At about the half way point on the return along the linear route of my walk this week there is a kissing gate which stands alone at the junction of a small footpath leading off through the fields. The photo below suggests a peck on the cheek rather than a kiss but though I went to get a photo of the reflections in the path-side pool, I didn’t actually go through the gate. It was, as I said, standing alone and there was no need to go through it when I could go round – I wondered why it was there at all but was conscious of not using it. Had it been made of wood I am certain I would have used it but while the idea of a gate of this design has practical purposes, the modern materials rather spoil the effect.
The metal of the kissing gate may not be as attractive as wood but it is at least in context with its reasoning – to allow walkers through but not cyclists, horses, etc. However, the same cannot be said of the shopping trolley abandoned by the wayside which is utterly out of context and somewhat of a blot on the landscape.
