Tag: Arrow Valley

#365daysofbiking Death throes:

November 20th – In Redditch, just like everywhere else I guess, Autumn is in it’s death throes now. Winter is on my shoulder and it was cold, and on the way home, wet too. It’s not yet frosty, but there’s a characteristic bite in the air that finds every sensitive tooth when you first step out.

Rolling along the Arrow Valley through the park to visit a customer, the river and meadows were still gorgeous. But you can tell it’s ending now. Another week or so and winter will be here.

But also, it’s only a little over a month now until the shortest day. A month. Then darkness will be in retreat once more.

Onwards. I’m ready now.

August 8th – Unusually, I was in Redditch visiting a supplier and despite the (currently rare) overcast day, I was reminded of what gorgeous, surprising corners the new town has.

Redditch gets a lot of stick – much of it deserved – for dull planning and generally being a product of postwar urban design; but where it works – Lick the respectfully preserved Church Green or the gorgeous Arrow Valley Country Park, with the time hamlet of Ipsley preserved within – it’s rather wonderful.

I actually like this place a lot. There, I said it.

November 29th – As I got to Redditch, the frost was still quite pronounced and coated grass and fallen leaves. It’s been a bit of a shock this year, we’ve been plunged into comparatively cold weather surprisingly quickly in the season after several mild winters with only a few really cold days.

I do hope this is a portent and we have lots of cold weather to come – maybe even a decent fall of snow…

September 5th – Always worth noting that Redditch, despite the stick it gets (often from me), has some surprisingly beautiful corners and is actually very interesting.

Running the north-south length of central Redditch is the Arrow Valley park, a green vein with cycleways, horse trails, a large Watersport lake and other attractions. About two thirds of the way south is the tiny, preserved hamlet of Ipsley.

This is a sign of what was here before the new town grew; but it’s a peaceful, beautiful and bucolic island, not more than a few hundred yards from factories, housing estates and highways.

It’s a remarkable thing and worth a visit.

October 24th – I was in Redditch, which is quite a rarity for me these days. It wasn’t a great day weather-wise, either, and the rain caught me on the way back – taking shelter in the bakery at the top of Unicorn Hill, I realised I had to go for my train. I got soaked.

Like Telford, it’s easy to take the mickey out of Redditch, but it’s really rather beautiful, and at no time does it show more than autumn. From the neat order of Church Green, to the timber frame houses of Ipsley, the grey heron on Arrow Lake and the peaceful solitude of the cycleway, this isn’t a bad place.

It’s even better when the sun’s out…

September 3rd – Arum Maculatum is a common sight in hedgerows and woods at this time of year. Known variously as Wild arum, Lords and Ladies, Devils and Angels, Cows and Bulls, Cuckoo-Pint, Adam and Eve and even Naked Boys, it’s a very unusual plant which sheds it’s foliage before fruiting leaving a 6 to 12 inch high column of bright orange-red berries. These berries are highly poisonous and this is the plant responsible for most hospital admissions due to accidental ingestion in the UK.

The berries contain a toxin which makes the oral tract tingle, and causes sickness and swelling of the throat. Always avoid touching it, although the temptation to do so us great, it has an almost artificial appearance that renders it grimly fascinating.

What always worries me about this plant is that it’s at a perfect height, and so brightly attractive, that young kids may be drawn to it. What yours if you’re out walking.

This example is growing, along with lots of others, on the riverbank near the Arrow Valley cycle path in Redditch.

May 6th – Three years ago, I took and posted a photo of the glade of Ramsons (or wild garlic) in the Arrow Valley Park in Redditch. For some reason an odd, quite poor photo of a common British plant has earned over 10,600 likes and reblogs on Tumblr, It’s far and away my most popular post on this journal ever, and I have absolutely no idea why, it’s bizarre.

Today, I had to go to Redditch early – a rare occurrence these days. I stopped off to check out the glade this year – it’s still gorgeous. The smell – a heady, full on odour just like normal garlic – is astounding. This really is a remarkable plant.

Bear in mind this glade is no more than a few hundred yards from heavy industry, and about a mile from Redditch town centre. It’s a remarkable place, Redditch, in lots of ways.

June 4th – A hectic one. I had a morning meeting in Redditch, and an afternoon one in Telford, so I spent most of this gorgeous, sunny day either cycling, or on the train. Redditch’s the Arrow Valley cycleway is still gorgeous. I love the way the tiny hamlet of Ipsley is preserved in the middle of a park, surrounded by urban sprawl. The wild garlic glade has improved since my last visit, too. 

A joy to the heart.

August 14th -The rabbit population, after being recently ravaged by myxomatosis, seems to be in recovery. EverywhereI go now I see lots of the cute little fellows: this delightful lady was grazing on the bridle way in Arrow Valley Park. Right in the centre of Redditch. There are factories and a main road clanking away not more than 100 yards from here.