Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen - and a very, very warm welcome to Warnham Local Nature Reserve. I know that Morag and Simon will be reading two of Shelley’s greatest poems in a minute, but I also wanted to start my introduction by creating a ‘Shelley atmosphere’ and reading just a few lines that relate directly to Shelley’s childhood experiences here in Warnham and possibly very close to where we are standing right now….
A schoolboy lay near a pond in a copse
Blackberries just were out of Bloom
And the golden Bloom of the sunny Broom,
The pinecones, they fell like thunder drops.
When the lazy noon breathed so hard in its trance
That it wakened the sleeping fir treetops.
Under a branch, all leafless and bare,
He was watching the motes in their mimic dance
rolling like worlds through the dewy air.
And he closed his eyes, at last to see
the network of darkness woven inside
Till the fire-tailed stars of the night of his brain
like birds round a pond did flutter and glide
And then he would open them wide again.
Well, after that highly alliterative evocation of Shelley’s world, it’s lovely to be able to welcome you here on this beautiful and sunny day, to the Shelley Wildlife Garden and for us to come together on this, the 200th anniversary of the death of Percy Bysshe Shelley, internationally accepted as one of the greatest Romantic poets in the English language.
As you are all aware, Shelley was born not very far away from this Nature Reserve, at Field Place and sadly died on this day in 1822, when he drowned in a boating accident in the Gulf of La Spezia in Liguria, Italy. He was only 29 years old. Today, we intended to commemorate and celebrate this great poet’s life and work, and we hope you will enjoy our event.
Shelley may be one of Horsham’s most famous sons, but we should also be aware that scholars of Shelley felt, that during his lifetime, that his work was overshadowed by his radical ideas. This new philosophy, although a source of inspiration to many in later years, was really unpalatable to the establishment of his time. However he was regarded in the 19th century, later generations recognised his literary talent and today he is regarded as one of the finest English poets, alongside his contemporary Byron and such greats as Keats and Wordsworth.
Less is perhaps known of his earlier life and how the Sussex Countryside influenced his love of the environment and inspired much of his writing. Percy Shelley was the eldest son of Timothy and Elizabeth Shelley, an influential Sussex family with money, land, and status. I am sure that we are all aware of the buildings and roads that still carry the family name around this town and district.
One of seven children, he and his six siblings spent their childhood at Field Place, and it was during his early years that his connections with what is now our beautiful nature reserve were strongest – indeed it’s believed that he learnt to sail on the Millpond and would often spend time relaxing by the water, as the lines I just read would indicate. As he grew older, history tells us that he would picnic and write under a chestnut tree on the edge of the Reserve.
To reference this love of Warnham and his alleged fondness for sitting under a tree, earlier this year, as you may be aware, we planted a new chestnut tree just over there, which will continue the connection between the old and new for generations to come. I am delighted to see that even after a few months it has become well established and showing flourishing signs - as is the entire Shelley Wildlife Garden just here beside us. I am sure you agree with me that the garden is looking great, mainly due to the hard work of Jake and his team in Parks and Countryside, as well as the Friends of Warnham Volunteers.
You may have also noticed the new inscriptions on these wonderful benches in the garden, which are quotations from Shelley’s work, ‘The Sensitive Plant’.
Returning to his story, sadly, as Shelley grew up, his life became more troubled, having been expelled from his Oxford college for his refusal to conform, as well as the untimely death of his first wife, his estrangement from his family, and the subsequent loss of his inheritance. He finally found happiness with his second wife Mary, who is best known as the author of the novel Frankenstein.
He never returned to Horsham after the age of 24, and spent much of his later life living abroad, mainly in Italy, where he was part of a circle of noted English writers and artists, including Lord Byron. However, clearly his early years spent in and around this beautiful area, were among the happiest of his life.
This afternoon, we are going to hear two poetry recitals, starting with ‘The Cloud’ read by Morag Warrack, Chair of one of our Horsham Neighbourhood Councils.
Shelley wrote 'The Cloud' describing the wonders of nature and its connection to our lives. It was first published in 1820. This poem reflects the dynamics of the natural world, illustrating the physical cycle of water, and the changing nature of time as its impacts the life on our world.
Following this we are delighted to welcome Simon Packham from the Shelley Memorial Project. Simon will be reading ‘To a Skylark’, This poem, as we all know, is Shelley's romantic ode to a small songbird that he believed embodied all the joy and happiness of life. I am sure you will agree that these sentiments are echoed wonderfully by our surroundings today.
Following these readings there will be refreshments served in the small marquee behind me, and then a chance to look round the garden and the Hub. If anyone would like a guided tour of the Reserve, the members of the Parks and Countryside Team will be happy to guide you.