20th JULY MACRO MORNING – LANGLY VALE
Langley
Vale World War 1 memorial fields are full of treats.
WHAT TO SEE
AT LANGLEY VALE WOOD
Trees.
More than trees, of course. Thousands of trees have been planted but there are
meadows, ancient tracks and sculptures to discover. In the Spring the ancient
woodlands are awash with carpets of bluebells.
REGIMENT OF
TREES
Most
people who visit the Centenary Wood come to see the Regiment of Trees. Stone
soldiers carved by Patrick Walls stand in a grid of 80 trees. Some wear full
uniform and carry rifles. All are soldiers. On the day that Lord Kitchener came
to Epsom Downs to inspect the troops there were not enough uniforms and guns to
go round. Rather unfortunately the snow was a foot deep on on the appointed
day. Soldiers had got up at 4am and marched without breakfast to be in position
on time. Kitchener didn’t arrive until 11am, by which time some of the soldiers
had passed out with hunger. Patrick Walls has carved the stone statues from
Hill House Edge Sandstone.
The meadows also have an abundance
of wildlife – insects, butterfly’s, dragonflies,
moths, grasshoppers, birds and plenty of wildflowers to keep you occupied all
day.
BOOK NOW
