At the foot of the small sandstone hill behind Himley Hall are a couple of bricked-up artificial caves. They are the former ice houses for the Hall, just a short step from the kitchens, and built into the easily draining rock so that the water from the melting ice would just percolate away.
With the recent poor weather, I haven’t been getting out for many up to date pictures. This water boatman using its powerful legs to scull across the surface of a pond was taken early in July.
The sandstone cliff at Bridgnorth which separates the High Town from the river Severn. The gate in the lower picture covers Lavinton’s hole, the reputed site of the excavations which enabled the Parliamentary besiegers to take the town in the Civil War.
This nettle was still flowering a week or so back.
Primitive plants originating before flowers evolved. Often found in dark, damp spots.
In Wolverhampton, the old man’s beard is barely coming into flower. But in Bridgnorth the seeds of this plant were already beginning to ripen some days ago.