How Green Was My Valley

Very GREEN; nice use of selective colour.

Great movie!

I haven’t seen any of the film and TV adaptations, but the book is sublime.

...and I didn't read the book! :)

OH!
YES!!
So green, so tidy and bright
Wonderful English countryside that is like a very beautiful garden
I like very much, William

I love serendipitous coincidences, don’t you?

I took this picture in May, and back then I had already decided what the title would be. I was just waiting for the right opportunity to upload it. Your comment on my previous photo provided me with that opportunity.

The story of ‘How Green Was My Valley’ takes place in the coal mining towns of South Wales. Here where I live, in St Helens, there were also many coal mines (they’re all closed now of course; Margaret Thatcher saw to that). The town was founded on coal mining, glassmaking, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Today only glassmaking survives. The motto of the town council is: “Ex Terra Lucem” (from the earth comes light). It is a reference to the mining industry which provided the means to produce gas (and eventually electric) light, and also powered the glass furnaces which made the windows that allow light into our homes.

Despite the fact that the last of the mines were closed in the 1990’s, there is still plenty of evidence of their former existence. The hill I am standing on to shoot this photo, which is now covered with grass and trees, was formed from the waste material brought up from the mine below my feet, and was piled up here after it was separated from the coal.

On the horizon you can see the cooling towers from the previous photo. My home is a few miles to the right of this picture and is also beside a former coal mine. There, too, you will find a grassy hill formed from the waste from the mine. On top of this hill stands a white sculpture by Jaume Plensa called “Dream”. It is a tribute to all the people who worked the mines in this area.

It was your comment which set all this in motion. I love how these tiny, coincidental details all come together and connect with each other to form a beautiful, perfect circle. It makes me laugh out loud at the sheer joy of it.

A perfect coincidence, William
Your description is magnificent and I thank you very much
Human beings can either destroy nature or recover it
This is, in reality, an exemplary case

Clever!!

I very much hope it stays green!