May 13th – On the way home from work, near Catshill Junction, one of Brownhills’ most closely watched families – the Watermead swans – head towards Catshill, purpose unknown.
Mum and dad and 3 cygnets, like any family. Proud mother, protective father and chattering, pottering children, learning all the time.
Timeless and beautiful to see.
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May 12th – Newlands Lane, on the Norton Canes/Cannock/Heath Hayes border, just and the sun went down.
Through the trees to the right is an enormous landfill, to the left, ex-mining and industrially scarred land.
Beauty can be found in the most unexpected places if you stop looking for it and enjoy the view.
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May 12th – Another long ride out exploring west towards Coven, Brewood and Lapley, on a bad, but not awful stomach was hard work, but I’d decided to revisit Lower Avenue, site of the astounding bridge of the major canal artery, the Shropshire Union Canal.
I wasn’t disappointed and it was worth the effort.
The bridge – built for access to Chillington Hall was originally part of a long, well maintained avenue of trees now split into upper and lower; lower is publicly accessible and now woodland with this stunning centrepiece, giving an air of genteel decline.
I dropped down on to the canal below and rode to Lapley, crossing the Telford-constructed Stretton Aqueduct. The view of this beautiful, limpid green waterway were wonderful, soothing and very enjoyable.
At this time of year, Staffordshire is at it’s finest. Get out there if you can.
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May 11th – And on my return, after dark, a familiar metallic face standing proud against a deep, very deep blue night sky.
I love Morris. He’s my sign of homecoming.
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May 11th – A busy day elsewhere, and a late ride out saw me cross the Pier Street Bridge in Brownhills at dusk.
This time next week it’ll be busy with boats for the all-weekend Brownhills Canal Festival, but right now it was quiet and peaceful, which only the gentle chatter of waterfowl breaking the silence.
No matter what time of day you come here, there’s always a defferent light to make it uniquely lovely.
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May 10th – One of the most unnoticed blossoms of all that decorate the hedgerows and waysides this time of year is rowan, or mountain ash. This pretty, nicely scented flowers are mostly little appreciated because they appear at the same time as hawthorn flowers, so it all blends into one.
Rowan has beautiful orange berries that are good for jams and wine, and are a lovely splash of late-summer colour.
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May 9th – I had to go to telford – again, in stead but thankfully fairly light rain.
Whilst I might be rueing the grey and damp, the greenery appears to be loving it. On the cycleway from Telford Station to Priorslee, the green tunnel has now fully returned after months of barren bare tress and hedgerows.
This is actually a joy to cycle along – alive with birds and insects, different types of tree and blossom and such beautiful, vivid colour.
It is in the most unexpected, urban spaces one finds the most stunning, remarkable beauty.
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May 7th – Further up the canal at Bentley Bridge near Darlaston Green, another sign of spring: The roses are flowering on the edge of the canal – rather poetically between scrapyards either side of the canal, between which the green vein of the canal ambles, being beautiful.
The roses smell gorgeous and are a true joy to the heart in such grey times.
I don’t know where the warmth and sun are hiding but we could do with them back. But in the meantime, this is a wonderful burst of brightness for sure.
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May 5th – Up at Whittington Hurst, a lovely secluded bluebell wood by the roadside I’ve never noticed before.
I left the house seeking peace and healing. And in this wood in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by delicate, English bluebells, I found it.
Here’s to recovery, and a better day.
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May 4th – On an evening with a very bad IBS episode, with stomach cramps impeding my progress significantly, I took a ride to Chasewater in absolutely gorgeous light.
The canal, my favourite tree at Home Farm, Sandhils and the sunset itself were a real tonic and made my tired, aching body feel much better.
Sometimes, actually getting out and making the effort makes you feel better: Especially when it’s such a beautiful day.
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