April 9th – Another leisure run out around Staffordshire and south Derbyshire. Plenty of buzzards, kestrels, rabbits and songbirds. Sadly, unusually high levels of roadkill at the moment. Oilseed rape is coming on, and the air is beginning to smell of pollen and green. Blossom is well advanced with cherries, apple and the continuing blackthorn showing well.
April 8th – The first good ride of the summer. Hopwas to Hademore on the Coventry Canal through Hopwas Hayes Wood and Tamhorn.
April 8th – escape from work and a 45 mile pleasure ride taking in Footherly, Canwell, Hints, Hopwas, Elford, Harlaston, Edingale, Whitemoor Haye, Whittington and Lichfield. I was on fire today – think my cycling legs are returning after winter. I felt very fluid. Probably wont last… The sun was beautifully warm, but have a feeling that April may well be lulling us into a false sense of security.
April 7th – The bright greens and blues of spring are really beginning to show in the hedgerows, copses and fields. Here at Footherly, the birds are abundant and field margins are busy with rabbits, hares and patrolling buzzards.
April 7th – Little Aston Church looks like a rural idyll, one wouldn’t imagine it to be on the edge of the city, but it is. It has managed to maintain it’s sandstone beauty and air of isolation. A lovely scene to pass on journeys to and from work…
April 6th – The beginning of the Arrow Valley cycling route in Redditch, part of the national cycle network. I ride this as a commute quite often. The route is a ribbon of green surrounded by urbanisation, and is really quite wonderful.
The pause in the middle of the river bridge is to look for Kingfishers, which are a frequent sight here.
April 6th – Spring really got into gear today. Cycling home in shirtsleeves through green country lanes. Here in Lower Stonnall, the hawthorn is well in leaf and the golden hour renders every twist in this quiet lane a beautiful vista.
April 5th – Another work commute. The Arrow Valley cycle path runs right through Redditch and is a joy to cycle. In a couple of months the wild garlic will smell gorgeous here, but for the moment, the Blackthorn is my portal to work. Either side of me is industry. This green ribbon is a real achievement in urban design.
It’s a shame, really, because the rest of Redditch is crap.
April 4th – The Elms island in Aldridge, and some interesting driving. How I love that roundabout – not.
April 3rd – Coulter Lane, Burntwood. Goose offers a little cycling advice, which I’m careful to heed.
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