Save Narnia - C. S. Lewis Tours Oxford, England, UK with recommended and secure online accommodation bookings from http://www.picturesofengland.com/hotels/

Striving to preserve the lewis legacy..

A Wildlife Trust has come under fire for cutting down trees in the tranquil woodland that helped inspire C. S. Lewis to write 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'. The land next to the author's former home in Risinghurst, known as "the real Narnia," is now a nature reserve. But Narnia has come under attack from chain saws, insists the man who organises C. S. Lewis Tours, Oxford, and he says the local wildlife trust BBOWT is to blame. Please visit www.picturesofengland.com/savenarnia  

Ronald Brind http://www.cslewistours.com/ says the trust has needlessly cut down many trees and are changing the character of the woodland that proved an inspiration to the Oxford don, who became known around the world for his Narnia books. Mr Brind, author of 'A Guide to the C. S. Lewis Tour in Oxford', said many foreign visitors who visit Lewis's old home are horrified by the shabby state of the reserve. Mr Brind was a boyhood friend of Lewis' stepson, Dougie Gresham, and was a regular visitor to the author's household. He said: "They have been up there with chain saws. When I asked what was going on they told me they were taking out all the non-native species. It is disgusting and scandalous. They include trees with three foot trunks that have taken sixty and seventy years to grow. American visitors who come here in search of Lewis are distraught, they think it is horrific. This was C. S. Lewis' back garden for more than 30 years." Mr Brind has also complained about the state of the lake and the amount of rubbish strewn about the reserve. Sophie Lewis, of BBOWT, said sycamore trees had been cut down to lighten up the site and encourage wildlife and undergrowth. Ms Lewis said: "Because of their rapid rate of growth, the trees that have been cut down would not have been there when C. S. Lewis was walking around. " Mr Brind wants a lovely place to take American tourists to, but that is not our primary concern."

Reproduced with permission. The Oxford Times http://www.theoxfordtimes.net/

Comment from Ron Brind - The trees were there. See the photographs of what I consider to be destruction below and then ask yourself why? To my mind this is yet another example of who cares anyway?
 
  
  
                                                                 Destruction of the Narnia woodland?


BBOWT - The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust were gifted approximately 5 acres of land to the rear of Lewis' garden in 1969 by Henry Stephen who owned the property that was literally built in Lewis' back garden. Although Warnie had agreed to the sale of the plot of land with Mrs Janie King-Moore's daughter Maureen, he was most distressed when he actually realised what he had done because the new property blocked completely the view from the Lewis household to what has been described many times as the 'land of Narnia'. One can only assume that Warnie had agreed to sell whilst under the influence of alcohol!

Today the woodland is known as the C. S. Lewis Reserve in memory of Henry Stephen! I personally think this is outrageous and suggest that it should be known as the Henry Stephen Reserve in memory of C. S. Lewis!!

Haynes' Field - In the field adjacent to the Kilns known as Haynes' field all sorts of things happened. On one occasion I remember Dougie Gresham being sat in the top of a tree over in the Kilns with a pair of binoculars 'surveying' the area as he often did, when a courting couple got down to business in the tall dry grass unaware of course that Dougie was able to see what was going on. Dougie, who was smoking well before his sixteenth birthday climbed down from the tree and wandered over to the couple. With a cigarette between his fingers, and the couple still oblivious to his presence, you can imagine the likely question. Perhaps something like 'excuse me have you got a light for my cigarette please'? Needless to say he didn't get a light from that couple!

We had great fun in Haynes' field including riding a really heavy old ex-War Department 350cc Matchless motorcycle that was usually parked in the barn. I don't know who owned it maybe Warnie, but we would ride it anyhow at the age of about 12 years! I seem to remember a fixed or rigid rear axle eg; no rear suspension and coil springs at the front. There was a mass of chrome plated levers and controls generally and the seat was much like an old tractor seat, very basic, but the bike would probably be worth a fortune today!!
 
Food for thought! - The C S Lewis Foundation (CSLF) of Redlands California who currently own the Kilns in Oxford have stated that the former home is not a public place, neither is it a museum. Stan Mattson, Founder and President of the CSLF has told me (Ron Brind of C S Lewis Tours Oxford) that he will never open it up on a full time basis! I say it should be restored to what it was really like, and then opened to the world for visitors to see just how Jack and Warnie, the Lewis brothers lived in comparative squalor from 1930-1973 and yet gave everything.

I would also like to know how and why the same little select group of people manage to visit each year during the months of July and August. They will of course say it is because of the 'Lewis Seminars' that take place during this period. Oh yes and I nearly forgot, it will only cost you an outrageous $2,695 for a six day stay at the former Lewis home!!

Further, if you are ever lucky enough to get an 'ad hoc' internal viewing, where does the suggested £5 'donation' for looking at 5 rooms end up, you might be surprised based on my experience!

What does the CSLF spend the generous donations from the American people on, because according to an email I have from those who have previously occupied the Kilns they say they receive 'very little funding for the upkeep'. Neither is the Lewis tombstone looked after in Holy Trinity Church, so what is the money spent on, where does it go?

I consider the former Lewis home part of Britains Christian Heritage and I want it back! What are your thoughts in the USA, and what do you think about starting an online petition to force the hand of the CSLF, after all, it is the American people who are passionate about this giant amongst men and it is probably the American people who are funding the CSLF. Maybe its time to put a stop to it? Send your comments to Ron@picturesofengland.com and I will publish them on the website!