Likewise, the presence of evil people results in heavy industry, spoil, and poison – both Orthanc and the Shire.

John Betjeman wrote a great poem on a similar note, about and titled Slough, that starts:

Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough!
It isn’t fit for humans now,
There isn’t grass to graze a cow.
Swarm over, Death!

He wasn’t a fan of the Industrial Revolution and its effects on a hitherto agrarian ideal of Englishness, by all accounts.

Let’s not forget: the places that most agree without hesitation are the best are the ones where various “pipe leaf” come from… 🤓🤘🏼

The OG ents even have a song about it. ✨