Tag: wild

March 13th – Always nice to see the deer; this large herd were between Norton Bog and Cuckoo bank, and didn’t seem much bothered by me al all, eventually being scared off by a the noise of a siren on  the nearby main road.

It was quite misty so the photos aren’t as clear as I’d like.

They look healthy and content.

October 4th – A considerably different day, the sun was again shining and warm on my back. I had other stuff to do, so I spun up to Chasewater and back along route 5 over Engine Lane.

The canals and byways really have the autumn jacket on now, although there are still pockets of flowers around – and I’d be interested to know what the pink ones are.

September 17th – I can’t decide if this single, gorgeous violet blue plant is a harebell or bellflower. Whatever it is, it’s been delighting me every time I pass by it for over a week now, just on the canal by the Clayhanger Bridge.

Any opinions, folks? It really is a most beautiful bloom, and so unexpected at this time of year.

August 16th – I spotted him near the Marina at Northwood Bridge in Aldridge. Clearly en repose, hunting seemed to be done for the day and this elderly heron was content to let me take photos without being disturbed.

There’s definitely an Eddie Cochran thing going on there. You don’t see much of that sort of thing in the local avian community, to be honest.

August 16th – Feeling better, I pottered off to Aldridge to do some shopping on Sunday afternoon. On the canal near Northwood Bridge, an unusual sight; a dense, thick patch of what looks like miniature buddleia, but is in fact wild mint.

It smells gorgeous, and the bees are loving it. I never knew mint had such gorgeous flowers.

Meanwhile, near Clayhanger, another reminder of Autumn: Haws ripening well. They look plum and will see many songbirds though winter, with luck.

August 14th – I’m told these cherry-like fruits, growing on the trees on the Clayhanger side of the pedestrian bridge at Silver Street, Brownhills, are wild plums. They are most fascinating, and ripening in abundance.

I wouldn’t eat them, considering the history of the land they’re groin on, but the are a curiosity. Wonder how they got here?

July 17th – I found these unidentified, dainty little white flowers growing on a grass verge on an industrial estate in Tipton. I don’t know what they are, but they seem related to bugle, the purple-blue flower I featured here last week. I’ve not seen either in great number before this year, but something in the season has favoured them and these wonderful little flowers are profuse.

Can anyone identify it, please?

June 26 – I’ve not had to go to Telford for ages, and was looking forward to my trip there today to check out the flowers growing on the cycleways, which are always a bit different to the ones I’m used to. They didn’t disappoint.

In the short run from the Station to Hortonwood, I spotted an interesting orchid, cornflowers and this spectacular, but dangerous giant hogweed.

The hogweed, a good two feet taller than me, is a plant containing a sap which burns human skin by neutralising natural UV protection, causing prolonged, and  slow to heal burns – effectively very severe sunburn. It’s very easy to get hurt by it, so I steered well clear (and will notify the council of it’s presence). It’s an imported plant that’s been gaining a strong foothold here.

Beware. It may not be an actual triffid, but it’s pretty nasty.

Telford. Never a dull moment.

June 23rd – It was so lovely, I headed back along the canal too on my way home, riding along it to Coalpool and then onto the cycleway to Pelsall. Along the way the waterways sparkled, the skies were blue and a family of swans I’d not seen before, plus five healthy cygnets, promenaded past.

I was particularly taken with the thicket of wild sweetness on the cycleway at Harden.

Summer was made for splendid commutes like this.