Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, the major proponent of the 18th century landscape gardening, sought to create grounds of the country houses and stately homes of England that look natural but were actually carefully designed and constructed. This was achieved through creating views with serpentine lakes, follies and strategically planted trees to appear as if they had emerged naturally. Capability Brown almost single handedly created what we know as the English pastoral landscape. He actually grew up in Kirkharle - a village very close to Wallington, and is credited with many of the improvements to the estate under Sir Walter Blackett.

Proponents of the 18th century ‘Landscape Movement’ would move villages, churches, re-contour land and redirect rivers in order to create ‘natural’ landscapes and spectacular views. In planting trees to create both enclosed woodland and focal points to direct the viewer’s eye and create a ‘view’, neither gardeners nor patrons would see the fruits of their labours as trees take so long to grow.

This poem is written from the point of the trees uprooted to create Capability's famous views.