Simon English
England Revisited

On a fence post by a barleyfield 1 mile west of Gilmorton. 3 miles north of Lutterworth 300 yards from the M1.

On a fence post between a public footpath and the hedge three fields west of Gilmorton. As to whether this is the same fence, I doubt as its relationship to fields beyond does not quite correlate with the photos from 1971. Looking at old maps it appears that the field was once four small fields, useful for stock control in the old days but not so efficient for modern arable machinery. So sometime over the last few decades the hedges have been grubbed up and the four fields have been turned into one of 25 to 30 acres.

I feel that originally I used the hedge that ran parallel to the present footpath. Dutch Elm disease is in the existing hedge with small dead and dying trees but the tall elms of the past have gone so the horizon view is difficult to match, the oaks being the taller trees now. One can still see cars travelling north south on the MI just as I could 39 years ago when it was a relatively new construction.

In 1971 the crop was standing barley; in 2010 the crop was oats. The wet weather had flattened the whole field leaving a few standing strips along the tramlines. The field to the east is Rape but this is so tall and tangled that the rain here has had no affect and the footpath that goes through the crop unaffected. To the west the fields are still under grass, now with a herd of Friesians.
Points 46, 47 & 49