A Bench Too Far

Amongst their many other failings Sheffield Wildlife Trust have a particular problem with benches. Several years ago three benches were installed along the main bridleway by contractors working for SWT. They were unremarkable but very serviceable.



The good thing about them is that they did not draw attention to themselves and you could sit on them. Since then one of these was replaced with a rather ridiculous thing inscribed with words - mostly frothy sentiment about wispy clouds and what have you. It has been largely derided by regular walkers. They have now added another one beside it.




The same shoddy upright supports composed of a bucket of mortar at which various bits of stone appear to have been thrown. Would they try to explain this by saying it's supposed to look 'informal'?



The seat itself is stained and utterly different to its neighbour. Sun loungers garden parasols and white plastic seats could hardly look more inappropriate. Earlier this year we had the canoodling seats fussily installed all up the bridleway. They were topped with staples and turned out to be mounting blocks for horse riders. As if riders really need to be hopping on and off every few minutes.