`The Green’

This presentation contains free verse

composed by Year 5 children following a visit to The Green in

March 2004.

They had recently been shown plans of

how The Green would be redeveloped.

On The Green I could see...On The Green I could see...a derelict space waiting for a derelict space waiting for

benches;benches;smashed glass sprinkled smashed glass sprinkled

everywhere you look;everywhere you look;birds gliding gracefully birds gliding gracefully

through the air;through the air;desolate flowerbeds just desolate flowerbeds just

waiting for blossom;waiting for blossom;broken branches and broken branches and

destroyed trees cover destroyed trees cover the landscape.the landscape.

On The Green I could hear...On The Green I could hear...the delicate voice of an the delicate voice of an

elegant bird singing;elegant bird singing;cars and buses rushing by;cars and buses rushing by;the lawnmower with its the lawnmower with its

mouth wide open eating mouth wide open eating grass;grass;

a motorbike whizzing past;a motorbike whizzing past;the beep of a rubbish truck the beep of a rubbish truck

reversing.reversing.

On The Green I could smell...On The Green I could smell...

the newly cut grass;the newly cut grass;

a cool summer breeze;a cool summer breeze;

some dry beer that had some dry beer that had been spilt;been spilt;

On The Green I could feel...On The Green I could feel...

the texture of the rough the texture of the rough path;path;

the prickly grass;the prickly grass;

a wrinkly leaf;a wrinkly leaf;

the despair of a child who the despair of a child who wants a park where she wants a park where she can go and feel safe.can go and feel safe.

by Ella Sby Ella S

On The Green I could hear...the banging of gates as they

secure the bowling green;the delicate song of a single bird

calling for a friend;a roaring sound coming from the

mouth of a herbivore chasing after it’s feast;

the pandemonium of cars racing along the roads;

the tremendous sound of travelling bees.

On the Green I could see...colourful butterflies roaming, not

bothering anyone;a stage especially made for

speeches and discussions;a desolate rose bed pleading for

colour and company;the adolescent trees were not

controlled or looked after;sticks smothering the path,

covering the dullness.

On The Green I could smell...the freshly cut grass travelling

through the breeze;the petrol stench from the

lawnmower;

the scent of flowers flowing through the air.

On The Green I could feel...the uneven path sliding under

my feet;the crunching of glass shattering

under my feet as I walked;the roughness of the trees as I

slide my fingers around it.

My fear for this park grows stronger because it gets more dangerous every second.

By Kirsty G

On The Green I could hear...gates clashing and bottles

smashing all over the park.

birds tweeting, cars squeaking

phones ringing, lawnmower cutting

On The Green I could see...birds gliding through out thepark skimming the grass

below, while glass waits for its next victim.

The battered old fence stands all-alone.

Decaying roses on the ground rotting in the mud.

On The Green I could feel...The raged ground,The tickling grass,The rough wall,The soft mud,

On The Green I could smell...petrol from the cars

cruising along the road.By Joseph Worrell

On The Green I could see… Yellow, well grown, roses; humans strolling by with their pets; a freshly, cut grass from the Bowling Green; fluttering, birds in the colourful sky; a white fairy flying in the fresh breezy air; green enormous bushes waving.

On The Green I could smell… petrol from the big lawnmower; flowers giving out their breezy smell; burning from a terrible, bonfire from the club; cut green grass from the lawnmower.

On The Green I could hear… birds whistling in their nests; bees buzzing around in the breeze; cars speeding up and down all over; lawnmower going up and down.

On The Green I could touch… trees with leaves; green bars around the edges; the bumpy path; the swings, which have been wrapped over the top bar.

By Jade B

On The Green I could see ... the newly put up goal post insects crawling everywhere, butterflies and buzzing bees

landing on the delicate flowers.

All the swings crying to be unwrapped from around the bars.

On The Green I could hear ...the lawnmower, cutting the

grass.a motor bike starting its power

full engine.All the children having a long

chat.

When you close your eyes you can hear …the trees rustling in the wind.the birds singing beautifully.

On The green I could smell ...the smell of freshly cut grass,and a sort of burning metal,I couldn’t identify it.

On The Green I could touch ...the swing, slide, climbing

frame and feel the rusty metal,

I could touch the new goal post and feel its paintwork.

Mandy A

On The Green I could see…derelict toilets plastered with

spray paints and wallpaper ripped off;

the bent fences destroyed by vandalism;

the buzzing bees and fluttering butterflies scattered all around us;

And the litter thrown around on the floor.

On The Green I could hear…noisy dogs barking loudly;whizzing cars going by with the

music on loud;the rattling vans and banging

gates making a clanging noise; and the happy birds singing in the

wind.

On The Green I could smell…food that tastes so delicious;scented roses that sway in the

wind;the disgraceful smell of petrol;the smell of fresh air on your

clothes.

On The Green I could feel …the cool breeze making me

shiver;and the sharp pointed glass

waiting to cut somebody;the trees swaying in the wind;the leaves falling like wind.

By Zoe B

The End