If leaves be bright up over head, When May do shed its glitt'ren light ; Or, in the blight o' Fall, do spread A yollow bed avore our zight – Whatever season it mid be, The trees be always company.
When dusky night do nearly hide The path along the hedge's zide, An' dailight's hwomely sounds be still But sounds o' water at the mill ; Then if noo feace we long' to greet Could come to meet our lwonesome treace; Or if noo peace o' weary veet, However fleet, could reach its pleace – However lwonesome we mid be.
The trees would still be company.
William Barnes Dorset dialect poet and philologist William Barnes (18011886) was also a Church of England parson .
The English oak tree supports a huge variety of life. Its open canopy allows plenty of light to reach the ground, so that many other plants, including primroses, violets, bluebells and ferns, can grow here. The tree is home to many birds, small mammals, mosses, lichens and fungi, and at least 350 varieties of insect. Those living in the bark attract birds, such as greatspotted woodpeckers, to feed. In summer the canopy hosts colonies of the rare Purple Emperor Butterfly. The oak’s soft leaves rot quickly in autumn, forming rich leaf mould for insects and earthworms. The acorns which fall to the ground in autumn provide another important food source, for wood pigeons, rooks, squirrels and mice. Source: icons. org.uk Oliver Essame is a SOF Trustee.