nichepoetryandprose

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hedge in Le Treuil Arnaudeau (image from Street View)

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map showing distance travelled (map from Google Maps)

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As I continue my virtual cycling through France,  I am thinking about how differently people indicate their property boundaries in New Brunswick and France.  In the Street View images of France, fences, hedges, walls and gates are the norm …

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various walls, hedges and gates in Le Treuil Arnaudeau (image from Street View)

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In New Brunswick, there are occasional fences and some hedges, but usually properties are left quite open and accessible …

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street in Fredericton Junction, New Brunswick (image from Street View)

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As I ‘cycle’ along in France, I have the impression that the French must be private people.  I think I would find opening a gate to get to the front door of a house quite intimidating …

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gates for cars and people – note the small shrine in the nook in the stone wall (image from Street View)

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Barriers serve many purpose, of course:

• they improve security, creating a barrier to intruders
• they can be used to keep pets inside, or to keep children away from the road
• they can keep pests out of gardens (bad bunnies, for example)
• they usually add visual appeal to a property
• they mark property boundaries, preventing disputes with neighbors

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The high wall around the church yard in Montroy encloses a large cemetery ….

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wall around the cemetery and church in Montroy (image from Street View)

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Hedges, fences and walls also limit the visual intrusion of the outside world and create spaces where people can feel comfortable …

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creating private space with vegetation, walls and gates (image from Street View)

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I think barriers are an element of culture.  People who are used to seeing fences come to expect them in the landscape.  Fences and walls are also perceived differently by different cultures.  Because I am not used to gates, I might be quite hesitant to open one in order to say hello to the property owner.  However, someone who is familiar with walls and fences would probably open a gate without a second thought.

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Best View: a stone wall in Fontpatour.  The mason who laid the stones took such care with his work.  The corner stones create a strong framework and the small stones are in groups, interspersed with larger stone …

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Copyright  Jane Tims  2013