Wom Brook Blog

This multi-coloured fibreglass model of a rhino would be an unlikely sight at the best of times, but the city of Chester has in the region of 60 + models located in and around the city.

‘Rhino Mania‘ is an interesting initiative which not only brings an endangered species to  prominence, but engages local groups in an engaging art project. Could a similar event be staged within Wombourne to promote the plight of the water vole?

For further information about ‘Rhino Mania‘ , please click on this LINK.

..the above scene was familiar for some months from the centre of Wombourne, and visible from the Wom Brook Walk. Taken in February 2007, it shows the crane used during the building of Wom Brook Court.

For the second year in succession, parts of the surface of the Brook in Wombourne, South Staffordshire have turned to ice due to temperatures registering below -5 Celsius last week. Snow falling onto this ice has left parts of the Brook resembling scenes more reminiscent of northern Canada! Despite a welcome warming in the temperature yesterday, ice was still visible along the edges of the Brook.

Elsewhere in Wombourne, stretches of the canal have been frozen since before New Year’s Day.

The above scene has become a familiar sight over the last week wherever a slope exists around Wombourne. Perhaps one of the most popular venues for sledging within reach of the village is Pickerel’s Hill (apologies if the spelling is inaccurate), visible from the Wombourne roundabout on the A449 Wolverhampton to Stourbridge Road. The particular steep gradient there attracts many snow sport enthusiasts.

The above slope close to the centre of Wombourne is less challenging, but still attracts many local families.

Snow has become a common feature of village life for over a week now, with possibly more showers on the way.

A walk along the canal tow path from Awbridge Locks (photographed above-grid ref: SO 860 948) south towards Bratch Locks will pass several trees and tree-stumps which have had the adornments fixed to them representing faces.

A representative from British Waterways said that the faces started to mysteriously appear shortly after maintenance work had been completed along that section of the Staffordshire & Worcester Canal.
Can you help to solve this mystery?
Do you know who originated this rather unique practice?

This image was photographed on the outskirts of Wombourne. Have you seen it? If you have, please leave a comment below as to its whereabouts. Over the weekend, its location will be revealed.

The above photograph, taken looking north down from the ascending Greenhill road in Wombourne towards Gravel Hill, epitomises an autumn scene. Although not technically representing anything directly to do with the Wom Brook, the Walk or the wildlife of the Brook, it does show the outlying landscape that surrounds one of the entrances to the Wom Brook Walk (arrowed). Where the road leads off to the left (Common Road), a stone wall ends at the start of the footpath that leads to the footbridge over the Brook, and to the distinctive oak gate posts that mark the beginning of that particular stage of the Wom Brook Walk.

Bright sunny days particularly enhance the spectacular spectrum of greens, yellows and browns of the leaves, each colour signifying a different stage in this particular sycamore’s leaf-shedding process.

Smog is a word derived from combining two words-smoke and fog. Historically the word is synonymous with the air pollution reputedly responsible for an estimated 4000 respiratory – linked deaths in the London area during the 1950s, when the smoke at that time from so many coal fires combined with fog, and with little or no wind, this hung over the capital for several days, partially obscuring the sun.

Today’s dense fog was mixed the stale smell of smoke which hung in the air around Wombourne-the aftermath of a feast of festive fireworks, and the annual Himley bonfire-which last night brought the inevitable road congestion along the A449 Wolverhampton-Stourbridge Road.

This morning the visibility range along the Wom Brook in Wombourne extended to 50 metres and no more. Strange shapes loomed out of the gloom that seemed to saturate everywhere. The accompanying all-enveloping silence was only punctuated by the nervous call of blackbirds, warning other birds away from their territory-almost like ships and lighthouses do in similar weather conditions.

It remains to be seen whether another two nights of possible fireworks displays will cause a repeat of this morning’s ‘smog’!

Those of us who were provided with an introduction to poetry at school may recall John Keats‘ work-’To Autumn‘-and the immortal line-’Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness‘.

All about Wombourne the leaves of many deciduous trees have long since been changing colour as they die and fall from their trees, carpeting the ground, and in turn providing additional areas for the local bird population to explore for food.

The word ‘Autumn’ (referred to more appropriately in the United States as ‘the Fall‘ ) is that period astronomically speaking between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice. These changes are a sure sign that Christmas is on the way ( 8 weeks away), and when it arrives, these same tree-lined areas will be mostly bereft of leaves.

The photo is taken on the Wom Brook Walk, looking east, and the path leads towards the Gravel Hill picnic benches. The Wom Brook is just visible slightly left of centre.

You could be forgiven for thinking that this image of the Wom Brook highlighted a point where warm water entered the brook and caused the apparent ’steam’ to form. That however is not the case-for the last two mornings, the surrounding air temperature has been colder than that of the water in the Brook-and as you may well know, at the point where cold air meets moist, warmer air, clouds of water vapour begin to form-much as clouds form in the sky.

You may recall on Saturday this week that due to excellent visibility, water vapour from the Ironbridge power station could be seen 20 miles away, forming into what resembled a cumulonimbus cloud.

The above image was taken using a 2 megapixel camera phone, on Monday 22/10/07, from the entrance to the Railway Walk, looking in southerly direction, with the Wom Brook (obscured) in the centre of picture between both sets of trees.