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