August 5th – The Swan still remains closed, in apparent contradiction to the desire of prospective purchasers to reopen this lost community local. One of several closed pubs in Brownhills, it lies dormant, a symptom of a trade and tradition sadly in decline.
Find out about the unfortunate fate of another lost local on my main blog.
July 4th – The day started bright enough, but finished a dull, headache-grey overcast. Returning home from work I hopped onto the canal at Walsall Wood and headed towards Brownhills. I noted that one of the two pairs of breeding swans on the canal were active and had six surviving cygnets. In recent years this has been a large clutch, but 6 or 7 years ago it seemed usual to see broods of 8 or more. I wonder if this reduction in cygnets is just normal or if something darker is at work? The other pair only managed two.
April 17th – wonderful to see the swans are nesting again on the canal by Lanes Farm. They used to nest in the reeds at the winding hole further down, but in the last couple of years, they’ve gradually moved closer to the mill. Whether this will yield a brood this year or be another dry run, it remains to be seen, but it would be nice to see a full compliment of cygnets this year.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 