Our County -
Some
ideas about why Warwickshire is special ...
Warwickshire
is a beautiful county. The landscape is very diverse. It has
been known as "leafy Warwickshire" and, despite
the devastation by Dutch Elm Disease, the county boasts many
trees in woods and hedgerows.
Warwickshire
is not notably mountainous or hilly but has undulations which
can provide commanding views. Burton Dassett hills, Edgehill
and Ilmington hill are features in the south. The south of
the county is within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty.
The
north has been affected by the impacts of coal mining and
quarrying and there are other sites where quarrying has taken
place. These are small pockets and the landscape is still
of high standard.
The
county was settled from earliest times and the numerous towns
and villages date back well before Domesday. Many of the villages
are very attractive and relatively unscathed by modern development.
We fight hard to retain this situation. Vernacular architecture
is of many types. There are half timbered cottages with white
and brick infill; there are stone houses and there are many
styles of brick built houses. There are of course many country
churches of varying dates and styles. Some have tall spires
and some have squat towers. Altogether they are a major feature
of villages and towns.
In
many ways the county is a major crossroads for transport routes.
The area is well-served by canals which were built for trade
and business but now mainly provide leisure and holiday opportunities.
The West Coast railway line passes through Rugby and Coventry.
The M1, M6, M40, M45 and M69 provide rapid transit from one
part of the county to another. They are scars on the landscape
but the noise from them is, perhaps, the major pollution.
The
area has a number of rivers. The Tame and Blyth in the north
and the Avon and the Leam in the south. Land by the rivers
was generally the first to be cleared and cultivated by local
inhabitants and most of the towns are built on these rivers.
Although
most of the towns had distinctive industrial developments
a major commercial factor in the county has been agriculture.
The county has suffered as the fortunes of farming have ebbed
and flowed. We have seen the destruction of hedges and the
trees within them. But many areas of the county still have
the familiar patchwork of fields changing colour and texture
through the seasons. We are very well served with public footpaths
through the variety of scenery around the area. Many circular
walks can be designed, often with a pub or cafe along the
way.
If
you live here we invite you to get out and about and enjoy
the county; if you are contemplating a visit then we believe
that you will not be disappointed.
Pictures
|
