It’s a large rendering of the Green Man. I have no idea whether it’s new or whether it has been on that wall for five years – back to the time when the ‘new’ stumpery was added to the promenade at Grange-over-Sands.

The Green Man is hidden from general view, which, I suspect may be deliberate, and in tune with the wisdom it represents. You have to find it, and then decode what it is trying to teach you…

It has prompted me to think about a post on this subject. Coming soon.

We visit Grange often; in fact it’s our main place of shopping – being full of quality local shops and old-fashioned service. We divide our efforts: I take Tess the collie for her walk through one of the parks, a vigorous frisbee chuck, then back along the promenade to meet up with my wife. The whole thing takes about an hour. We then have coffee in the car and set off home.

On the last trip, Tess dragged me into the stumpery. It comes into its own in the winter, when there is so little to see on the other flower beds. There on the far wall, hidden from general passing view by a tree, was the Green Man face. I suspect it’s new, and mounted on the only place that would be solid – the side wall of the public toilet…in itself amusing, and somewhat in tune with the be what you are theme of the whole myth.

I do detect some dry humour, here. Grange is not short of retired minds and wits…

The figure of the ‘Green Man’ is a rich symbol in the cultural and religious history of these islands. Most famously featured in the Arthurian tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the enigmatic figure is of a human face from which abundant natural growth is emerging from all the openings in his startled head.

©Stephen Tanham 2022

Stephen Tanham is a Director of the Silent Eye, a journey through the forest of personality to the dawn of Being.