Tag: Arrow Valley

May 15th – The wild garlic, or ramsons as it is occasionally known, is a blast right now. There’s a glade of it growing on the riverbank of the River Arrow, just in a copse adjacent to Ipsley Meadows on the Arrow Valley cycle route. To enter this shaded, secluded place is a full-scale assault on the senses; the heady smell of garlic is strong; the carpet of white flowers gorgeous. The sound, too, of birds singing in the trees above. The foliage of the plant can be eaten and used in cooking, as can the flowers. A wonderful thing, to be sure.

May 15th – Today, I found myself in Redditch, and blessed all day with that smug, just managed to avoid the rain glow. I haven’t been down the Arrow Valley cycle route for ages, and in today’s bright sunlight, it was a verdant gem. The varieties of colour in the different trees nd grasslands, coupled with the water of the river and central lake made for a spot I could happily have spent all day in. A joy to the heart.

April 13th – Ah, the true English. Yesterday, I feature my first bluebell of the year, spotted on a verge at Sandhills, near Brownhills. Sadly, it was the foreign, invasive variety. I should, have course, realised that the English ones would have been easy to find in the Arrow Valley, also a haven of my beloved wild garlic. If you compare this plant with that featured yesterday, you’ll note the blooms droop more, are generally more delicate, largely on one side of the stem and the colour is a richer violet.

You can’t beat the real thing… even in Redditch.

April 13th – By heck, it was nippy this morning. Not cold by winter standards, of course, but cold by spring ones. There was quite a heavy frost last night, and it made for an interesting mist. The sunrise wasn’t vivid like earlier in the week, but pastel-hued and ever changing. At Stonnall, my muse, Grove Hill, was stunning, as were the pylons and woods at Mill Green. An hour and a half later, on the Arrow Valley cycle route in Redditch, the lake was also captivating, it’s fringes holding a light mist, softening the light that made even the Canada Geese precious.

November 2nd – I know I keep banging on about the autumn and Arrow Valley park in Redditch. It’s just that the season, and the place, are very beautiful right now. The past few days have been a tad miserable, but when the sky has lightened, it’s really highlighted the colours of autumn. Here, near Ipsley bank, the sycamore and willow leaf fall, whilst treacherous, are rather lovely to cycle through, and a joy in the early morning.

November 1st – This was annoying. Spinning down the Arrow Valley cycleway in Redditch, some travelling showman had left his artic completely blocking the track at a crossing point, leaving about 20 inches between the wagon and the hedge to squeeze through. There’s no excuse for this, it’s just bloody inconsiderate. No idea what the muppet was doing here, anyway. Perhaps the funfair is coming to the arrow valley park?

October 31st – The Arrow Valley route in Redditch was looking excellent today – the leaves have really turned now, and the recent rains seemed to have cleansed things and sharpened them up. For what I would personally consider the first day of Winter – the first day of non-British Summer Time, when it was dark when I left home, and dark when I left work. The autumn colour certainly improved my dismal Monday mood – shame the newly burnt out car abandoned on the trail pulled it back down again. There’s some arseholes about.

October 27th – The rains came today, and I was glad; we need the water for replenishing the reservoirs, ponds and streams, and of course, Chasewater. After the otherworldly beauty of yesterday, the Arrow Valley in Redditch was wearing a very grey, rainy overcoat. It still had it’s unique beauty though, and it was good to see the Arrow flowing with some purpose again. 

October 26th – It was with some surprise that a noticed quite a dense mist over the countryside south of Birmingham as I zipped through on the train. I love misty mornings like this, and when they happen, I try to get near water where the mist is most beautiful. Fortunately, today I was passing through the Arrow Valley in Redditch anyway, and it didn’t disappoint. The park as a whole was gorgeous, wreathed in a thin, billowy mist, but the lake stole the show. I was so absorbed by it, I was very nearly late… but it was worth it.

October 12th – This is Redditch. Not on the outskirts, or the countryside surrounding, but right in the middle. The Arrow Valley Lake is a favourite of boaters, watersports types and anglers. Situated in the Arrow Valley Park, which serves as a green ‘spine’ for the new town, it’s a stones throw from factories and busy roads – but you’d never know it. When I’m working in Redditch, I pass it every morning. A fine start to the day.