The fountain in Dingley Dell had been there for centuries. It stood opposite a very old and twisted tree near the edge of the park and for as long as locals could remember, it was tradition to throw in a coin and make a wish. Legend said that within the twisted old tree lived a elf. Under cover of darkness, he would lift coins from the water, clean them till they shone and bury them around the park. As time went by, they would be found again. Local custom was to either return what you found to the fountain, or, if the find would make a dream come true or be helpful in some way to the finder, they could keep it. Sometimes an old lady would find one while walking her dog. Knowing the story, she would go to the fountain, close her eyes, make a wish and throw the coin back in the water. Sometimes, children would find coins while digging in the sandpit. They would run to show Mummy their buried treasure and thus, the story of the fountain and its tradition would be passed down through the generations. Sometimes in summer months, if the coins found were currency in use today, children would be given the option of throwing the coins back in the fountain and making wishes, or using them to buy ice cream. Most times children chose the latter. Ice cream was guaranteed to be helpful, putting smiles on children’s faces! Sometimes, a young schoolboy would find one as he walked through the park at lunchtime. If it was an ancient coin, he might be delighted and keep it to use in his history project. Otherwise he would follow tradition and return it to the fountain, making a wish instead, to get good marks for the history project.

And so was the tradition of Dingley Dell fountain and the legend of -

The Twisted Tree Elf

Every night in Dingley Dell

when all is still

just over the hill,

a little face peeps

while everyone sleeps.

The twisted tree elf

lives all by himself,

creeping out when it’s dark,

from under the bark,

where a knobbly mark

was left by a boy

with a knife

- not a toy.

He visits the well,

where wishes are made

and picks up the coins

that people have laid

- in the water.

And all round the park,

under cover of dark,

he buries them there,

with special care,

so others will find them

- later.