June 18th – I noticed cycling back home that the field between the sewage works and Goblin Wood in Walsall Wood seems to be host to a crop of broad beans, or at least, beans of some variety. Last year this field grew quinoa, and I guess growing a legume will re-nitrate the soil for good crop rotation. The crop looks healthy, despite being a little ravaged at the southern edge due to the weather. An interesting and unusual sight.
August 9th – Down by Goblin Woods, just off Green Lane, Walsall Wood, there’s a field of barley gently ripening in the late afternoon sun. It’s an interesting strain as it’s very short, and I think it must be being organically grown due the high quantity of weeds in the crop. Nevertheless, it looks gorgeous against the trees, and is in superb condition. Wonder if it’s being grown for brewing?
June 23rd – I notice signs have gone up proclaiming Coppice Wood a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, and quite rightly so. I suspect it’s one of the oldest patch of holly and oak woodlands in the local area. It’s certainly an old wood, and is shown on the oldest maps of the area I have, which refer to it by the rather better name of Goblin’s Wood.
This sits alongside the fact that Jockey Meadows is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI, as is most of Chasewater. This recognises the significance of the ecology of the area and affords it additional legal protection.
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