Why We Moved to Cheshire
Do you want to hear something funny? My husband and I moved to Cheshire because we could see the stars at night.
Are you laughing yet?
Granted, that was a few, okay---many years ago, but it’s really true.
We were also swayed by how much open space there was … uninterrupted green forests and wide open fields of hay and tall grasses and wildflowers, and farmland and orchards and beautiful vistas set with backdrops of ridgelines and incredibly pink sunsets with clouds spread before and across those same undulating hills.
Cheshire was definitely for us.
Especially since where we were moving from … well, every square inch seemed to have been built on and as a result, everything was illuminated at night. There were houses, and shopping centers and parking lots, and billboards and street lamps and on and on. You could not see the stars.
So on clear nights we would drive around and we found ourselves here in Cheshire, engulfed in darkness
… and stars.
When we bought our home, it was in an older development, and we would pull out hammocks, or pull two chairs together and stare up at the night sky: in all seasons, in the coldest nights.
Once we were here, we walked and ran and investigated every trail, every open space, and every climbable ridge. It wasn’t long before we became members of the Cheshire Land Trust. We loved the hikes, loved hearing about the nature of a place, or the history of a place, and just enjoying nature.
Time, as you’ve noticed, does not stand still. As time has been going along, development has continued at a rather quick pace. More of the vistas we enjoyed are no longer. Farmland and field have disappeared. We’ve also noticed that the stars have dimmed, due to light pollution, and it’s gotten to the point where we now have to drive out of town to find the darkness and the stars.
That’s why it’s even more important than it was to cherish what we have left and enjoy what has been preserved as open space. It’s a necessity for clean air, clean water, refuge and corridors for wildlife, and it’s all so important for us.
We also need nature. Whether it’s hiking or picnics, plein aire painting, mediatation, birdwatching, or even a little night-time stargazing, open space is needed for ten-fold reasons and more, including the reason of saving all the things in Cheshire we fell in love with --- for those who come after us.What do you think? If you’d like more information on how light pollution affects all of us, check in with http://darksky.org/
And do what you can locally. Join CLT as an active member. Take part or help in events and make the leap to support our volunteer efforts. You can donate here.
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