The Dark Hedges and the green fence!
As regular readers know, I LOVE to photograph the Dark Hedges in rural Co Antrim here in N Ireland. It might well be the most famous and unknown road in Northern Ireland. It has featured in advertisements and on calendars, and on many a flickr account.
Recently it received funding to help preserve these wonderful trees for future generations, including a tree surgeon to look after the trees, and also some funding for new fencing.
But where did they decide to place the fencing? Right in front of the trees, along the most beautiful country road in Northern Ireland. And what colour is most of the fence? Bright ugly green 🙁
Why?
Apparently they are “protecting” the trees – from the photographers?
I have read that this is only a temporary fence, and it will be moved BEHIND the trees in early 2012.
In the meantime many photographers, including international visitors, are driving up and being presented with ugly green plastic fencing. In one side it is all ugly and green, and on the other side it a wire fence with only bright green along the top ….. which is a little less offensive.
In fact there are even a few places where they haven’t put a fence (yet!)….. but maybe that is just an oversight….give them time!
So PLEASE Ballymoney Borough Council, please move the fence, and do it soon!
I know we have such a treasure here, and we want to preserve it for future generations but we also want to provide photographers with images to preserve for future generations too.
For some international visitors this might be there one and only chance to photography this image.
At least is less obvious in black and white.
Am I overacting?
What do you think?
Over blog posts about the Dark Hedges and the fences :
North Antrim Local Interest List
and also an article in the local newspaper Ballymoney Times
I have these trees up in my hall in black and white- it wasn’t taken by me. I have never photographed it but think I will wait until the horrible fencing is removed before I make a special journey
I suppose they thought the green would blend in better, forgetting that tree trunks (at the level of the fence) are not green? Fortunately, I adore b&w, and it’s gorgeous that way too. 🙂
What a beautiful place!
Hi Janine,
I think it IS good they are wanting to preserve these but surely in this day and age there could be some way to have done this which was not so distracting.
Interesting post as always.
Loving your jewels too I’m seeing on Twitter!
Love,
Barb
LOVE those trees. I should send you some pics we had at a photo shoot that are also gorgeous and remind me of these a bit 🙂
The black and white is just gorgeous!
I’m with you my Irish sister!!!
You are NOT overreacting.
I’m not really surprised by this idiotic GREEN FENCE, alongside one of Ulster’s beauty spots, after all, they want to build a Golf Course right next to the Giant’s Causeway! …… Duh!
Well that totally sucks. I am planning to see the Dark Hedges driving down to Belfast. I had to find these articles on the green fencing. BOOOO. Human beings still amaze me in their idiocracy.