Galleries

September 8th – I headed back to explore more of Hopwas Hays Wood, this time approaching from the bridleway across the old ranges. I stopped to check out the biggest one, which now seems derelict (although may not be). The dug-out and hand mechanisms for target raising are still there, although the mechanics are inhibited with catenary clamps. On the concrete slab roof of the dugout, locked hatches would seem to be covering an automatic target mechanism. It’s certainly fairly complicated, as armoured cables with lots of cores are cut off in the dugout, which seemed to connect them to the plant room at the end. A discarded optic sensor lies on top, together with some kind of equipment ID tags.

The sand-barrier to the rear is full of rabbit warrens and seems to be in process of being levelled by weather erosion. 

When I was young, I kept well clear of here. You could regularly hear machine gun fire from these ranges, but now the squaddies have gone, I wonder what’ll become of this stuff and the nearby assault course?

Septeber 7th – Escaping late afternoon, the sky was dark, but the cloud broken. I’ve started exploring Hopwas Hayes Wood, and I aimed myself in that direction, through Shenstone and Little Hay, then up Knox’s Grave Lane. At Shenstone Park, the heavens opened for about 10 minutes, then the sun came out. The pattern continued, and at Weeford and Tamhorn, it resulted in fantastic rainbows. The warm sun was never far away, and Hopwas Hays Wood was fantastic, too. 

The only note of concern was the distinct chill in the air as evening fell. I don’t like that; it caressed like winter.

September 7th – This is a bit odd. The last time I cycled through Shenstone, this clock wasn’t here. Didn’t get a good look at it, but it’s an odd thing, really. My biggest question is ‘Why?’, mainly – it does seem to commemorate people and companies in village life though, in the cobbles.

I’m not really sure what to make of it. It’s nice enough, I suppose.

Anyone know what it’s in aid of?

September 6th – The rains came today, but not too much. Skipping out weary in the afternoon, I rode the canal towpaths which were quiet, and fast. There was that lovely fresh earth, post rain smell, and the landscape looked clean and fresh. What impressed me most, though was the huge variety of flowers and plants still showing well along the towpath. This selection were all spotted between the Pier Street Bridge and Coopers Bridge, just by the Watermead.

Setember 5th – Tyseley, about 6:30pm, heading for Darlaston. There was a soft sun, combining with city haze, smog and no wind. The shapes of the city looked gorgeous. I’d forgotten over the summer that it could look like this. I was tired – blitzed, to be honest – but this pulled me up short. I don’t think anyone else noticed.

I love this city. This place. This moment in time. The rooftops, spires, tower blocks, chimneys. It felt like the city was mine. It’s nice when that happens.

September 5th – A hectic, mad day. I started in Telford, then shot back to Tyseley, then over to Darlaston. I didn’t get many photos, but this lone apple tree intrigued me. Laden with fruit, on the embankment of the motorway at Telford, it is some way off the cycle path that runs beside the M54. Clearly not planted deliberately, as it appears to be the only one. The fruit are growing are untouched, save for bird-pecks. I wondered, idly, if it had grown from the seed in an apple core tossed away by a driver, or perhaps a passing cyclist.

Guerrilla planting of a different, accidental kind.

September 4th – Interestingly, the honeysuckle thicket on the approach to the Black Cock Bridge in Walsall Wood is in a second phase of flowering. Lots of plants seem to be; the trefoil is showing strongly again, dead nettles seem back in bloom, and I’ve even seen a few fresh poppies in the hedgerows.

This doesn’t seem normal to me. It must be the sign of a good season. Long may it continue.

September 3rd – In recent weeks I’ve mentioned the cereal harvest quite a lot, but there are other crops in the fields, too. Potatoes, the parsnips at Home Farm in Sandhills, sugar beet, sprouts and other vegetables are nearing readiness, too. Here near Shenstone, a field of what I think is either kale or cabbage looks lush in the afternoon sun, and the air smells distinctly.

September 2nd – This was a pleasant surprise. Riding home along Green Lane in Shelfield, I glanced, as I always do, through the gate of the field opposite the Mob Lane junction. Loafing on the freshly-cut stubble on Jockey Meadows were two red deer. It appears to be a mother and child, and they seemed to be in fine condition. I’ve seen deer here before, but never at this time of year. There was no sign of a larger group, but they might have been in the scrub towards the stream.

A fine sight, and one I’m still shocked to see in Walsall Wood on a parcel of land surrounded by industry and housing.