In March 2007 CPRE Herefordshire Chair, Bob Widdowson, commissioned Amanda Attfield to write a poem 'in requiem' for a swathe of green-belt land that was lost to the construction of the Rotherwas relief road. The landscape affected is of a high landscape value, being in the ancient Dinedor area.

Due to this road being built, despite much opposition, a swathe of our beautiful countryside has been destroyed. The land used for this road stretches from Bullinghope on the A49, directly past Dinedor Hill and through greenbelt land to the Rotherwas industrial estate.

I can see the diggers through
the double glazing. There’s
a peaceful kind of noise going on.
I can’t hear a thing - I say,
I SAID CAN’T HEAR ANYTHING.
But you can’t hear me. At least
the you that was you can’t hear me.
They warned me to expect
a profound change in behaviour.
From our bedroom window, look
you can see clear across to where
it will go, the cut across cornfields,
below the Callow. I say,
BELOW THE CALLOW.
On the map it was a clean black line,
like on skin before an operation.
They make it look so easy. It’s not
like other diseases. It’s on the increase,
and they don’t know why. The diggers
look a bit unsteady on their feet as they
rock around under the tree crowned
hill line, trying to remember which way is up.
They don’t wake up wet at night like
a child, and cry. Their retirement plans
haven’t gone by the board. And they aren’t
mourning for the one they love, who’s dead
but still alive. My daughter is on the end
of the phone if I need her. Badgers will have
their own special tunnel. I say, BADGERS.
TUNNEL. I know you still recognise me.
Your eyes are all watery. THE ROAD, LOVE,
THEY ARE BUILDING THE ROAD.
And you say, as you always say these days,
grateful for every thing that’s done,
‘If you think that’s best’.                                       ©Amanda Attfield March 2007

To see more commissioned work by Amanda, produced for CPRE, click here

You may be aware that a significant 4000 year old archaeological find was made, during the construction of this road.Sadly, this find was 'encapsulated for future generations' late in 2007. The Rotherwas Access Road was opened in 2008.

Amanda also wrote a poem on the 'Rotherwas Ribbon' graciously allowing it to be published here, as well as at www.rotherwasribbon.com

ROTHERWAS RIBBON

They are building the road, they are building the road.

They are digging the place where they are building the road.

They have found part of a snake, deep in the ground,

and along the ground they've found more of a snake.

It's a great snake, under the ground,

a two thousand year old serpent mound

like the ones in diddley boing de boing Ohio Idaho.

Or it might be four thousand years old, give or take,

what's a few thou' between friends

for a newly discovered ancient snake.

They are digging more of the place before building the road,

digging more of the place, digging more of the ground,

so the snake can be seen, so the snake can be seen.

It's a big snake, and fragile. We must all see the snake,

the historic remains. People have booked to see the snake.

It's so old – from the Bronze Age – and it must be dug out

and others must see it. But people can't go onto the place

of the snake, as it's too fragile, the place of the snake.

So the ones who know make a window, to see into

the hole of the snake. Through the window two hundred

will see, but they won't see the snake, they will hear

voices of the people who know, who will talk of the snake

that is fragile, and old, and interesting, and of great significance.

This will be a rare opportunity. One day.

Only one day. Only one window. Only one snake.

Because they are filling in the place of the snake,

the deep dig where the snake lies, they are filling

in the deep dig. No more window. No more snake.

Because it cannot survive like we do, in the open

with no one to protect it, no house to live in, and

no one to care for it, no one to pay for the care of it

within the community. It is too old and too fragile,

even though it is big, and a snake, and of great significance.

It must be under the ground. Covered over.

And it cannot be got round because of the landowners

and the money. And the snake has no voice to say

if it prefers to be under the ground and covered over

or not. So the people who know decide for it.

It must be under the ground.

They are covering the snake, they are covering the snake,

covering it over. But don't worry. The people that know

will know that it's there, the people that know will know.

Protected by a membrane, and layers of sand, and the road.

And the snake will always be beneath the drivers,

driving over the snake. And they won't know, and they won't

get bitten by a snake they don't know is there. It will be covered over.

The road will cover it over.

©Amanda Attfield 7th July 2007

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CPRE Herefordshire is a registered Charity: No: 213951. The Campaign to Protect Rural England exists to promote the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country.