WHEN Tuesday 30th June
WHO Kerry with John Welding – illustrator
WHAT Investigations, observations and conversations Trees, photos & sketches Human activity
WHERE Spen Baths wooded area
Park at Spen swimming baths Walk across the playing fields – wheeled sport park and teen shelter on your right. Up the bank and confronted with palisade fencing some 4m high Take a left and go down the earth-mounded steps Over the bridge – over the Spen And on the right a small gap in the wall – over and down a steep step - leads you into the wooded area.
Also Hornbeam, Sloe and Blackthorn The tree canopy in June is dense. Leaves defuse the sunlight casting a soft green light. 1
WEATHER Sunny and warm day
Shaded, dark and on a warm day, slightly muggy. It has the appearance of a well-used place. Worn tracks lead to the river edge. Traces of outdoor adventure play linger in the undergrowth and canopies
Remnants of a rope swing – sketch by John Welding 2
It’s half term and we expected to encounter many an individual - but all we saw was one man and his dog. At the other end of the track that runs through the trees are another two entrances.
Beautiful as it is – this wee woodland haven is inaccessible to those on four wheels - mums with tots in pushchairs and all types of mobility chairs - truly forbidden access. There are signs of past fly-tipping activities – this could account for the Heath Robinson belt and braces approach to access. There is what I can see and there is what I think. But I want to discover is what others see and think about this place. 3
With no one passing by and therefore no one to talk to we head out of the trees past a thicket of wild raspberries – hosting honeybees
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Over the bridge – over the Spen – passing three teenage boys wearing their T-shirts of their heads like turbans with an Egyptian twist - up the steps – not easy with the cart - and relocate next to the pathway overlooking the playing field.
And from this vantage point a whole other vision of how this place is used and perceived became apparent. Whilst the poodle did sleep – the boys were squealing with excitement – ow oohh ow ow OW! Cursing the stinging nettles followed – followed by laughter and splashing. Although I couldn’t see them – from the sounds I could hear it was quite apparent that the boys and the water were in extreme close proximity. From my vantage point I watched youths come and go to the shelter on the playing field – whizzing across the pitch on small buzzing mopeds. 5
Their activity and loitering was replaced by the whirring of the grass cutting - blades thrusting plastic pop bottles high in the air. A litter-bin wouldn’t go amiss.
In the far corner I spy a group of five children playing in the long grass near the river – not far from the houses. From this spot I am able to monitor human activity – the comings and goings – dog walking, jogging, walking, out and about enjoying the sunshine – or out and about on the way to somewhere. 6
Sticking out like a lady with a cart and a sleeping poodle I catch the eye of one or two and am able to engage in a spot of conversation. A lady and her teenage son (with the family dog) that live in one of the river front houses …luv it. It’s great – Don’t do anything to it! In her opinion nothing could improve this spot – apart from a little more respect – but you can’t educate pork! She’s tired of listening to people complain about things - the litter, the flooding, the youths – It’s not up to the Environment Agency or owt like that – it’s up to the people who use it. She welcomes the day when people realize just how lucky they are to have such a wonderful asset on their doorstep – an immediate to access to nature and fresh air. People love to moan – but I can’t believe my luck! She considers herself to be really lucky and she tolerates the activities of young people – I could do without the youths on their bikes – but they aint doing me any harm. In contrast a man in his fifties retorted There’s nowt good around ere. Did you know they dug a body up near the river – It’d been buried for over 40 years and the man who did it lived over there. 40 years it took um to arrest ‘im. A young man in his twenties was out walking his large muscled dog as the three water adventure teenage boys walk by – all dripping. There’s rats in there (referring to the river). They piss in it. You’ll get Weil’s Disease. http://www.holmesdale.acs.btinternet.co.uk/what_is_weil.htm Curious – I asked him how he knew about Weil’s Disease Me mam used to tell me I’d get it every time I went swimming in the river Funny how quickly we grow up and become like our parents or other authoritarian adults …
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HUMAN ACTIVITY DATA Next to Racing Track Spen Baths from 14.10 – 16.30 ACTIVITIES WALKING
DOG WALKING CYCLING FISHING PLAYING FEEDING BIRDS HANGING AROUND OTHER
FAMILY UNITS
COUPLES/ LOVERS
2 Father (30’s) daughter (toddler) 2 Father (30’s) son (child) 3 Mother (20’s) son (child) daughter (child) 3 Mother (30’s) daughter (child) F. friend (child) 4 Mother (20’s) 2 sons (child) daughter (child) 2 Father (20’s) & daughter (child) 2 Father (20’s) son (child) 2 Mother (30’s) son (teen)
ADULT MALES
LONE FEMALES
1 (50’s) 1 (teens) 1 (50’s)
1 (30’s) 1 (teens) 1 (30’s) 1 (20’s)
1 (60’s)
5 (2 F 3 M) (Child)
2 male (teens) with mopeds 11 male (teens) wheeled sports on park) 5 (23)
1 (2)
YOUNG PERSON MALE
ADULT FEMALE
30
9
8
LONE MALES
1 (20’s)
3 Nan (60’s) 2 female (child)
9 (23)
GROUPINGS OF FRIENDS/MATES 3 male (youths) 2 male (youths)
4
4
YOUNG PERSON FEMALE
9
FAMILY UNITS
COUPLES/ LOVERS
GROUPINGS OF FRIENDS/MATES
LONE MALES
LONE FEMALES
9
1
5
4
4
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HUMAN ACTIVITY DATA Wooded Area behind Spen Baths from 11.15 – 14.00 on a warm – even hot – sunny day ACTIVITIES
FAMILY UNITS
COUPLES/ LOVERS
WALKING DOG WALKING CYCLING FISHING PLAYING
3 Brother and two sisters (2 children 1 youth) Pooh-sticks
GROUPINGS OF FRIENDS/MATES 3 females (60’s)
LONE MALES
LONE FEMALES
1 (20’s) 1 (50’s) 1 (60’s) 1 (20’s)
3 males (youths) to swim
FEEDING BIRDS HANGING AROUND OTHER 1 (3)
0
2 (6)
4
ADULT MALE
YOUNG PERSON MALE
ADULT FEMALE
YOUNG PERSON FEMALE
4
4
3
2
FAMILY UNITS
COUPLES/ LOVERS
GROUPINGS OF FRIENDS/MATES
LONE MALES
LONE FEMALES
1
0
2
4
0
9
Wood Area
Spen Baths Area
1 1
2 1 1 1
1 1 3
DOGS AND BREED Alsatian X Collie Collie X Collie Labrador X Husky Jack Russell Jack Russell X Labradors (Black) Mongrels Rottweiler Spaniel Staff Collie X Staffordshire Bull Terries Bull Dog Boarder Terrier
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69 people of different ages – out and about but only 9 dogs – 2 of which were with one person – totalling 8 dog walkers NOTES: Young person includes teens and under.
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