Through Pinsley Mill. Good numbers of Blue Tits are on the track-side bushes. The mild winters have been good for small birds with far more surviving. Into the Orchard where a couple of dozen Blackbirds and a few Chaffinches are feasting on the apples. A Carmarthen bound train passes, I suppose the same question asked about air passengers applies here too – why Carmarthen on New Year’s morning? A later thought is that maybe are heading to Cardiff for the January sales! Groups of gulls are now heading south. A Dunnock searches the leaf litter under the hedgerow by the railway.
Into Pinsley Mead. Snowdrops and daffodil shoots are pushing through the soil beside the churchyard. A few of the former are close to flowering. There is a sign on the old Priory infirmary saying “Dummy CCTV camera” which rather leads one to ask, what is the point of it? A tree has fallen by the strange little building, the former purpose which no-one can agree. Down the Priory and onto Priory Bridge. The River Kenwater flows under rapidly and it still has a green-grey colour.
Home – Half the rhubarb plant is dug up and divided into three lumps. The soil is firmed around the remaining portion which, hopefully, is far enough away from the fruit cage door that it will not block it, as it has done for many years now. Of the other pieces, one is planted at the other end of the small bed running alongside the fruit cage and the other two go right down the other end of the garden by the eastern wall. I had considered planting them by the Herefordshire Russet but too many Bluebells and Snowdrops are coming through and we certainly do not want to disturb this display. I give said russet a prune. Two branches are broken, a reminder that the apples really must be thinned properly this year.
Rain returns mid-afternoon.
Tuesday – Home – It is still very dark and raining as we head along the alley beside the garage works. Kay heads on to the swimming pool and I return. Blackbirds are on the pavement searching for food. They attempt to run away and do not take to flight until the last moment. The one that does all the singing is still in good voice despite the weather.
It eventually gets to something approximating daylight. Storm Henk has arrived, apparently named by the British Meteorological Service, although the name was proposed by the Royal Meteorological Service of the Netherlands. The rain continues to fall throughout the day. The atmospheric pressure drops to 965mB. Flooding has been reported across the country. Locally, many roads are closed and my regular Wednesday visit to Bodenham Lake is almost certainly off.
Wednesday – Leominster – After yet more rain overnight it has finally stopped. Clouds still move across the sky though there are patches of blue. Numerous reports of flooded roads are in the press and social media. A train heads north out of the station. Yesterday, the line was closed because of flooding between Hereford and Newport. The garden of the White Lion is partly flooded. Onto the railway bridge to the songs of Robins. The woodland between the railway and the River Lugg is flooded. A southbound train leaves the station but unusually is held at the signal by the old road bridge. Then, despite the signal remaining on red, the train moves off. The River Lugg is nearly at record level, set in February 2020. Much of Easters Meadow is under water. Above, the cloud is thickening.
Back to Worcester Road where there are traffic lights as water is gushing up out of the manhole covers. Water also comes out of a cover at the junction of Waterworks Lane. However here it is pouring immediately into the drains and being carried away. The road is underwater shortly before the roundabout. A rainbow appears in the western sky. The entrance to Western Close industrial estate is a large pond.
Into the Enterprise Park. The small brook that drains the industrial estate is now a single sheet of water across to the railway embankment. Long-tailed Tits are in the trees beside the old settling ponds. Robins and a Song Thrush are singing. The sun is shining on the panels of the huge steel fabricator’s shed causing them to tick and pop as they expand. The piping of a Pied Wagtail comes from somewhere over the roof of the shed.
Onto the Hereford Road. Yellow catkins have opened. A sign across the road states is closed. It is amusing to see those who ignore the sign suddenly being confronted by the River Arrow pouring across the road. I am not going to get anywhere near Broadward Bridge so I walk up the public footpath past the large sheds where the cattle have been brought in off of the flooded fields. There is surprisingly little on the water, only a pair of Goosander. Back up the Hereford Road into town.
Friday – Leominster – I am disappointed that the steroid injection in my arthritic hip has worn off after only eight weeks and the pain and limited mobility has returned. So I have a short toddle down to the river. The atmospheric pressure rises; the temperature falls but at least it has stopped raining. Onto Butts Bridge. The water level in the River Lugg has fallen considerably, down about three feet, and the meadows have drained leaving the land saturated. Robins sing in the trees and Blue Tits squeak.
Back to Worcester Road. The lights controlling the traffic around the broken manhole have stuck on red. I try to get through to Dŵr Cymru but I am still negotiating the labyrinthine menu when a van from the lighting company arrives.
Into the Millennium Orchard. Far fewer Blackbirds are scavenging the fallen apples mainly because they are getting quite rotten now. Into the churchyard. Robins are searching the leaf litter and a Treecreeper scurries up the trunk of a tree. Back into town. The market is much reduced, especially the fish stall.
Sunday – Leominster – There is blue sky to the east but it is disappearing as cloud moves in from the west. Fine drizzle falls. It does not deter the Jackdaws examining chimney pots as potential nest sites. Nor does it stop the Robins singing. Onto Butts Bridge. The water level in the River Lugg has fallen substantially and it flows more sedately, a grey green colour. A Cormorant flops down onto the water.
Back past the White Lion. Two Canada Geese fly upstream. Through Pinsley Mill. As usual there are Blue Tits active in the track-side trees. A couple of dozen Blackbirds and a Fieldfare are feeding on the rotting apples in the Millennium Orchard. A Song Thrush sings at the foot of the churchyard. The River Kenwater has also fallen in level but still flows swiftly. A Carrion Crow barks from the trees above. The Minster bells toll the hour.
Into the churchyard. Sadly vandals have pushed over a headstone and has broken as it fell.
Home – A bit of a start to the new growing season. Compost is sieved, a bit of leaf mould and perlite added and two pots of broad beans, saved seed; a small tray of Lollo Rosso lettuce and two trays of chillies are sown. The chillies will go in the bathroom, the others in the green house. The red onions sown in the autumn are doing well after a slow start. The troughs of Chinese Mustard and pak choi are both growing well, if slowly. More pruning needs undertaking but I am getting chilled.
Monday – Leominster – Clouds are moving almost imperceptibly westwards with just a few blue patches showing. It is cold, barely above freezing. A few primroses are braving the elements in a flower bed in Westbury Street. Up Ryelands Road, past the old Toll house and through the former orchard to Cockcroft Lane. Wild Arum leaves are unfurling on the side of the track. Leaves of Cow Parsley are in bright green, dense cushions and White Dead-nettle are in flower. Carrion Crows are on the winter cereal field and Jackdaws, Blackbirds and Robins are on the paddock of the bungalow. To the west, large areas of the Arrow valley are still under water. The acres of polytunnels seem to have expanded, disfiguring the landscape so a few people can have early strawberries.
Down to the Hereford Road. Three Chaffinches sit at the top of a Silver Birch. The cheeps of Blue Tits and the wheeze of a Greenfinch comes from the cottages opposite. The River Arrow is flowing under Broadward Bridge again, rather than over it. The extent of the flooding on the field has reduced. Nine Goosander and a couple of juvenile Mute Swans are on the water. Another drake Goosander wings in. A few Fieldfares are on the muddy grass. A diesel locomotive rumbles along the distant track. A bale of hay by the entrance of the field is smoking. It grows colder as I head back to the town.
Wednesday – Bodenham Lake – A cold frosty morning with a lot of icy patches. Although the flooding south of Leominster has diminished, there are still extensive areas of water between the bypass and the Stoke Prior Road. Several Mute Swans are on the west side flooding. There is also standing water on the fields approaching Bodenham.
Along the track from which Dunnocks fly up and into the bushes. A Robin bursts into song. The puddles on the track have only a thin veneer of ice. A small flotilla of five Tufted Duck and four Mallard glide across the boating lake. They are followed by more Mallard and a gaggle of thirty five Canada Geese. More Canada Geese are cackling further across the lake. Pairs of Mallard are in the meadow bay. A Cormorant flies over.
Into the meadow. A small flock of Siskin are feeding on the fruits of the Alders. There are very small deer slots in the meadow mud, probably the local Muntjac. The donkey in the paddock starts heehawing, the volume of which is quite impressive.
Into the hide. A Red Kite sails above the Vern. A Common Buzzard is on the big tree. A Sparrowhawk flies across the lake being hassled by a Carrion Crow. A Great Crested Grebe and several Mute Swans near the submerged scrape. Several Little Egrets are flying around.
Back through the plantation where Long-tailed and Great Tits slip through the trees. Across the meadow where Robin stands on a molehill to watch me pass. A Song Thrush and several Blackbirds are searching the ground. Into the cider orchard where the mole hills have proliferated considerably. Mistle Thrushes and Fieldfares call in the dessert apple orchard.
Thursday – Hay-on-Wye – We visit the relatively recently renovated castle. Its history is described here and here. In the 1960s, the castle was purchased by Richard Booth, King of Hay. In the 1970s there was the disastrous fire that damaged much of the building. In 2011 the castle was sold to the Hay Castle Trust. Fund raising was undertaken and the castle restored. It opened to the public in May 2022.
The interior is modern glass and wood. It is an excellent use of the space but, of course, it is not easy to get the feel of the mediaeval building. In the tower basement, a splendid graphic film related the history of the castle. There are then areas for displays, meetings and a learning centre on the floors above which finally end at the top with a viewing platform. It is here that one can really get the milieu of the site. There are extensive views over the town and up, down and across the Wye valley. It is clear how the castle dominated the landscape and guarded an important route between England and Wales. After a quick walk around the town on a busy market day, we return the castle café for a snack.
Friday – Llangammach Wells – Instead of a walk, we decide to head deep into Wales to visit some churches. The weather is grey and cold. We start at Llangammach Wells. The village is on the confluence of the Afon Cammach and the Afon Irfon. It was known for its now defunct barium spa. We park near the station which is on the Heart of Wales line and head down the hill to a road junction. The Church Institute bears the date 1912 and is built into the rock, (Caer Beris Member of slumped mudstone and siltstone formed between 433.4 and 427.4 million years ago during the Silurian period) between the road and the church. It replaced an earlier tin tabernacle. The Institute was built with a bell which hung, until recently, at the west end of the building which was rung to summon children to Sunday School. Churchill House, originally a pub, Ty’n Llan. It then became known as the New Inn and when it became a private home was initially called Church House, then Church Hill House before finally Churchill House. Across the road is a fine four storey house, Cammarch. It was built as a hotel around 1867 when the railway arrived and was known for its access to fishing. It ceased to be a hotel some time in the 1960s and is now a “wellness centre”. Next to Cammarch is a row of former cottages believed to have been called “Tycros”. They seem to have been last occupied at the turn of the 20th century as no-one appears on any census after that time. A flock of sheep are being driven up the road beyond by four collies and a quad bike. Across the road is the church of St Cadmarch.
The dedication to St Cadmarch has a number of different explanations, including the possibility that there was no St Cadmarch and the church simply takes its name from the Cammarch River which flows below it, or conversely, it may be that the river took its name from St Cadmarch. Or he may be the same as a St Cammarch who is listed in the Iolo manuscripts as having a festival on October 8th. Cadmarch may be another name of St Cynog, or it may be a corruption of Cammab, Cannen or even Cynfyw. Further speculation claims Cadmarch was a son or grandson of Brychan – the king after whom Brecon is named or associated with the early Christian leader St Cadoc. However, it would have been an important church given its relatively high value of £13 6s 8d in 1291, and this increases the likelihood of it being an early foundation.
The church stands on a headland above the rivers. The building was described as ruinous around 1840 but some repair work was undertaken and in 1910 it was said that “the present church of St Cadmarch is a building of stone in the modern Gothic style, having a chancel, nave, north aisle, south porch and a belfry with one bell.” However, it was obviously not well thought of architecturally and demolished in 1915. A new church was built by William Douglas Caroe in what has been described as “illustrative of the Arts and Crafts approach to Gothic design”. The doors are in the Arts and Crafts style but we are not convinced the rest of the building really says “Arts and Crafts”. Above the porch is a 9th century carved stone with a cross in a circle over a human figure and a spiral pattern. The tower was not finished until 1927 and is of inferior build resulting in years of problem with water ingress. Inside is a marble plaque by Davies of Builth to Theophilus Jones, Deputy Registrar of the Archdeaconry of Brecon and the author of “The History of Breconshire”. He died in 1812. A brass plaque records the names of those killed in four aircraft crashes locally during the Second World War. There is also a plaque to those who have lost their lives in 20th century conflicts but more unusually, there is another reredos dedicated to those who returned home safely from the Great War. The reredos is framed by tall panelled piers with statues on half-octagonal shafts, St Cadmarch to left and St David to right. The five light east window is a war memorial unveiled 1921. The organ is by Vowles.
We descend from the church and pass under the railway bridge and over the Afon Irfon. The Nazareth Chapel and hall were originally in 1829. In 1878 it was completely rebuilt and in 1909 the hall was named after Queen Alexandra. Opposite is Malvern House, formerly the grocers. Opposite is Bristol House, built in 1870. The house was built to take in people coming to take waters. It was a saddlers shop and later had milk round and sold milk. On fair days the Nat West bank opened a branch in the house. Later the Council had an office in the back room and a doctor’s surgery was held here once a week. On the death of the last saddler, the tools and contents of the workshop were moved to St Fagans Museum in Cardiff.
Llanafan Fechan – After failing to find our next church, we head for this one, St Afan’s near Garth. We stop at Olewydd Congregational Chapel, erected in 1817 and rebuilt in 1883. A flock of Starlings twitter on the wire behind the building. There are fairly recent internments in the churchyard so it seems the building may still be used, although it is in a poor condition. A small extension is attached to the rear containing one room above another with small fire places.
The church of St Afan’s stands on an old road, parallel to the modern one, next to a farm with few other buildings near. It dates to a refurbishment in 1866. The church is of typical medieval size and plan and this probably reflects the footprint of its predecessor and stands on an unnatural mound, assumed to be the debris of the earlier church, and within a raised churchyard. It was probably a dependency of the church at Llanafan Fawr (Llanafan the Greater), records of both churches during the 18th and 15th centuries show that curates from Llanafan Fawr also served Llanfechan. St Afan was a 5th or 6th century Welsh bishop, who was usually known as Afan Buallt, indicating a connection with the Buallt area. It is not known where or when he was a bishop, but the name by which he was referred suggests his diocese was around Builth in Brycheiniog with his seat at Llanafan Fawr. The church is locked.
Llanganten – Along the main road to Cilmery and down a narrow lane through Cefn Llewelyn into the valley of the Afon Chewefri. Up a track, past a large former vicarage is a church dedicated to St Cannen, said to be related to St Cadoc. He also may be Kemmen. The site is above the River Chwefru. Theophilus Jones suggests in the “History of Brecknockshire” that a church has been sited here from the 6th century. The first formal incumbent was appointed in 1574 but a church was in existence in 1282 when the body of Prince Llewellyn, who was killed close by, was temporarily laid to rest in the churchyard. In the early 1800s, Theophilus Jones also said the church resembled “an ill swept barn” adding “one or two human skulls were thrown upon the ground with apparent inattention, but perhaps designedly to remind the thoughtless stranger that he was near a place of internment...” The present building was restored in 1880 by Lewis Powell of Hereford but parts of the church walls are mediaeval. The stone font is thought to be 12th century. The church is currently closed as cracks have appeared in chancel arch but a couple let us in as they are removing Christmas decorations, although it takes a couple of minutes to persuade Poppy the terrier we are allowed past. Near the track outside, trees and bushes are covered in beautiful beards of lichen.
Sunday – Leominster – A grey but relatively mild morning. A large flock of feral pigeons is high in the sky dividing and heading in different directions. Onto the railway bridge. A perfect V-shaped skein of over twenty Canada Geese fly over. Robins sing in the trees in every direction. Jackdaws sit and watch. A barking Carrion Crow flies past. Gulls yelp somewhere towards the south of the town. The water level in the River Lugg continues to fall. A Cormorant flaps off noisily from beside the bridge and heads upstream. Two Dippers squeak on another, one flies to the steps of the water measurement building, the other downstream before landing on the posts on the edge of Lammas Meadow. The other then joins it and starts singing.
Around to Pinsley Mill. A Song Thrush sings across the tracks. Into the orchard. Yesterday we held a wassail here to celebrate the trees. A few pieces of toast placed on branches to “feed the trees” still remain. Hardly any apples remain so the number of Blackbirds is far fewer than in recent weeks. The two note song of a Great Tit comes from the Millennium Park trees. The water level in the River Kenwater has fallen and it is flowing now sedately.
Through the churchyard. Long-tailed Tits fly through the trees at the western end. A noisy Magpie is in the Wellingtonias beside the old cricket pavilion. The bells toll the hour then ring out the call to prayer.
Monday – Home – There is the merest sprinkling of snow just before breakfast. Later in the morning, I cut back the large Bramble in the bottom corner of the garden. The cuttings fill three bags with another full of sticks I saved for plant supports but have rotted. They led to the collapse of the climbing beans last year. The sun is shining brightly now but it is still cold.
Wednesday – Bodenham Lake – The temperature is at or below zero. The ground is frozen hard and all the puddles are ice. A large flock of Rooks are on the frozen fields before Bodenham A Great Spotted Woodpecker flies up onto a telegraph pole. It chatters as it flies up into a car park tree but is then chased off by another. A Carrion Crow barks loudly in the woodland. A few Mallard, a Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, a Coot and a Little Egret are on the sailing bay. There are more Mallard on the meadow bay.
Onto the meadow. Blue Tits seek food in the lakeside trees. Into the hide. Over 200 Canada Geese are on the water. Fifteen Wigeon and a few Tufted Duck, Mute Swans, Mandarin Duck, nine Teal, a couple of dozen Greylags and more Mallard are scattered across the lake. A single Cormorant flies in. A female Goosander appears.
Back to the meadow. A few Redwings are in the hedges but the Hawthorns have all been stripped of their berries. Blackbirds are on the grass. Into the cider orchard where there are even more molehills. A Great Spotted Woodpecker is drumming nearby. Chaffinches, rasping Mistle Thrushes and chacking Fieldfares are in the apple trees. Another Great Spotted Woodpecker starts drumming. Into the dessert apple orchard. A Kestrel is on the wires.
Sunday – Leominster – Grey clouds slide swiftly eastwards as Storm Isha moves in. The wind is rising. Jackdaws chack but it is unclear where they are, as there are none on the rooftops. A supermarket van is already delivering an online grocery order. A young Blackbird, glossy black but with a dull yellow beak, stares at me and chuck chucks as I pass. Onto the railway bridge. House Sparrows chatter beside the station. There is no Robin song.
Onto Butts Bridge. The water level in the River Lugg has fallen slightly. Into Pinsley Mill. A Cormorant flies over high in the sky, wheeling round before continuing northwards. Into the orchard. All the prunings from our work on the apple trees have now been shredded. Blue Tits chatter from all directions. The fallen tree is still draped all over the stone circle. The water level in the River Kenwater has fallen again.
Monday – Home – Storm Isha raged through the night with some of the most ferocious gusts we have heard for some years. However, come the morning there seems to be little damage in the garden. Some of the plastic tubes draining the chicken run tarpaulin have been blown out but are easily replaced. The water butt at that end is leaning rather precariously, so I try to place another piece of paving under the stand. This proves difficult and in the attempt the butt tips over pouring gallons of water out, much of it into the run. At least it makes it easier to manipulate and get it all more stable. The day becomes quite bright and sunny but dark grey skies return in the late afternoon.
During the morning I receive the sad news that my old birding friend Jerrie Arko, from California, has died. She had reached the grand old age of 95 years!
Wednesday – Home – Storm Jocelyn rushes across the Atlantic on the tails of Storm Isha. Yet again the night is shaken by high winds. In the morning the plastic tubes have to be replaced again in the chicken run and the peanut feeder has been blown off the stand. Kay has been giving the roses on the western wall of the garden a major prune. I give a little assistance removing a couple of difficult branches which lash themselves around me. I could really hate roses! The car was filled earlier with over a dozen sacks of prunings which went to the green waste at the tip. The afternoon returns to grey, although it is very mild.
Thursday – Colva-Glascwm – We head west, through Llanfair Llythynwg, Gladestry, and up narrow lanes to Colva. I have visited the church of St David before but this time it is closed. A woman tells us the roof has just been replaced and it is still a building site inside. So we continue along the road, dropping down a steep hill to cross the two streams that join just south of the lane to become the River Arrow. The road rises again to the saddle between Little Hill and Glascwm Hill. Wern, an Iron Age hill-fort stands on a hill that is actually lower than both Little Hill and Gwaunceste Hill further north. The road drops sharply into Glascwm. We visit the church of St David.
The nave has a wonderful roof, a seven bay arched-brace roof on a moulded cornice and with two tiers of cusped windbraces. Against the wall of the vestry which is beneath the bellcote is a cross dedicated to Oberleutnant Günther Brixius and Feldwebel Adolf Liedig, two German airmen. Their Junkers JU88 had been on a bombing mission over Coventry on 25th April 1942 and were hoping to escape trouble-free by looping around Wales on their way back to Germany. However, they were intercepted by a Bristol Beaufighter and shot down, crashing into Gwaunceste Hill. The four crew members bailed out, two survived and surrendered but Brixius and Liedig died and were buried in Glascwm churchyard. They were subsequently reburied in the Deutsche Soldatenfriedhof at Cannock Chase. A local family had found Brixius’ Iron Cross and it was returned to the family in September 2023.
We leave the church passing some magnificent old Yews, worn and lichen covered gravestones and a display of Snowdrops. We continue west along a narrow, winding road, dropping down into the valley of the Afon Edw and on to Hundred House, where we turn back to England and home.
Friday – Lickey Hills – A blindingly bright sun shines out of a near cloudless sky. A strong wind blows. Numerous dog walkers are up on Beacon Hill. The hilltop was used for warning systems from at least the Anglo-Saxon period and was featured on maps from 1590 to 1787. The hills consist of rocks laid down at various periods between the Ordovician, 485 million years ago and the Triassic, 250 million years ago. The bedrock here is Clent Formation, Breccia, sedimentary bedrock formed between 298.9 and 272.3 million years ago during the Permian period. Through an area of woodland on the edge of the hilltop. Nuthatches, Great and Blue Tits call. A thin trunk growing out of the base of a larger tree is slowly falling over with loud cracks. Many of the older trees, although probably not more than 50 years old, show signs of coppicing. Heading back towards the Beacon past a triangulation point. Its views are now completely obscured by trees.
The summit of the hill is a viewing platform built as a mock castle built in 1907 by Edward Cadbury and restored in 1987. To the north is the cluster of towers that is the centre of the city of Birmingham, west are the Clint Hills, south in the mists are the Malverns and to the east are the Rednall Hills and Coventry. Tower blocks are scattered across the landscape. There is the constant drone from the hidden A38 and M5.
Down Monument Road. Despite the bright sun the strong wind makes it bitter. Large 20th century houses stand in grounds set back from the road. A couple are earlier, probably late Victorian. Past a covered reservoir. Into a small park where stands a tall stone monument erected in 1834. A plaque states:
He was involved with the formation of the regiment and died at the age of 44, otherwise he seems rather unremarkable. His odd forename is traditional in the family and derives from a legendary Viking ancestor “Otho” or “Othere”.
Monument Road comes to Rose Hill and the Old Birmingham Road. Across the road is a former school, now a residence. Opposite is the church of the Holy Trinity. It was built as a chapel of ease to St John the Baptist Church, Bromsgrove in 1855. The architect was Henry Day of Worcester and the contractor was John Robinson of Redditch. The church was enlarged between 1893 and 1894 by Alfred Reading of Birmingham when the chancel arch was widened for a new organ chamber and vestry. The vestry was built in 1898 and enlarged in 1970. The church is locked.
Down Rose Hill, which is along the line of a Roman road taking goods between Worcester and Metchley (near where Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital now stands). Past large modern houses in extensive grounds and small copses. Hillscourt, a large late Victorian house, is a conference centre for the NASUWT, the teaching union. The houses become smaller and closer together, early 20th century. The Old Rose and Crown, a hotel, has some age being an old coaching inn. Into Crofton Hackett. The road is lined by wooded hills hiding the remains of old quarries. A stream runs along beside it. The Bilberry Hill Centre stands empty. The building was donated to the people of Birmingham in 1904 by Barrow Cadbury and remained in use as a restaurant and tea and dance rooms until the early 1960s when it became an activity centre. A large modern pub stands on a roundabout. Behind it is a small timber-framed house and a much larger group of buildings marked on the old maps as a lodge. Into Lickey Road. A short row of shops are services rather than retail. A very large care home is followed by more shops this time including a convenience store, a bar, restaurant and pub. A modern housing estate is opposite.
Into Leach Green Lane. Into a modern estate. Behind fences is the Oratory House and the former grave of Cardinal Newman. They clearly do not welcome visitors. On 11th August 1890 Cardinal Newman died of pneumonia at the Birmingham Oratory. Eight days later his body was buried here in Rednal Hill. On 2nd October 2008, the grave was opened with the intention of moving any remains to a tomb inside Birmingham Oratory for their more convenient veneration as relics during Newman’s consideration for sainthood; however, his wooden coffin was found to have disintegrated and no bones were found. Some say his bones disappeared because of the damp ground, others say this is unlikely and the coffin handles would have gone too. Back to the main road and up a bridleway. The nearby fish and chip shop has six delivery vehicles standing here. Modern houses are built on the site of the smithy. The path runs along the hillside below a golf course. A path heads up then another descends steeply, heading for the Beacon. My knee takes considerable exception to the final steps but I get down. Through a boggy area, then across the golf course. The path crosses a number of different bedrocks: Lickey Quartzite Formation – Quartzite, sedimentary bedrock formed between 485.4 and 443.8 million years ago during the Ordovician period; Alveley Member – Mudstone, sedimentary bedrock formed between 309.5 and 308 million years ago during the Carboniferous period then the Clent Formation to the Beacon. On up through woodland. Blue Tits squeak. After a steep climb, the path emerges by the triangulation point and up to the Beacon.
On the way here, I had to take a back street diversion because of a broken down lorry in Kidderminster on the main Birmingham Road. I decide to avoid that route and head off down a lane from the hill. A car flashes its lights and slows. I wind down my window and a woman tells me a tree has fallen across the road down the hill and is still being cut up. So I detour again, but this time just head down the M5 to Worcester then home.
Sunday – Leominster – The sky is largely covered by grey clouds with just a bit of a glow around the edges of the clouds in the east. Jackdaws are still examining chimney pots. Robins sing beside the railway. The River Lugg flows grey-green, its water level hardly changing since last week. A Dipper sings briefly before flying rapidly downstream.
Round through Pinsley Mill. Jackdaws and Wood Pigeons fly overhead, heading for the fields. Snowdrops are coming into flower along the edge of the churchyard. Between the throngs of snowdrops, Wild Arum leaves unfurl. Robins sing, a Blackbird emits an alarm and Blue Tits chatter in the railway hedge. Into the Peace Garden and across to the River Kenwater. The river is still flowing swiftly and the same grey-green colour as the Lugg. A rabbit is on the lawn opposite where daffodils are beginning to flower. A pair of noisy Blackbirds chase past.
Into the churchyard where there are numerous clumps of flowering snowdrops. Their arrival could herald spring but experience shows that winter can still have much to say.
Wednesday – Bodenham Lake – The temperature has dropped and there is a sharp frost. Beside the car park, a Robin and Song Thrush sing. A Greater Spotted Woodpecker drums in the lakeside trees. House Sparrows and a Great Tit call. Wood Pigeons sit silently at the top of the trees. Fieldfares chatter as they leave the hedgerow for the orchard trees. Seven drake and five duck Goosander are on the lake along with a Great Crested Grebe, Greylags and Canada Geese. A Little Egret flies past. A couple of dozen Tufted Duck are diving. The water level has dropped over a foot. The trees light up as the sun emerges from behind clouds.
Onto the meadow. There are some fresh molehills, some impressively large. Another Song Thrush is in full flow. Jackdaws chack and a Green Woodpecker yaffles in Westfield Wood. The meadow is very wet, barely frozen at all. The donkey in the paddock bellows mournfully.
Into the hide. Over forty Cormorants are in the trees and several on the water. A Great Crested Grebe dives over the submerged scrape. Eight Teal are in the middle of the lake. Numerous Canada Geese and Greylags are around the water. Small parties of Mallard swim around. Four more Teal are towards the western end. A cock Ring-necked Pheasant stalks the bank in front of the hide. There are more Goosander, Great Crested Grebes and Tufted Duck scattered around. The Great White Egret, a Grey Heron and ten Mandarin Duck are by the western bank. Few Coot are present. The Canada Geese on the island start up a cacophony frequently. A couple of Wigeon appear on the south side and another four to the west.
Back to the meadow. The cloud is thickening. A Carrion Crow sits at the top of a tree, hunched and black like an ancient undertaker. The cider orchard is covered in molehills like a dose of measles. Into the dessert orchard where one of the old trees, possibly a Worcester Pearmain, has rotted and fallen. Several Great Spotted Woodpeckers are drumming.
between the railway and the River Lugg is flooded. A southbound train leaves the station but unusually is held at the signal by the old road bridge. Then, despite the signal remaining on red, the train moves off. The River Lugg is nearly at record level, set in February 2020. Much of Easters Meadow is under water. Above, the cloud is thickening.
another name of St Cynog, or it may be a corruption of Cammab, Cannen or even Cynfyw. Further speculation claims Cadmarch was a son or grandson of Brychan – the king after whom Brecon is named or associated with the early Christian leader St Cadoc. However, it would have been an important church given its relatively high value of £13 6s 8d in 1291, and this increases the likelihood of it being an early foundation.
of those killed in four aircraft crashes locally during the Second World War. There is also a plaque to those who have lost their lives in 20th century conflicts but more unusually, there is another reredos dedicated to those who returned home safely from the Great War. The reredos is framed by tall panelled piers with statues on half-octagonal shafts, St Cadmarch to left and St David to right. The five light east window is a war memorial unveiled 1921. The organ is by Vowles.
an office in the back room and a doctor’s surgery was held here once a week. On the death of the last saddler, the tools and contents of the workshop were moved to St Fagans Museum in Cardiff.
It is not known where or when he was a bishop, but the name by which he was referred suggests his diocese was around Builth in Brycheiniog with his seat at Llanafan Fawr. The church is locked.
up into a car park tree but is then chased off by another. A Carrion Crow barks loudly in the woodland. A few Mallard, a Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese, a Coot and a Little Egret are on the sailing bay. There are more Mallard on the meadow bay.
Nuthatches, Great and Blue Tits call. A thin trunk growing out of the base of a larger tree is slowly falling over with loud cracks. Many of the older trees, although probably not more than 50 years old, show signs of coppicing. Heading back towards the Beacon past a triangulation point. Its views are now completely obscured by trees.
enlarged between 1893 and 1894 by Alfred Reading of Birmingham when the chancel arch was widened for a new organ chamber and vestry. The vestry was built in 1898 and enlarged in 1970. The church is locked.
of the trees. Fieldfares chatter as they leave the hedgerow for the orchard trees. Seven drake and five duck Goosander are on the lake along with a Great Crested Grebe, Greylags and Canada Geese. A Little Egret flies past. A couple of dozen Tufted Duck are diving. The water level has dropped over a foot. The trees light up as the sun emerges from behind clouds.