Wolves Wild

Common by the banks of streams and canals.

Rocky Lock is just downstream from Greensforge on the Staffs and Worcs canal. This is one of the sections of the canal which is cut through sandstone, which can be seen forming the cliff on the opposite bank. The cliff supports a healthy growth of plants and lichen.

Hawthorn blossom (“May”) flowering yesterday in what must be a favoured spot. Most bushes don’t even have signs of the buds yet.

This is from a springtime return to the section of the Staffs and Worcs canal pictured when the canal was frozen.

Birch polypores could be used to sharpen old-fashioned cut-throat razors. The birch tree these were growing on was by the road in Sutton Park. The trunk was in effect a ten foot tall stump, lacking any branches.

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.