Tolkien inspiration Moseley Bog awarded Lottery grant

[wellinghall]

"A Birmingham beauty spot that was the inspiration for JRR Tolkien classics The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit was today granted a £376,500 cash injection to preserve it for future generations."

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2010/03/30/376000-joy-for-hobbit-land/

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2010/03/30/tolkien-inspiration-moseley-bog-awarded-lottery-grant-65233-26139012/

Comments

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess it's good news that it won't be turned into a rubbish tip but the term 'improvement' never seems to sit very comfortably with natural places. To me, it looks just fine as it is!

[the-marquis.livejournal.com]

*headdesk*

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Excellent news, and not just for the Tolkien connection.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I share your distrust. I suspect that the improvements will involve a lot of orcish signs telling you about all the things you cannot do, or will be unsafe if you do, and the 'improved public access' will involve roads, carparks (pay and display) and fences.

We had one of these 'improvement' schemes near me: it has 'improved' surprisingly little for the price, and made a number of things worse.

grumpgrumpgrump

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Ah! You've confirmed my fears!

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I think the problem is that traditional land maintenance is quite dull and requires a modest annual spend, essentially forever.

Whereas what Lotteries and Grants like is sparkly Change, and Improvement and Reaching Out to New Audiences, and big plastic banners inciting people to Do Stuff.

I am reaching the point where I am seriously thinking of starting a second career as a sign-tearer-downer. That would be Tolkienish as well, though not in quite the approved way.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

Lol! Spoken like a true hobbit!