Interesting Green: God’s green country

TODAY, SATURDAY - SUNDAY, February 6-7, 2010, LIVING, PAGE L25
http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20100206/0602ETL025.pdf
By Jennifer Chen

PHOTO: Village of Askrigg in Yorkshire Dales National Park

Last Thursday, the youth of Singapore as a nation was highlighted at an official cultural exchange with Yorkshire county, England.

PHOTO: Yorkshire Dales near Aysgarth
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In a book swop that marked the first of many bridging events to come, Singapore author Suchen Christine Lim presented her novel Fistful of Colours to the chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire Gary Verity. Before that, Singapore had been given a 1877 edition of Wuthering Heights, written by Yorkshire native Emily Bronte.

PHOTO: http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/39/a6/20/another-wensleydale-picture.jpg

PHOTO: Askrigg, Wensleydale - Yorkshire Dales
This painting from the moor road looks over the rooftops of Askrigg across the dale to the lofty Addlebrough. Addlebrough is one of the lesser known fells in the Yorkshire Dales - yet from this angle appears quite spectacular.
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PHOTO: Penyghent from Horton Scar Lane - Yorkshire Dales
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Lim’s work was published in 1993, Bronte’s before the ballpoint pen was invented. The latter also inspired Kate Bush’s unforgettable wailing in a song of the same name, and was adapted into film at least three times and read by students of English literature the world over.

PHOTO: Ribblesdale - Yorkshire Dales Looking down Goat Scar Lane to the typical Yorkshire Dales village of Stainforth, Smearsett Scar is prominent in the background with Ingleborough on the far distant right.
http://www.kmelling.com/cdata/2040/img/2040_23066i.jpg

Bronte and her equally famous sisters, Charlotte and Anne, are not the only notable figures to hail from this part of northwest England. Yorkshire can also name drop Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath’s ex-husband, renowned poet W H Auden, and rockers Kaiser Chiefs and Arctic Monkeys.

PHOTO: Littondale - Yorkshire Dales
Lovely Littondale which is a side valley of Wharfedale probably hasn't changed much in appearance for hundreds of years. This Yorkshire Dale was chosen as the first 'Emmerdale' in the original TV series, it was also William Wordsworth's 'Ammerdale' . The village in the painting is Halton Gill.
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With a history that dates back 2,000 years, the county has had time to build up an impressive resume. Its size helps, too. Being the largest region in England means a bigger catchment area.

PHOTO: Summer in the Dales, Burnsall
Beautifully situated by a tranquil stretch of the River Wharfe, Burnsall is one of the most visited villages in Wharfedale and perhaps in the Yorkshire Dales. This painting shows Burnsall in its lovely setting from a vantage point on the Bolton Abbey road.
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PHOTO: Ingleborough from Chapel-le-Dale - Yorkshire Dales (By Sam Melling)
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Still, there’s no denying Yorkshire’s natural beauty. Dubbed God’s Own Country, England’s greenest county is home to some spectacular scenery — from the striking coastline in the east to the lush landscape of the Yorkshire Dales.

PHOTO: Goat Scar Lane, Ribblesdale - Yorkshire Dales
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Add to this, medieval villages and grand, historic buildings and it’s not hard to see why so many productions find film locations in this area. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Robin Hood — Prince of Thieves and Brideshead Revisited are but a few.

PHOTO: Starbotton from the Walden Track - Yorkshire Dales
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PHOTO: Malham Cove, Yorkshire Dales
http://kingmagic.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/malhamcovepaulheaton.jpg

Yorkshire also has the distinction in being the home of five Michelin-starred restaurants, the most of any region in England aside from London. That’s due to the land’s bounty, said Verity. Singapore is in for a fruitful exchange.

Jennifer Chen

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PHOTO: http://www.vincentbillington.com/users/www.vincentbillington.com/upload/Askrigg.jpg

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PHOTO: A Dales Winter, Kettlewell - Yorkshire
Surrounded by fells, this typical Yorkshire Dales village perhaps gets more than its fair share of snow. Viewed here from the bridge over the River Wharfe, the low winter sun throws the cottages into greater relief and picks out detail on Great Whernside in the background.
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PHOTO: http://justenglishcottages.com/photogalleries/north-yorkshire/zim/Bainbridge/94Bainbridge.jpg

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PHOTO: Above Kettlewell, Wharfedale - Yorkshire Dales This was the first of my Yorkshire Dales paintings and remains a firm favourite. The view is looking down Wharfedale towards Kilnsey Crag, which can be seen in the distance behind the fell on the right. http://www.kmelling.com/cdata/2040/img/2040_23160i.jpg

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PHOTO: In England. A view looking towards the village.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/67414828@N00/60814557

PHOTO: Muker, Swaledale - Yorkshire Dales
In the heart of Swaledale, this Yorkshire Dales village holds a commanding position at the foot of Kisdon Hill. The view in this painting is from the track across Straw Beck which flows into the River Swale nearby.
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PHOTO: http://www.yorkshiredales-stay.co.uk/accommodation/images/listing_photos/210_meadow%20barn.jpg

PHOTO: Swaledale - Yorkshire Dales
Looking up the dale towards Gunnerside, the viewpoint is by Birks House on the easterly moor road to Wensleydale. Swaledale is perhaps the most dramatic of the Yorkshire Dales because of its narrowness. The River Swale is one of the fastest flowing rivers in England.
http://www.kmelling.com/cdata/2040/img/2040_23063i.jpg

PHOTO: Nidderdale - Yorkshire Dales Looking down the dale from near Middlesmoor with Gouthwaite Res. in the distance. http://www.kmelling.com/cdata/2040/img/2040_34539i.jpg