A NEW poem and video have been launched as part of the campaign to save a much-loved piece of historic land in Wribbenhall, Bewdley.
Maypole Piece was put up for sale in June and, with fears it could be developed for housing, a campaign was launched in a bid to buy it for the community.
Worcestershire Literary Champion Pete Thompson approached the Friends of The Maypole group, which is campaigning to save the land, and offered to write a poem about the much-loved community space.
He then took the views of people that had been given to the Friends group and created ‘We are the Land’ from them.
It contains the words: ‘Land is always worth a stand’ and: ‘Let us bring back the innocence and joy for all in a place that overlooks all we have’.
The poem also mentions the sports played on the land, going back to a time where people ‘connected and talked’ and the community and legacy it wants to leave.
He likened the battle to save Maypole Piece as the group’s ‘Waterloo’, adding ‘the troops are ready’.
Creative director and CEO of GOSH TV, Paul Barnett, put in hours of work and helped bring Pete’s wonderful words to life in the short video which uses the picturesque Maypole Piece as the backdrop. The video is available to watch on YouTube (below).
The film is particularly poignant as one of the contributors has since passed away.
A spokesperson for the group said: “We jumped at the chance to have his creative input, but we never dreamed of what he would help us achieve.
“Pete’s opening words: ‘Community fills the souls of the kindest’, embodies the epicentre of this campaign, the depth of feeling this community has for the Maypole and its beautiful connection with the past, the present and the future.
“We are thrilled to be able to share this video with you.
“Please watch it, comment on it and share the heck out of it.
“Let everyone see this extraordinary piece of land and discover why it’s worth fighting for.”
One person who attended the launch last Thursday told the Standard: “It was a pretty emotional evening.
“Members of the campaign attended and it was very well received by all.
“It seems to have connected with everyone and reinforced the strong sense of community that already exists.”
Visit the Friends of Maypole Piece Facebook page for more on the poem, the video and the campaign.
