Water, water, everywhere....

A colleague reminded me this morning it was 2 years ago this week that school had closed after heavy snow and we had a very unexpected 3 days at home. 2 years later and this has been replaced by rain although no-one has mentioned Rain Days at school yet.......funny that the A38 was clear at 7.15am this morning and I reached Etwall with no problems at all by 7.30am, the usual time. No water on the dual carriageway although it was amazing to see the fields either side of the A38 between south and north Burton turn offs and towards turn off to Repton and Etwall were completedly immersed.

Many of the kids who live around Repton and Willington did not make it in today and several staff were late but the rest of us managed a pretty normal day and appreciated smaller classes! Emails were sent out this afternoon about the buses and local roads so I decided to leave with the kids at 3.25pm.
The A38, at first, appeared to very quiet and empty and no problems until lights ahead showed stationery traffic around Clay Mills turnoff. The river had completely burst its banks during the day and flowed across the carriageway on both sides making it rather an exciting experience once we all realised it was only about 12-15 cms deep and passable.

 In 5 years of travelling up and down the A38 every day, I have never experienced this before.

 Note the fuel guage!

 

I was quite relieved to get home and filled up ready to use the 4 wheel again tomorrow, something I am very grateful for in this weather. In the meantime, am keeping half an ear open for the Telephone Tree to kick in and a possible Rain Day.........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



A wet, muddy ramble around Fradley Junction

Same walk as nearly a year ago, coincidentally, but rather different vistas opened up to us with all the rain in the past few days. Duly armed with Fradley Walks map No 3 we set off in several layers and sunglasses. Beautiful morning, chilly but very bright sunshine.

The walk meanders along the towpath south for about 2 miles and once we had left the canalside pub, cafe and boatyard area, we saw hardly anyone. A few hardy souls tending their boats, one passed us with a cheery morning but apart from that we were in isolation. There were points when it seemed hard to see where the tow path ended and the canal started as the water level was so high.
 

Kings Bromley Marina

 

 

Once we had left the towpath there was some road walking for about a mile or so and this is where we saw some wondrous sites in the fields, streams and brooks had completely burst their banks and flooded fields on either sides with cars valiantly driving too fast through flooded sideroads, determined to reach their Sunday lunch destination, no doubt.

 

 Flooded asparagus field

The last roses of the year

 

 

The walk continued down a farm track, over stiles and through very muddy fields.We came across a broken wooden bridge which has deteriorated in the past year and not been repaired. We managed to get across although the dog needed a little persuasion!

 

We passed Alrewas Hayes, a beautiful farmhouse and now hotel, not far from the Junction.

Just past the hotel we walked diagonally though a bamboo field, same as last year and still perplexed as to why it is grown there.

 

The walk ended soon after wading through the nature reserve set back from the canal and arriving out through the caravan park. It would seem churlish, having parked at the pub, not to go in and use the facilities. Thirst quenched and pork bap consumed, we wended our way home as the light seemed to be fading by 2pm. A delightful way to spend a few hours.

 

 

 



 

 

Coppicing

An interesting thread has opened up on the Facebook page “You’re probably from Lichfield, Staffs if….” on Coppicing on Darnford Park, Lichfield, in recent days.

Lots of criticism, me included, has been levelled (no pun intended)on why trees by the dozen have been cut down and the impact it would have on noise level and householders on nearby Boley Park. Thanks to the considerable knowledge and expertise of Brownhills Bob who explained that coppicing is merely woodland management, needed because so many of the trees are so large now and that cutting them down would actually improve the areas of woodland, have made light of our criticisms based on aesthetic appearances only. With Bob’s permission, this website explains it much better than I can, thanks for that.

www.coppice.co.uk





 

So, should we sit in on a miserable, wet, windy afternoon or take puppydog off for a walk to investigate? The latter won, having been put under a certain amount of pressure by staring puppydog. How do you say ‘not today??’

It was fascinating. We arrived to find Burton Conservation Volunteers actually laying the hedgerows both in Darnford Lane and in Cappers Lane. One chap said he had just come out today for ‘something to do’ and ended up laying a hedge and thrilled to go back home and try the new found skills out in his own back garden.

Puppydog keen to join.















                                  

The finished hedge.

        Beautiful red camellia in a garden, can now be admired by all.



Apparently coppicing will open up the trees to light which will ensure the ecosystem continues to do well and promote diversity. Many thanks, Bob, I am now a lot more knowledgeable and look forward to watching the hedges grow and trees start to thicken out in years to come.

Strawberry Fields Forever, Whittington Walk, 15 Jan 2012

A beautiful afternoon for a walk, not a hint of wind or cloud, but very cold and crisp, off we go.

Bit of a blight on the landscape, it has to be said, hectares of polytunnels waiting to be planted with strawberries.

Puppydog enjoyed the frozen puddles.

 

Back along the canal towards Whittington. This really is a delightful walk if you have a spare hour.

 Junction of the Coventry and Birmingham canals.

You're never too far from a train. Am trying to picture this area in 15 years time, will probably be standing on the track.

 Shadows on the canal.

An excellent pint of Pedigree according to Kainey.







The next Whittington Walk 2 Jan 2012

Off we set with chocolate lab, OS map and the Whittington Walks book having planned the walk across the Ranges, Hopwas Wood and back along the Coventry Canal. The sun was shining, the sky was cloudless.

 

  The Ministry of Defence area consists of Rifle Ranges, and mixed broad leaved woodland which extends eastwards to the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and the River Tame. The Rifle Ranges at Whittington, are they actually still used?

 

Packington Porkers enjoying the outdoor life.

and into the woods at Hopwas. North of Hopwas village is Hopwas Hays Wood, which consists of approximately 385 acres of ancient woodland, that was owned for many years by the Levett family of Wychnor Park.A large part of the woodland is currently owned by Tarmac.

 

 More autumnal than wintery.

The route went straight through the woods although it was tempting to explore to the left and right as paths crossed our route down to the canal and River Tame.

The canal towpath leads past several bridges and very close to the main line where Virgin trains thundered up and down. We met several walkers and dogs and a few determined, very muddy cyclists. Apart from an unexpected fall into the canal by puppydog, we spent the next 3 miles meandering our way back to Whittington, via Fisherwick.

 

foraging for mushrooms.

Final bridge before taking the road back into Whittington and towards a liquid imbibement, well deserved at the pub.

A Whittington Walk

Determined to get to know our immediate area much better and on foot, we embarked upon a Whittington walk today.

Whittington is a delightful little village not far from Lichfield and I noticed an advert on the village website recently for a book outlining Ten Circular Walks around Whittington, available from the Parish Clerk (who lives in Cannock!). I duly sent a cheque for £3 and the book appeared with full directions and maps. Most walks started and ended at The Bell pub which seemed as good a place as any to end a walk.
Today we chose the Huddlesford Footpaths walk. 4 miles along the canal to Huddlesford and then back across fields to the village. The weather was perfect, more autumn than winter and armed with OS map, book, dog and dort we set off.

The walk followed the canal for a mile or so before turning on to footpaths, over stiles, through bogs and along tracks. A wonderful way to while away a couple of hours. I had not realised quite how close to the mainline railway route we are and as Virgin trains crossed our paths every few minutes, I tried to imagine what the countryside would look like in 15 years time with the HS2 route near enough straight through our walk. I would recommend listening to the Richard Bacon podcast this week where he interviews Pete Waterman who is an avid train spotter and expert, he has an interesting take on the HS2, good listening!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b017wygv




Depressing to see a pub we once frequented To Let, closed down and looking rather forlorn at the side of the canal. A great pity, they always served rather good bar food in a lovely setting but with over 25 pubs a week currently closing, it is easy to see how this slightly out of the way at the end of a very dark road with no street lights and not situated in a village or even hamlet would have to take stock and close its doors.


On returning to the village and feeling a little faint, we were forced into the pub for refreshments and reflection. A good morning had by all and had to be a huge improvement to the alternative of supermarket shopping.

A Misty Morn in November

What better to blow away the excesses of the previous evening's dinner and a cooked breakfast than a ramble in the countryside? Armed with map, boots, waterproofs, oh and the puppydog, we set out on a gentle 6 mile hike from Fradley Junction. 

Have not been to FJ for years, even a tarmac road to pub these days! The walk started from the pub and we followed the canal for about 2.5 miles. The colours, even on such a misty day were amazing.

Only 66 miles to Preston Brook.

Monster mushrooms growing amongst the fallen leaves.

Kings Bromley Wharf, not a lot going on there these days.

Don't they know the canal is closed around the bend?

After about 2 miles we left the canal behind us and continued along a B road towards Kings Bromley.

Wonderful autumnal colours in every garden. Soon we found a farm track and a long horned cow.

 aahhhh, baby fresians.

Next stop, Alrewas Hayes, (nice wedding venue). Beautiful farmhouse although pity about the bit stuck on at the end to change what must have been a beautiful symmetrical Georgian farmhouse.

Maize? No, bamboo? now why would anyone grow so much bamboo?

Across a field of brassicas.....across a wood by the mobile homes and finally a wonderful sight.

2 hours in total, a great walk, hardly anyone about and those of us hardy souls who were, well our spirits were lifted by a trudge, a yomp, a ramble, a hike, a meander, anything you may wish to call it. A brilliant walk.