Two documentaries in Tribute to Conservationist Roger Deakin who died in August 2006.
The House
5 October 2006
As a tribute to writer and conservationist Roger Deakin who died recently, The House is a unique sound portrait of life in his timber-framed house in Suffolk.
The Garden
6 October 2006
Walnut Tree Farm is a 450 year old wooden farmhouse, buried under a blanket of ivy and wild honeysuckle in Suffolk.
The garden is reached by a stony track across a narrow moat from the village common. It's an untamed place; a slice of ancient Suffolk extending into four meadows, a small wood and a walnut tree after which the farm is named. The garden is a clearing containing a moat; two ponds; a shepherd's hut; over a mile of tall, thick hedgerows; and four meadows of grasses and orchids which buzz and hum with the sounds of insects and birds through the year. It's a wild place with its own special charm. Moorhen chicks "whisper to one another" in the shadows of overhanging trees as Roger swims through the cold, clear waters of the moat. Dragonflies land undaunted on the swimmer's head, whilst the clang of a metal breadbin lid heralds the arrival of the postman.A lovingly restored shepherd's hut resting amongst the tall grasses provides a welcome retreat for Roger when he's not digging out docks from the hay field, scything nettles along the field edge, or dragging timber from the wood with help of an ancient, seed-cloaked tractor. In this evocative soundscape, Roger presents an intimate and personal portrait of the changing character of his garden as the seasons unfold. There's the fiery crackle of an autumn bonfire as leaves "curl like question marks"; the gentle melt of snow into a winter moat; the orchestral sound of a dawn chorus in spring; the squeal of a dock being ripped from the earth; and the low, haunting drone of a organ pipe in the garden's H.Q.
no password required
Replies
These are real treasures Bob.
Thanks for enabling myself to better appreciate the simple things in life.
Many thanks Bob