David

The female flowers (or are they catkins?) will develop into beech mast.

The leaf-buds were just beginning to open on this tree in early April.

The flowers were just beginning to come out on this common weed.

This damp-loving plant is a relative of buttercups.

These were pictured at Bag Pool, Baggeridge Park.

The flowers of various trees. First, horse chestnuts.

A willow.

Sycamore: the leaves are showing the first signs of brown spot.

Two more views of willow flowers or catkins.

Finally a (cultivated) apple with the buds about to bloom.

Leasowes is a huge green open space in Halesowen, based around the park laid out by the poet William Shenstone. Above: looking down from the canal embankment towards Breaches Pool.

The Dudley No 2 canal, looking towards the site of the long-collapsed Lapal Tunnel which used to carry the canal towards Dudley.