May 3rd – Hasty, long range shots but of something I rarely, if ever see in Brownhills.: a mistle thrush. Indeed, thrushes and redwings don’t seem to frequent my hometown much at all, for some reason which is odd as there’s no lack of snails.
Yet in the centre of Darlaston this fellow was hopping around on a grass verge at rush hour, oblivious to the traffic and noise nearby, collecting worms for his family.
What gorgeous, proud and strident birds these are. A joy to see.
May 1st – Today, I did something I’d been meaning to do for years – I paid a visit to Balleny Green, a little-known narrow gauge railway layout run by Sutton Coldfield Model Engineering Society at Little Hay, between Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield.
I’ve known this place was here for years, but never caught it open. This time, I made a concerted effort to find out when it was a ‘steam up day’ and popped in.
This was just so English. No entry fee. No charges to ride. Just a bunch of people sharing their love of a fascinating, beautifully engineered hobby in the middle of rolling countryside in gorgeous grounds.
There is a long layout consisting of several tracks – including a miniature one – but on the larger one, which interestingly is dual gauge – passengers sit in or on carriages and are conveyed by small locomotives – today one steam, one electric – through tunnels, over junctions, level crossings, past ponds, signals, signal boxes. It’s gorgeous.
The whole thing is clearly a labour of love.
There were no other attractions, and none were needed: tea and biscuits, and a tin for donations to cover running costs.
All right here on the doorstep, and few know about it. A wonderful thing.
Find out more about Balleny Green at their website here. I’d like to thank the members for a beautiful, life-affirming thing.
April 27th – On the way back from an errand in Shenstone, I noticed these delicate little flowers growing at the roadside between Footherley and Lower Stonnall. They’re a pink/white/mauve colour and absolutely beautiful.
Has anyone any idea what they are please?
April 25th – Although still very cold for the time of year, there was no trace of snow when I rolled into Telford that afternoon. On the contrary, with the trees and hedgerows coming into leaf a little bit of urban magic has returned to my life: the lovely green tunnels that form the cycleways of the new town.
They are absolutely beautiful and a joy to ride upon…
April 24th – And not far away, just drifting on the canal asleep, softness and colour of a different natural kind. Mallards are colourful birds – even the females who would ordinarily be considered plain have remarkable colourings if you look closely. This fellow’s head is a lovely shade of iridescent green.
As I watched him and took his picture, he opened one eye, regarded me sleepily, and closed it again, totally at peace, drifting in the breeze.
April 16th – At Chasewater, someone has designed and implemented a cunning Bob-trap, by planting the dam with my all time favourite flowers: Cowslips.
On this grey, showery afternoon without much to commend it, the sight of thousands of these bright yellow blooms forming a veritable carpet was a joy to the heart.
When I was a kid, you couldn’t find a cowslip for love nor money, and I feared they’d die out: now, thanks to seeding like this and the odd bit of guerrilla activity (cough) they greet me everywhere.
Do get over and see it if you can: my images really don’t do it justice.
My compliments and thanks to whoever did this. You made a man very happy today.
April 14th – Unexpectedly, I came upon a beautiful sight in Brownhills – over thirty moored narrowboats from the Historic Narrow Boat Club who’re on their Wyrley Wander tour and stopping here until Monday when they move on to Town Arm in Walsall.
This is a really great spectacle and worth a visit – even in the rain! Find out more on the main blog here.
April 13th – This made me double take: on the cycleway at Telford, what I thought was one cherry tree with two different colours of blossom. Closer inspection showed it to be two separate trees, growing intertwined. What a beautiful sight!
Also beautiful is the oceans of petal confetti decorating the verges and paths. Such a wonderful time of year.
April 11th – In kings Hill Park in Darlaston, the flowers continue to be a delight whenever I pass through; today the deep pink tulips were in bloom, sprouting in profusion from the planters – and in the strip of wildflowers I found a week or so ago, the flowering continues in earnest.
Such a beautiful display in a very well-loved and cared-for urban park.
April 9th – The canal through Tamworth is very underrated. Living in the shadow of the River Tame that bisects the old town, there’s a major junction here and some remarkable architecture.
It’s a shame that nobody’s found a long-term use for the old mill yet. It’s a remarkable building.
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