June 29th – Returning in steady, not unpleasant drizzle through Wednesbury, I spotted what once was a local wildflower rarity, on the grass verges round the Parkway Island subway system: Self-Heal.
This pretty little purple flower – it really is tiny, and easily mistaken for clover – is edible and a tradition salve for irritated skin. Spotted with fine rain, it was a beautiful and lovely find on a dull journey.
June 20th – A day of errands in the Black Country and plenty of riding the canals, green and limpid as they always are in summer, and alive with life, from the Wednesbury mother and foal to the bugs in the cowparsley.
The pink flowers are stunning and I spotted them on the way home in Harden, just on the canal bank there. Does anyone know what they are? they’re absolutely gorgeous.
June 6th – A truly awful morning commute with 30mph headwinds and driving rain made for a squally, wolfish day; but in the afternoon the constant rain broke to showers, and I went about getting some stuff done in the Black Country. Returning home from Tipton, I headed for Wednesbury from Ocker Hill and caught my favourite twin sisters – the churches that crown Church Hill in Wednesbury – is sunlight but with threatening skies.
I love this place. Even in bad weather. It’s where my heart is.
April 26th – Another cold day, but not quite as bad as the day before; but it still feels like it’ll never be warm ever again. This is a most peculiar season.
Zipping about the Black Country on errands, wrapped up in woolly hat and scarf despite the bright sunshine it felt most odd. But there are spring flowers in abundance and every other element of spring is here. Just not warmth.
In Wednesbury, the tulips don’t seem to mind. Perhaps I’m going soft in my old age.
March 28th – On a grey, misty and cold morning running through Wednesbury on an errand, what better pick-me-up than this embankment of daffodils?
I was cold, and not feeling the love at all, but these reversed my gloom. Daffodils are such lovely flowers and I adore the way they transform even mundane industrial estates like this.
March 16th – Also bursting forth now, a whole tranche of spring flowers in parks and gardens. I’ve no idea what these red and white globular ones are I spotted in Wednesbury, but that are absolutely gorgeous.
Despite not feeling well, the weather and nature have been doing their damnedest all week to cheer me up – which is welcome!
March 6th – I was passing through Wednesbury on my way home, and it was light – so I did something I’ve been meaning to do for years – visit the twin churches of St. Bartholomew’s and St Mary’s on top of Chuirch Hill, overlooking the Black Country.
I frequently admire this pair of spires from Kings Hill – one Church of England, on Catholic, both having watched over their flocks from this high vantage point for over a century each.
St Bart’s is lovely: large grounds with spring flowers and wide views surround the sandstone church, which has a great spire and beautiful clock. Weather-worn and stained with soot, this handsome church has withstood the ravages of the Black Country air very well indeed.
The grounds of St Mary’s were disappointingly locked, so I was unable to get a close look, but it’s an equally beautiful terracotta brick church with a lovely copper-roofed spire. It very much put me in mind of St. Chad’s, in Birmingham.
The ride up here really wasn’t too bad, and I’ll certainly be coming back to watch the seasons change. If you’re at a loose end near here, I can really recommend a visit.
March 2nd – Been passing this sign for ages now. Only today did I stop to read the small print.
Really? That’s a very bold claim. How did that even come about?
They do look extraordinarily tall. An odd curiosity.
March 2nd – As I said yesterday, the season of transition is upon me; and that includes the period of travelling – on good days, at least – in the golden hour.
I often talk about this magical time, when just approaching sunset the light becomes soft, suffused with pink and gold and changes everything it touches to a precious, rare jewel.
There are few better places to catch such a time than Kings Hill Park and the view of the Twin Sisters. Bathed in the evening sun, they looked even more majestic than usual, but so did the park, and the sunset on the way home along the canal wasn’t too shabby, either.
This’ll do.
February 20th – I passed through Wednesbury late, a town I often pass through but rarely stop in, which is a shame as it’s a great place. On this dark, mild evening it was still busy, and the lights and interesting buildings made for an inviting, busy urban scene.
I must explore this place more.
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