December 13th – I’m not a superstitious man, but the day really was grim and full of collision, misfortune and trouble.
I came home from work late, in a foul mood. I only took a handful of shots of Clayhanger Bridge of the overflow. When I got in I expected them to be very poor.
At least something went right.
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November 24th – At some point between last week and this, Chasewater’s level increased and it overtopped the spillway weir, but now is sits a couple of inches below this, yet the canal valve remains closed off. How could it be so?
I remembered there is a small valve-controlled weir bypass sluice in the back of the 9-Foot embankment, and for the first time ever, it was open. I’m not altogether clear why.
Releasing water into the full canal would mean loading the Ford Brook/Tame waterway through Walsall and Birmingham via the overflow system, so releasing to the spillway would mean the water goes via the crane brook to meet the Tame near Tamworth, which would be better. I suppose using the sluice allows the dropping of the level of the main reservoir in a much more controlled fashion and creates buffer space if necessary.
It’s very unusual and I don’t think I’ve seen this approach in the seven years since Chasewater was refilled.
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November 10th – Up at Chasewater to hopefully catch the beautiful sunset that never happened, it was clear the reservoir would overtop the weir this week and water would once more flow out into the spillway and Crane Brook, for the first time in a couple of years.
The authorities seem to like to let the lake fill completely every winter now – something that rarely happened previously, presumably to stress test the dam after work to strengthen it a decade ago.
Despite the wind the Nine-Foot pool was glass still and early quiet as dusk fell, maybe in anticipation of the moment when the water finally crossed over…
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October 27th – Of course, at 2am the winter started for me: The clocks went back an hour for another winter, and soon, my commutes to and from work will be mostly in darkness.
I hate the awful ritual of condemning ourself to the negative and depressing early evening darkness, but as a nation we seem hidebound to it.
However, it hadn’t been a bad day and I headed out to see if the sunset would be as spectacular as the day before – it was, in it’s own way.
Autumn has come to The Parade which is now looking gorgeous, and Chasewater was serene and gorgeous as night fell indecently soon. My return along the canal with a good companion was more fun in the dark than I expected, and low light photography was experimented with.
Mostly, the darkness can be bearable if you stop fighting it.
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October 11th – On the way to work on the canal Walsall Wood, I noticed something one doesn’t normally see until early spring: This floating root, probably disturbed by Canal and River Trust efforts to remove the floating algae, is a rhizome of the water lilies that are so profuse here.
This remnant of the summer plant generally sinks to the canal bottom during winter, and when the water warms in spring, it becomes buoyant, floats with other detritus and then takes root, and when rooted, will grow that season’s lilies.
It’s a curious mechanism that actually works very efficiently.
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September 6th – It’s easy to overlook the ubiquitous, humble mallard duck, but they are most beautiful birds if one looks closely.
This female spotted at Clayhanger overflow lives perfectly happily on the canal, and is usually seen loafing with others in a loose social grouping.
The plumage is actually really detailed complete with the underwing blue stripe.
I’m convinced that were they not so common, we’d cherish these affable, indolent birds a lot more than we do.
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June 25th – Nice, but sad to see the white water lilies are out now on the canal between Brownhills and Chasewater.
Running an errant in the evening, I passed these near Freeth Bridge and although I love them, their appearance signals a summer passing.
Hopefully the weather will improve soon and I’ll be able to make the most of it.
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June 15th – With things online getting on top of me, I headed out at lunchtime on a much better day to find cake, sunshine and solace.
The sunshine was patchy, but lovely and I went to my old haunt of Hints Ford to see it after the rains. Green and peaceful as ever, there was much to see: I was particularly fascinated by the honeybee nest in the tree there.
Hints is as gorgeous as it ever was and I’ve missed it – I must try to get here more often.
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June 4th – On the way home, eating at the Lichfield Street/New Ring Road lights at Walsall. The rain had stopped but road conditions were… challenging.
I wish I new why this awful junction and road held so much surface water: It’s not as simple as drainage – it’s something about the surface holding it.
Ah well, at least the downpour had passed. To be in England, in the summertime…
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May 14th – Spring generally comes late to Jockey Meadow, the site of special scientific interest between Walsall Wood and Shelfield.
This year however, it’s looking very green and lush in the water meadows and farmed fields either side of Green Lane.
You wouldn’t think you were surrounded by heavy industry and urban development here, just peace, quiet and birdsong.
A lovely, under-appreciated bit of local greenery.
Wonder if the coos will be here this year?
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