Tag: Walsall Wood

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.

June 16th – This is a first for me – Red Deer at Jockey Meadows. I know  I’m late to the party, since warning signs have been up for a couple of years, but these two young ladies are the first I’ve spotted close to Green Lane. They weren’t too timid, and seemed to be enjoying the lush grass and deep cover the meadow provides. I just hope the drivers on Green Lane take care. Hitting a deer is often fatal for the driver as well as the unfortunate animal.

June 16th – Jockey Meadows is an under-appreciated Site of Special Scientific Interest between Walsall Wood and Shelfield. Naturally wet, the grassland here is lush and verdant. There are many rare species here and it’s a vital green lung for the north Walsall area. Sadly, it’s often the prey of flytippers and scramblers, but on the whole it’s a peaceful oasis that’s well worth a visit.

June 7th – The old St. John’s School and adjacent bungalow in Walsall Wood continue to deteriorate unloved, as they have done for 30 years or more. This formerly handsome, well liked building is slated for demolition and redevelopment, yet nothing ever seems to happen. This belies a tale of neglect, bad management and community frustration. It’s sad to see a beautiful building, a gift to the community of Walsall Wood over a century ago, just rot away on the whims of those after a fast buck from the property market.

June 1st – A great friend from Walsall recently commented that when he came back from holidays or distant journeys, crossing Shire Oak Hill in the car always made him and his family feel like they were nearly home. I love this view. Seeing it, like the one from Church Hill in Walsall, reminds you of what a tremendously green area Walsall actually is.

Nipping up to the Wood on the way home, I was reminded of this. Al, you’re a star.

May 20th – Shopping trip to Waitrose, in Lichfield, early evening. Pleased to see I can still make it up Castlehill Road from Stonnall with fully loaded panniers without stopping. The light had a peculiar quality today, liquid, golden and gorgeous.

I’m noticing a lot of interesting but everyday architecture lately.

May 14th – Binary Wharf is an oddly named canalside housing development in Walsall Wood. Named after the former home of a computer software company it replaced – Binary House – it’s architecturally quite interesting, with a varied roofline and an odd mix of levels. I was terribly disappointed when it opened that the numbering system was decimal, the only correct numbers to use would should have been 000,001,010,011… Oh, to live at 101, Binary Wharf…

April 23rd – Waiting for the rain that never came. On the canal in Walsall Wood, the Walsall Wood Fisherman – Rod to his acquaintances – is still without the company of Bob the fish, mysteriously ‘lost’ some months ago. 

The sculpture, like it’s fellow follies, now looks rusted, scruffy and forlorn. It’s utterly symbolic of the supposed regeneration and council attitude to the village. Throw some sculpture at it and hope it goes away.

Thankfully, the spirit and soul of the Walsall Wood people is stronger and worth more than that…