IT was 6.50am, and the morning was aware, but hadn't risen.

There was a symbol of light to the east, enough to give the buildings firm shadows, and I stood on the rise behind Spennells' school when I heard them coming - a squawking of flying geese.

There was a line coming towards me from Wilden, another to my left of it, two others more left, another further left, and one coming directly left.

They all passed over and down behind the trees to Captain's Pool.

Was this simultaneous movement ticker-taped on their subconscious minds, or was the sun, blindingly low these mornings, the guilty party?

This was in autumn. Was this the real thing, the migration, or just another practice?

Now it is spring and they are returning. They are part of Kidderminster's heritage and now, with the incinerator menace apparently gone, isn't it time to beautify the Wilden Pools?

Next, the sugar beet factory will go, so let us conserve the car park with its walk down to the pools and the monumental beet buildings.

The lease of the surrounding estates should finance such a delightful project.

L JEFFRIES

Skylark Way, Kidderminster