World made up of sky and gorse

When I took my walk near the Arden Hotel and Birmingham NEC on the 5th of April, I was in search of blossom. This was because, in her entries for the 7th and 9th of April, Edith had mentioned seeing blackthorn, Damson and Plum. I started well, spotting some stray twigs with early blooms at the foot of a tree in the hotel car park.

Cherry blossom outside the Arden.

However, the huge trees between the A45 and the Birmingham NEC were not yet in flower. Luvkily there were other flowers to see. On 11th of April, 1906 Edith wrote about her time in Dartmoor:

Up on the moor the world seemed to be made up of sky and gorse - such acres of golden blossoms under a sky of cloudless blue.

Gorse, the great survivor, by the A45

I saw gorse too, although it was enlivening the side of the A45 under a leaden sky. Just round the corner, a great river of gold cascaded down a bank to one of the NEC car parks. I followed the bank round and cut across a road on my way to Pendigo lake.

Advertising for Comic Con

A quick walk through a grassy area with trees took me to the lakeside. 

My sketch of a cormorant - Pendigo lake, NEC

I perched on a seat in front of the Resort World hotel and watched the birds.  I saw 5 Canada Geese, a coot, 2 moorhen, 2 black-headed gulls and a cormorant, which obligingly sat on a post while I drew it.  Sketch finished, I noticed a cloud of white blossom near the lake side and hurried towards it.

Great-crested Grebe  - Pendigo lake, NEC

As I scurried along the lakeside path, an indignant flurry of feathers shot out from almost under my feet.  I had startled a Great Crested Grebe.

Puffs of blossom - NEC

Once I reached the tree, and looked up, I found it it had lovely puffs of blossom on a tracery of branches silhouetted against the now clear blue sky.  

Blackthorn blossom - Station Link Road.

On my way back to the hotel, a froth of blackthorn seemed to echo the clouds overhead. Just 10 days later I read, in the Birmingham Mail, that it has been snowing in Birmingham. I hope that the blossom isn't spoilt.

March is going out like a lamb

At the end of march, Edith's diary tells us that in 1906 ...

"A still grey day with beautifully dry roads. March is going out like a lamb." 

In 2016, on the 28th of March we were treated to storm Katie. The month ended with clear, bright days and cold nights.

On March the 31st, the weather was fine enough for Edith to cycle out and look for wildflowers. She mentions primroses, sweet violets and dog violets and says that "the cowslips are only in bud yet". Edith goes on to describe the birds and nests that she found.  In 2016 Birmingham, the cowslips are just beginning to flower.

Cowslip near Birmingham International Station, March 22nd.

I haven't been to Birmingham this week but last week I saw some flowers and birds near the station and later near the hotel. Walking from Birmingham International Station to the Office, I saw cowslips, a Blackbird, a Bluetit and, most surprisingly of all, a Song Thrush.

While staying at the Airport Holiday Inn, I did a little exploring.  First thing in the morning I investigated the verges the the huge roads just outside the hotel. Outside the Travel Lodge, which is next to the Holiday Inn, last year's grasses and seedheads are masking a green carpet studded with vivid blue Green Alkanet flowers.

Green Alkanet by the side of the Coventry Road

Oddly, a spash of orange announces a stray garden marigold.

A stray garden marigold

Crossing the road I find the curious combination of a glossy car dealer and the shabby-looking buildings of the former Village Farm.

Village Farm

Further on, I follow a tattered bank of trees and bushes round the corner into the Damson Parkway, which is a major route to the Land Rover factory, Solihull and beyond.  A hawthorn hedge and a grass bank with trees and daffodils separates fields from the heaving traffic.

Forget-me-not at the foot of a hawthorn hedge, Damson Parkway

After finding Forget-Me-Nots and glossy leaves of Lords-and-Ladies I hurry back to the hotel for breakfast and the bus to work.

In the evening, I venture out again. This time down the Old Damson Lane. Here there is a Rugby Club, a promising footpath and the nicely-kept Dunstan Farm.

Primroses at Dunstan Farm

After a few minutes, the old lane rejoins the Damson Parkway. A new entrance and wood chip surface tempts me along the first section of  a footpath to Bickenhill.

Solihull footpath.

I can see the church spire across the fields and the first leaves of bluebells but the light is fading and I reluctantly return to the road. I hope to come back to these footpaths - Solihull Council are doing a good job with them here. The footpath skirts the Northern edge of the new dispatch centre for the Jaguar Land Rover. I wait for a shipment of vehicles to leave before crossing its entrance.

Vehicles leaving Jaguar Land Rover dispatch centre.

A modern tubular bridge links this with the factory site.

Bridge linking Jaguar Land Rover factory with dispatch centre.

Blackthorn blossom near the bridge.

It seems impossible that wildlife could thrive amongst the thunder of traffic and bustle of factories but a hedge along the side of the road has clearly been a home to a nesting bird. I love the way that the moss that last year's parent bird used to make a neat cup has grown and merged with the hedge.

Nest in the hedge by the Jaguar Land Rover factory.

So while the area is much more built up and noisier than in Edith's day, wildlife is still finding spaces in which to live.