I would like to introduce some favourite trees of mine – magnificent poplars that grow on the south side of the Thames between Hammersmith and Barnes.
I never tire of returning to walk along this attractive stretch of the river, and I often go purposely to visit these trees. Two or three of them are simply huge, easily picked out on the horizon from Hammersmith Bridge. They are very sculptural, with ridges running down their grey bark that are as deep as the width of my hand. Close up, they look like giant elephant legs. Once I was standing looking at them and an elderly man, riding past on his bicycle laden with shopping, stopped and told me that he liked to visit them too. “Put you in your place, don’t they?” Lovely things.
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HEAVY CLAY 