Wolves Wild

Leaf buds on an apple tree, here from the Garden of Moseley Old Hall.

The Million is Forestry Commission woodland north of Kinver.

These frogs had gathered to spawn in the pool by the car park at Northycote Farm in the middle of March.

Vigorous lichens were growing on this sandstone face made by a small cutting carrying Tinkers Castle Road over the top of the ridge west of Seidson.

Essex Bridge is a medieval packhorse bridge which crosses the river Trent immediately downstream from its confluence with the river Sow.

It is reputedly the longest surviving packhorse bridge in England.

There are now 14 arches in the bridge, which originally had 40.

The bridge connects Great Haywood with Shugborough Park.

This hole in a sandy bank was originally dug by badgers as part of a sett.

In 2010 it was taken over by foxes, which used it to raise cubs.

Now there are signs that more work is being done on it – fresh sand on the pile downslope of the hole. Could be foxes, or perhaps the badgers have reclaimed it.

Notice the plastic wrapping being dragged into the hole: perhaps for use as bedding material.

A.k.a. kingcup, grows only on damp ground.

The first bluebells are starting to come out. I spotted these early yesterday morning.

The sticky buds of the horse chestnut are unmistakable.

The large buds on the end of the branch are flowers. The compact bud further back, by the scar of attachment of last year’s leaf, will develop into a leaf.

Delicate blue lungwort flowers. The name lungwort comes from the markings on the leaves, which were thought to symbolise infected lungs. The plants were used as a herbal “cure” for respiratory problems.

Former marker stone (?) now used as base of lamppost, Bradley, near Stafford.

At the back of Claverley church.

Lichen on gravestone: Bradley

This is the junction of the Staffs & Worcs canal with the Trent and Mersey Canal. A little further north and east the river Sow joins the river Trent. A little further yet, the Trent and Mersey canal also joins the river Trent.