28
The Robin
As I was out in the cold December snow,
Wellingtons on, and wrapped up from head to toe,
I saw a tiny brown shape with a little bit of
red.
At first I only saw it's feet - then it's
feathers - then it's head.
Such a bright and breezy bird, I had never
seen before.
It hopped, and skipped, and jumped around -
it never was a bore.
Then what had to happen, happened as it had to do
one day,
My little robin flapped his wings, rose up and
flew away.
Christina Jones (11 years)
St. Patrick's School,
London . E. 17 .
Contrasts and Changes at Pitsea
The last day of 1982 dawned grey, cloudy and with
a chill wind, but, gradually, the weak winter
sun broke through determinedly, and it remained
dry. It seemed a good day of the year for
visiting Pitsea marshes where "ringing in the new"
is well under way at the Wat Tyler Country Park.
This area, of about 100 acres - Basildon Council's
latest country park development - has been, and is,
shaped by a fascinating mixture of influences.
For example, the previous usage of the land by the
army bequeathed several buildings with others
already demolished, a range of earthworks and an
old tramways route. Two of the old remaining
buildings are being converted into an information
centre, and a museum. The building rubble is