As the floods retreat from the Aire valley, it appears to me that traces of an earlier world known to hunter gathers surface. For small areas of marshland and waist deep blogs mingle with the sombre lichen covered trees, many of which stand contorted against the grey sky. Whilst a fine mist endeavours to hide the silhouettes of nearby hills and mountains. Did Tolkien see such a landscape as he was developing his ideas for, The Lord of the Rings?