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The Crooked House

Crooked House

This famous pub is a dramatic example of how human activity can impact on the landscape. The crazy distortions from the level can give the feeling of being drunk when entering, without a drop (yet) being taken. Its condition is all down to subsidence from the former mines there.

Crooked House

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Dramatic dawn

Dawn

A spring sunrise reflected in the windows of a particularly stark concrete building on Wolverhampton College’s Paget Road site.

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St George’s mushroom

St George's mushroom

A largish mushroom whose fruiting body appears in the spring – supposedly on St George’s day (which is today), though that sounds to me like the type of conceit perpetrated by Victorian gentlemen naturalists.

St George's mushroom

This one was actually pictured two days ago growing at the edge of a garden. Several others could just about be made out a few inches away, almost hidden by the greenery.

St George's mushroom

The tree stump gives some idea of the size of the mushroom’s cap.

St George's mushroom

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Mare’s-tail budding

Mare's-tail budding

A very ancient type of plant, non-flowering because they evolved before there were insects to help in pollination. Most (British) coal is the fossilised remains of members of this family, including species which were as big as trees.

Mare's-tail budding

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Coot conflict

Coot conflict

Two coots face up to each other

Coot conflict

More threatening postures

Coot conflict

Starting to see off the rival

Coot conflict

Now he’s going

Coot conflict

Time for a satisfied preen