Tag: bridge

July 4th – Fully loaded with shopping, I pottered back, becoming slower and slower as my energy dropped. I was pleased to note, however, lots of new duckling families on the canal at Brownhills. There are mallard chicks from newly hatched to a week or so old, clearly all second clutches.

This summer seems to be favouring the wildlife, which is nice to see.

June 29th – I’m loving the orchids this year – they seem to have been becoming steadily more profuse over the past few years. I make no apology for repeatedly featuring them, for they are remarkable flowers, and this year they face a herculean struggle to avoid the rigid, inflexible Canal & River Trust mowing schedule, which has seen many fine blooms wiped out.

They’re only here for a short few weeks. Keep your eye out for that flash of vivid purple in the grass – there are several different varieties locally. This one is near Pier Street Bridge in Brownhills.

June 22nd – Another impressive showing this year is the honeysuckle, or woodbine on the south side of the Black Cock Bridge in Walsall Wood. A veritable carpet of pink-yellow blooms, it’s alive with bugs and bees and smells gorgeous.

I love the slightly prehistoric, otherworldly appearance of the flowers, too.

June 12th – Just found this from a few weeks ago. 

Riding out of the Galton Valley canal cutting in one go up on to Galton Bridge. Real time, no stopping. 

For a tubby old bloke, I still have me moments. 

Music ‘Forest Dance’ by Jethro Tull.

(Source: https://player.vimeo.com/)

June 10th – A little further on, on the south side of the Black Cock Bridge, one of my favourite local bits of wilding is coming into flower – the huge, rambling honeysuckle growing from the paddock up the bank to the railings.

As usual, it’s divine, and bigger than the year before.

This is a beautiful spot and the shrub itself is charming and smells delightful. A real sign of a nascent summer.

June 9th – Further up the canal at Bentley Bridge, another yellow wonder of the season: the water lilies are just coming out. These yellow ones are first, then later come the pink-wihite variety.

These seem good for bugs, and add an interesting shock of colour to the waterways. Seeing them is always the sign of an advancing season.

June 3rd – I found myself riding home through Walsall Wood and on through Brownhills in a gorgeous golden hour. The coos of Jockey Meadows were waiting at the gate, and keen to investigate me as I stopped to take their picture. 

On the canal, the greens are still magnificent, and something about the light and water interacted and made the evening precious.