Fossil Grove

                                                                  FOSSIL GROVE

Fossil Grove is a place which has a long history, 330 million years to be precise. Its journey from being a prehistoric rainforest seems so distant and is somewhat unbelievable. It is also a place where a journey began for me, however perhaps not as long ago as 330 million years ago. The prehistoric tree’s found here, apparently died in their habitat from flooding, but they were perfectly preserved. Oh the unearthing of them, must have been amazing. But perhaps some things are just waiting, and waiting, to be discovered and unearthed.

        Fossil Grove has changed from when I was last here 10 years ago. It seems dated, cold and empty. A layer of frost is busy attacking the first pretty snowdrop buds; beauty it seems is not welcome here now. I could imagine a Snow Queen with a long white fishtail dress embellished with glass beads and a crown made of sculptured ice demanding that any hint of a spring, of a new beginning was to be frozen on the spot. The path through seems like a smaller scale version of the yellow brick road from Oz, and as I start to climb up its gentle slope, it elevates higher until I am at the highest point of the park. I know this way, I suddenly think gleefully, and looking around I notice frost-free buds sprouting everywhere. I feel lighter and brighter, until I stop dead in my tracks; a tree has crashed down completely blocking my path. Cobbles from the path are upturned. The giant tree’s roots must have pushed them up and then discarded them. I knew how they felt; I also knew how that great tree felt; once strong and content with its place in the world, until the angry wind got other ideas.

       It feels colder again, and all of a sudden it seems to have got darker. Turning back I have to go past the boarded up building where the tree fossils are kept. It looks like a building in an old out of season seaside town, left abandoned. I look up to see it has surveillance cameras all around it, which adds to my uneasiness. The rockery of Fossil Grove, I thought as I walked past, is a sad affair and uncared for as if it hasn't’t been touched by a gentle hand for a long time. I know I want to leave this place but it is like a thick fog is keeping me captive surrounding me with history and sadness. But maybe I am the fog; maybe I wanted to feel the sorrow and the hurt of a past life.

       As I pushed on, I found the wide main road that leads into Fossil Grove. I stop as I have a snapshot flashback - of me sitting in the white Mercedes, so young and so happy. This was a great location for photographs, flowers in full “Technicolor” bloom. We were standing so proud in front of the ribbon trimmed car, our journey was just beginning.  Although those images were in Sepia they seemed to be alive and bright with colour in my mind. However, I have to leave now and as I prepare myself for the next journey, something catches my eye to the left, it is a plant with what looked like gold leaves surrounded by beautiful budding snowdrops. The Snow Queen is thawing out and the Fossils stay where they belong - in the past.