August 29th – The ford at Hints, where the Black Brook crosses Rookery Lane is highly seasonal and is currently dry as bone. In dry weather,the brook ru s in a series of culverts around the site of the former mill and forge, remnants of which can still be seen from the beautiful pedestrian footbridge nearby. As I stood on this bridge, a Kingfisher flew under the arch. Far too fast for me to catch on camera, the cobalt blue flash is still a heart stopper.

May 15th – Teenagers, huh? This one, ambling up Rookery Hill in Hints, despite being warned by (presumably) her mother, didn’t once look up from her mobile as I headed towards her. Ah, bless.

April 9th – Another leisure run out around Staffordshire and south Derbyshire. Plenty of buzzards, kestrels, rabbits and songbirds. Sadly, unusually high levels of roadkill at the moment. Oilseed rape is coming on, and the air is beginning to smell of pollen and green. Blossom is well advanced with cherries, apple and the continuing blackthorn showing well.

April 8th – escape from work and a 45 mile pleasure ride taking in Footherly, Canwell, Hints, Hopwas, Elford, Harlaston, Edingale, Whitemoor Haye, Whittington and Lichfield. I was on fire today – think my cycling legs are returning after winter. I felt very fluid. Probably wont last… The sun was beautifully warm, but have a feeling that April may well be lulling us into a false sense of security.