Wolves Wild

Meadowsweet, with its froth of white flowers on tall stems, grows in areas of damp soils.

Yellow rattle is encouraged in the areas of Wolverhampton’s parks and open spaces which are managed as wildflower meadows.

It parasitises the most vigorous plants (grasses and clovers IIRC) and so allows rarer flowers to grow.

Two distant views of Brewood church. One is taken from the canal towpath near the Hyde Mill Lane Bridge, the other from a footpath crossing a barley field as it heads to the woods of Chillington Avenue.

I stood in front of the small patch of bushes when taking the first picture to hide the farm buildings. telegraph wires and similar intrusive elements between me and the village. The effect has been to hide a surprisingly deep little valley with a brook which runs parallel to the canal.

Woundwort also has various other vernacular names, including self-heal. It is a common flower in summer meadows and, as the names imply, once had herbal uses.

The pair of swans on the lake at West Park have had a lone cygnet this year.

These pictures were taken a month ago, when the chick was still cute and fluffy. I’ve noticed it several times since. It still seems to be thriving, growing well, usually swimming in convoy with the parent birds.

Close-up view of elderflowers, abundant on the bushes in the hedgerow in the canal heading out into the countryside at Castlecroft.

Young jackdaw surveying a pub’s outdoor area on a warm lunchtime, hoping to scrounge scraps of food left by the diners.

Young foal and its mother, and two slightly older foals which appeared to be twins.

Zooming in on some of the waterlilies in flower on the Fowler’s Park anglerspond, with wider views showing the pond’s rural appearance right in Wolverhampton city centre.

Compare views of the plants while they were just beginning to open, and of yellow water lily flowers.

Female mallard and her ducklings on the pool at Fowler’s Park.

Poppies growing on the edge of a barley field.

Clump of hazelnuts, just starting to form and ripen on a bush.