Reed Cutter, Newport Wetlands

“At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough. You don't need to photograph, paint, or even remember it. It is enough.”
Toni Morrison
K1 needed a change of scenery so we went down to the RSPB wetlands reserve for a wander. Soon disappeared amongst the reedbeds, just a taste of what it must have been like to be lost in the reedbeds in the fens! Heard this strange chugging noise nearby, then as we came to the viewing hide we saw the reed cutter at work, keeping some open water areas. A reminder that there was a time when extensive reed beds were managed to provide thatch for roofing, fortunately still practised to bring a bit of beauty and softness to increasingly hard landscapes.