Conspicuous and deadly, the razor sharp blades of Pampas grass need to be drastically curtailed in the garden. The grass smells pleasant enough when burnt but the aroma cant compete with that of turf drifting down from a cottage chimney, even when sampled passing a city centre bar, the smell has the power to evoke nostalgic images of the past and provide a link back to a time when the bogs first began to form. Compared to other sources of heat a turf fire requires a lot of effort for very little reward and like the donkey's that hauled it from the bog, turf has become thin on the ground. Forest clearings initiated or contributed to the formation of the bogs resulting in a layered record of our presence on this island emanating from the depths of pre history. Advancing techniques show that the bogs still have many secrets to reveal and are far to valuable a resource to burn when alternative sources exist. Similar to Pampas grass but possessing a phenomenal growth rate Chinese Elephant grass may dominate our landscape in the near future. An energy crop utilised by power stations, it thrives in our damp climate and unlike fossil fuels does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. It has the potential to dramatically change the composition of our countryside with yields estimated to be the equivalent of 36 barrels of oil per hectare. Slow forming like the bogs but unprotected and commonplace, rural buildings and their associated field patterns have also recorded the passage of time, fashioned as a result of climatic, cultural and political changes they unite to form a distinctive vista loved by poets and travellers. A reduced reliance on fossil fuels and a move towards energy crops while welcomed needs to be carefully managed to ensure that the unique character of our scenery is retained. The tall impenetrable cover provided by the Elephant grass may be favoured by deer and other wildlife but there's not much in it for Artists and Donkeys.