`The Green’

1. `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.

2. On The Green I could see... a derelict space waiting for benches; smashed glass sprinkled everywhere you look; birds gliding gracefully through the air; desolate flowerbeds just waiting for blossom; broken branches and destroyed trees cover the landscape. On The Green I could hear... the delicate voice of an elegant bird singing; cars and buses rushing by; the lawnmower with its mouth wide open eating grass; a motorbike whizzing past; the beep of a rubbish truck reversing. On The Green I could smell... the newly cut grass; a cool summer breeze; some dry beer that had been spilt; On The Green I could feel... the texture of the rough path; the prickly grass; a wrinkly leaf; the despair of a child who wants a park where she can go and feel safe. by Ella S

3. 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

4. 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 the park 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. The End