantage of the lockdown and lack of news coverage, HS2 contractors are continuing to fell trees and destroy ancient woodlands during the nesting season. They appear to not even be following the agreed environmental protection for soil recovery and bird and wildlife preservation and there is growing ev...

This poem has a special meaning for me. I moved to the village of Parcent in the Alicante province of Spain in 1990. The ‘Carrascal’ sierra with the climb up to the ‘Coll de Rates’ dominates the village. It is visible at every turn of the winding village streets and the view I wake up to every morning. I wrote this poem in 2006 when my time for poetry was taken over by politics. The countryside of Parcent was under threat by 3 massive building projects which would have led to the hillsides being covered with new houses. I became President of the campaign to stop the building ‘Veins de Parcent’, which received support from all over Spain and an unforgettable visit from the European Parliament's petitions committee, whose support is an example of the important role of the EU in protecting our environment.  In 2007 I stood with others in elections for the local council and became a councillor, a role I still hold. The building plans were finally turned down by the Valencian r...