This has been an idea in the back of my mind for a long time, so I’ve used the news about Swindon’s intended bid to become a ‘City of Culture’ as an excuse to finally bring it to realisation.
I’ve been fortunate to work for and with different creative organisations in the Swindon area and the desire is certainly there to encourage the right conditions to allow creativity to flourish. Hopefully even the fact that it’s being considered can cast a spotlight on what is already thriving in the town and places of heritage, like Lydiard.
I know I’m not the first (or certainly the last) to wax lyrical about this special place and I’ve always thought it would make a great setting for ‘Wind in the Willows’ with the beautiful house (Toad Hall), a lake for ‘Ratty’, a charming underground ice house (for ‘Mole’ to move in to) and the ‘Wild Woods’ for ‘Badger’ and the ‘Stoats’ – bigger with black on their tail + the ‘Weasels’.