BrownhillsBob

February 19th – And so, near Whittington at Sittles, first of the season. Welcome back, old friend: I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be a good cycling year…

February 19th – Here at Whitemoor Haye, near Alrewas, there’s an example of a hidden menace stalking Britain’s crops, but it’s rarely mentioned. Everyone loves swans, the graceful, beautiful white birds that populate rivers, canals and parks. However, they have a darker side. Aggressive and voracious of appetite, these large birds with no real natural enemy are multiplying in number at a huge rate. In spring, they gather in huge groups – this is just a tiny one – on fields of very young crops, then proceed to decimate them. Swans love the green shoots of fresh growth, and will gather on any flat field. Farmers will zigzag tape barriers over crops to prevent the hungry birds from landing, but success is limited. After all, you can’t be unkind to such gorgeous birds, can you?

February 19th – Alongside the Chasetown bypass, this bit of urban wit. The ‘Alison, will you marry me?’ sign has been there for weeks, but the conversation has grown in recent days. I love this stuff. Wonder if Alison really did say yes?

February 18th – I had a blast around Shenstone, Wall and Stonnall, and really blew the cobwebs away. Reaching the tiny hamlet of Chesterfield, I realised how nice it looked at sunset. The architecture here really is understated and gorgeous. It’s a shame that a couple of houses further up the village to wards Wall seem to be unoccupied…

February 18th – Down at the junction of Barracks Lane and Lichfield Road, in Brownhills, not far from where the Staffordshire Hoard was found, there’s a filed of horses, which I think belong to nearby Warrenhouse Farm. At the entrance to this field, I spotted this two delightful patches of snowdrops in the hedgerow. Beautiful and delicate, yet somehow hardy, they are a marker, a signal. THeir appearance means that spring cannot be far away…

February 17th – Meanwhile, down in Stonnall, the village was as lovely as ever at night. By day, it’s plain, very modern-estate like, and somewhat redolent of Metroland; the village history utterly swamped by modern housing and unsympathetic pattern development, cashing in on the semi-rural cachet… By night, the character of the physical geography of the village comes out, and complex, historic buildings like the Manor House show their true imperiousness.

Taking night photos in Stonnall is odd. I always feel the twitch of curtains, and I never really feel that anywhere else. Beginning to wonder if it’s a Midlands Midwich, or possibly Stepford…

February 17th – Riding down into Stonnall from Brownhills for a change, just to stretch the legs a little at dusk, I stopped to take in the view from the entry to Shire Oak landfill – what used to be Sandhills quarry. Watching the lights come on over this landscape is always captivating. I could waste hours here, watching the light change and daylight pass into evening. It’s sad that the view – which is excellent – doesn’t lend itself terribly well to photography.

February 17th – I’ve no idea what’s going on here. This building, sat halfway along Lindon Road, Brownhills, was once a gent’s barbers. Latterly workshop of Maurice Baker, genius but grumpy engineer, it was converted back into a house in the mid-80’s. I’m unsure what the joke is or was, but whoever restored the building embedded the tail fin of a bomb into the gable wall just below the eaves. Originally painted red, it has fascinated me for years. There is, as far as I can tell, no record of the property being bombed. Anyone got any idea what it’s about?

The house has since been converted to flats and is in some disrepair. I’d love to know what this distinctly Brownhillian bit of wit is all about.

February 16th – Another odd feature of Brownhills (or at least, Brownhills West) is that we have – or had, until it was purloined by Shugborough – the oldest signpost in the country, allegedly. This wooden fingerpost is a modern replica, itself in a sorry state. The plaque at it’s foot tells the story. Until about 4 years ago, I had no idea this existed, and I found it by accident. I wonder what other surprises are lurking, yet to be found?

It actually says (to the east) ‘To Lichfield 5 miles, Tamworth 11 miles, Atherstone 17 miles’ and to the west ‘To Chester 61 miles, Newport 21 miles, Salop 35 miles’ and on the post ‘1777’ – I’d actually debate it being the oldest, but there you go…

February 16th – There are some things that Wasall Council does very well. It’s countryside services and estates team are wonderful. Rangers, craftsmen and volunteers work hard to look after the acres and acres of common, heath, park and woodland that the borough covers – most of which remains unknown and unexplored to the majority of citizens, which is sad. Here, taking a spin round Brownhills Common on a grey Thursday I noted that someone is gradually repairing the boardwalk, and appears to be doing some coppicing. Excellent stuff.