Tag: wheat

July 26th – Only three days ago, I mused on the coming harvest. I noticed this evening, whilst cycling back through Lynn, near Stonnall, that it had begun. This is a real seasonal marker for me; I know now that we’re advancing from the flowering to the fruiting, and sadly onwards to autumn. This field had been harvested and partially baled, the giany matted rolls of straw awaiting bagging. one on the other side ofLynn Lane had already been finished. The first of this year’s wheat crop has now left for milling.

Meanwhile, at Sandhills, a view Mike ‘VWCampervan’ said he’d like to see in the sun (the last time I featured this, it was green, wet wheat on a dull day. Now, it was a classic golden field on a glorious sunny high summer evening. Wonderful.

July 11th – After days of moaning about the rain, as I commuted home late this afternoon, the sun came out. This was so joyous to me that I cruised around the lanes of Shenstone for a while, dawning in the warmth, taking in the colours of nature around me. It had been an odd morning commute – I set out in purring rain, but got to the station in sunshine. I’ve been very down about the lack of summer in recent days, and the relentless grind of getting wet nearly every day has taken it’s toll on my mood. This ride, however, was restorative. Blue skies, light fluffy clouds and a gorgeous light. The wheat looked healthy, and the hedgerows and lane margins bristled with life. Excellent. 

July 4th – People will tell you Brownhills is ugly, dirty, post industrial, a hellhole. It is variously none, all, and some of these things. But like the rest of north and central Walsall, it has one surprising trait that is often unseen until pointed out: it’s very, very green. Looking over a field of young wheat at Sandhills, over the canal and Millfield Estate at Catshill, there’s the spire of St. James’s Church, right there, nestling in the trees. Between the rooftops are more shades of green than you’d find in a pantone swatch book. It’s the same if you get up on Church Hill in Walsall. The most urban bits are host to the most remarkable trees, yet the seem to go largely unnoticed.

In case you’re wondering, last year this field held spuds. Crop rotation in action, there…

July 2nd – Not far way, at Springhill, between Brownhills And Stonnall, there’s a fine crop of wheat, also doing well. I can’t get used to these modern, dwarf varieties. When I was a lad, the wheat was much taller, but now, the crop has been bred such that maximum growth is put into the grain and less into a tall stem. Although we don’t really accept it, crops like this have been genetically modified for centuries, usually by interbreeding and cross pollination. There’s nothing new under the sun. Or the lack thereof…

July 13th – As Summer’s clock mechanism whirs away, inexorably ticking the days away until autumn, little markers fall in place like the escapement of a precision mechanism. Flowers bloom and fade, trees blossom and fruit, animals breed and fledge. Today’s marker is this very nearly ripe field of wheat at Harehurst Hill, between Wall and Lichfield. Almost overnight it has transformed from a fresh green to a warm gold. Soon, it will be harvested, another marker in time’s passage.

June 19th – Returning via Longdon, I spotted this rooftop I’d never noticed before. It is, apparently, Windmill Cottage,  but I know nothing else about it. This is a beautiful view and reminded me of the flatlands of Norfolk. I wonder if it ever was actually a windmill?

Edit June 22nd – Reader Ziksby points out that this was indeed a Winmill. Find out more at Staffordshire Past Track.