The Archers

[Ric.ror]

Whats a Ha Ha

[vehelpfulguy]

Well in terms of the countryisde it is a ditch which separates a house (usually a large country house) with the open fields where animals graze.

Here is a cartoon picture of one

http://www.yale.edu/yup/images/bormann3.jpg

Some very rich people used to like the idea that their land went on forever (it probably did). They did not like the idea of a wall or fence at the end of their garden, and then open fields.

So they built a Ha Ha so that they could look out and just see fields going off into the distance, but animals could not walk in to their garden.

Usually from the garden side you could not see the ditch so it did look like the land just carried on. Only when you get up close can you see the ditch.

Here is a descrption from wiki with some pictures that make it clearer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ha-ha_(garden)

[vehelpfulguy]

Here is an excellent picture of a haha

http://homepage.mac.com/laddie/orangepeelmorri s/OP_England_Tour/Images/OPE_Hengrave_haha_JPG .jpg

The area on the right is the garden, the area on the left would have sheep or cows grazing.

From the garden side you would not see the ditch, so it would look like the land just carried on.

But from the grazing side on the left a sheep or cow could not get into the garden because of the ditch and wall.

[carrot99]

There is one to be seen in Woolwich, London. SE18. It runs along Ha Ha Road.

[Ric.ror]

I have rated you all for your excellent answers - carrot99 - I have not rated you as highly as I will not be in London again until September. Its a good job you are here for me to ask as I would not understand half the tech terms in the Archers without you.

[makemesmile]

Thanks for asking Ric.ror - I just thought it must be something personal to Nigel, and I'd missed it's relevance.
Cheers!