Wolves Wild

Just across the road from the Museum of Iron in Coalbrookdale is Upper Forge Pool. The pool is the first of many which were formed by damming the brook running down the valley to provide reliable power for the manufacturing processes in this cradle of the industrial revolution.

Despite the crowds at the museum, the pool is tranquil. The paths round its shores are well used, but I’ve never seen anyone else there on my occasional visits. Bullrushes grow tall by the water’s edge, and a small flock of mallards swim around the pond.

Sequence of shots of a series of Canada geese skeins which had come from the far side of Tettenhall ridge. From the direction they were flying, they were probably all heading for West Park.

Spindle tree fruit (pink) ripening and splitting to show the orange seeds within. The paler fruit were on a tree in the hedge by the Railway Walk at Newbridge, the others on a tree in a hedge at Northycote Farm.

Hereford bull looking on sceptically while a heifer seems to be nibbling away at a thistle. More of the animals over the fence at Northycote Farm.

A young magpie standing on a wall at the back of Bantock House, close enough to display some of the iridescent blues and greens in its wing and tail feathers.

Japanese acer bush in Bantock Park, with leaves which have turned a very vivid red for autumn, setting up a contrast with the green of the surrounding conifers.