September 16th – But of course, in time autumn brings it’s own colours, and in their way, they can be every bit as vivid as those of summer.
The canalside hedgerows near Walsall Wood are looking particularly attractive right now… so all is not lost.
All the seasons have beauty and positivity. Sometimes you just have to look harder to find it.
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September 15th – On the way to Screwfix in Walsall Wood on another busy day of domestic jobs, this frank but welcome warning on the underside of Walsall Wood bridge.
I bet that’s claimed a few cyclist foreheads in it’s time. It is rather low.
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September 14th – In a hedgerow by the towpath in Walsall Wood, a creeper drapes pretty red berries on long, dying tendrils.
Don’t be deceived, white briony – the only native member of the cucumber family in the UK – is deadly poisonous.
It’s pretty but also pretty nasty: One to admire, but not touch I think.
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August 31st – Nipping up to Walsall Wood that evening to see a friend, I passed the pithead sculpture, which always looks dramatic with a good dusk sky behind it.
A structure I’ve never been fond of, it can look fantastic in the right kind of light.
I’m concerned to see the metal flag has sheared off, presumably from repeated wind-flexing. Good job nobody was under it when it dropped. That would have been sharp.
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August 19th – On the way home from a tiring, enervating day, I met these bandits by Clayhanger Bridge.
The family of five I think are the ones that hatched up by Newtown on the canal to Chasewater, and they’re cheeky, bold and in good health. The youngsters are adult sized now and their pecks – even playful ones – come sharp and hard.
Once they realised I had no treats to give and pecking my shoes made no impact, they happily pottered off back to browsing the weed under the watchful eye of mum.
Further towards Catshill, I saw the family of four who I think hatched in Walsall Wood. That means that with the watermead two, six swans locally have raised 11 offspring this year. Not too bad going, I think.
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July 17th – Near Jockey Meadows on the way home, I stopped to take a call on the phone, and whilst mooching around on handsfree, I noticed this 10 spot ladybird in the adjacent hedge.
It appears to be native and not a an invasive harlequin, and yes, 10 spot ladybirds often have 12 spots apparently! There’s a similar yellowish harlequin but the pattern is markedly different and there’s no tell-tale dimple on the rear of the wing cases on this one.
I guess I must have done but I don’t recall seeing one this yellow before. A rather charming and endearing find – and the client who called me had no idea what I was doing.
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June 24th – When I left for work on a decent but grey Monday, I took to the canal with a heavy heart.
It wasn’t long though before something cheered me up – the Walsall Wood swan family, chirruping to each other as they begged for treats in Walsall Wood.
Such a cheerful, delightful family, always under the watchful eye of mum and dad.
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June 6th – On the way home, I noticed the handsome, sprawling honeysuckle that grows along the railings on the southern flank of the Black Cock Bridge in Walsall Wood are in full bloom now.
Sadly, someone will be along to clip this back like a hedge soon, they always do when in flower and that always puzzles me.
It remains lovely though, and it tumbles down the embankment in the pasture below, a haven for bees, bugs and passing cyclists who adore the scent.
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June 4th – The orchid season is upon us, and two spotted miles apart: The tall purple one (about 12 inches high) is the one spotted in the patch by the canal in Walsall Wood last week: It’s developed beautifully.
The second is a random lone soldier spotted beside the cycleway at Telford station: In the lovely pink-purple colour you can really see the gorgeous patterns on the petals.
Both seem to be northern marsh orchids but I’m certainly no expert.
Beautiful flowers and some of my favourites – only here for a few short weeks so if you want to find some, get out now.
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May 30th – One of my favourite times of summer is when the orchids come into bloom.
There are many species of orchid in the UKL and none are particularly common – those we see around the canals and marshes of the local area now are a recent thing and a delight to see.
Varying in shade from a sort of lavender blue to very deep purple, the marsh orchids by the canal and over CLayhanger Common are just beautiful.
Let’s hope the mowers of the Canal and River Trust are held off until they’ve finished their lovely display for another year.
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