Wom Brook Blog

Residents are positively enraged by the mindless damage to a local Wombourne landmark. The ornate and very symbolic wooden carved finger post which marks the crossing point between the Wombrook Walk and the South Staffordshire Railway Walk was discovered to have had it’s top half forcibly removed. (See red arrows indicating that the top half of the board was forced in one direction).

The original finger board was not only an example of an excellent wood carving, but it had been carefully produced following careful research into the local history, flora and fauna associated with the village of Wombourne. Carefully captured within its imagery was a representation of the endangered water vole, a protected mammal resident along the Wombrook.

Unfortunately a minority criminal element exists in the community, possessing little intelligence and contributing nothing but problems to it. The reader is left to imagine the level of punishment furious local villagers were suggesting should be given to the individuals responsible for the damage.

It is believed that the vandalism occurred sometime between Sunday 25th September and Thursday morning, 29th September. If you were walking in the vicinity during those dates, and saw something connected to this crime, please contact Staffordshire Police on 0300 123 4455.

Seldom is a walk along the disused Railway Track dull or repetitive. There is often something new to see. Perhaps it is the regular, repetitive act of walking, running or cycling along the track that induces a sense of familiarity, and anything that wasn�__t there previously alerts the subconscious to the very presence of a different plant, or the sudden movement in the undergrowth caused by a foraging bird.

Squirrels and wood pigeons are an all too common sight, but attest to the �__health�__ of the particular environment that surrounds us.

Few cannot be amazed by the gradual changes that occur along both the Brook and the Railway Walk throughout the year, in keeping with the different seasons. Particularly striking recently was this splash of red (see the photograph above) prominent amongst the predominant greens of the trees lining the Railway Walk. Although other trees are starting to shed their leaves, this particular tree is most noticeable due to the striking flame red colour of its leaves.

This was taken close to the old Wombourne Railway Station, which now serves teas on weekends during the warmer months of the year. The scene looks south along the Railway Walk-towards the centre of Wombourne. The Railway Walk is a very popular route for walkers, runners and cyclists, and is usually quite a busy thoroughfare on a Sunday.

Local athletics clubs make good use of it not only for training events, but several times a year stage triathlons along it, with the swimming stage being held at Wombourne Leisure Centre.

Do you know anything about the history of the Railway Walk? We’d welcome any information you have in the Comments section below!

Thursday 5th October-Working Party, 10am-12 noon.
Saturday 7th October-Working Party, 10am-12 noon.
Saturday 21st October-Family Event- WILD ART-ideas & search for materials to create a picture or model with an Autumn theme. 10am-12 noon-meet Gravel Hill picinic benches.

Please note-Working Parties involve litter collection/plant & animal habitat management. Please bring gloves.
If you require further information, please leave a comment below:

Many would be forgiven for identifying the season depicted in the above photograph, showing leaf litter collecting on part of the old Wombourne Railway Station platform, as Autumn. Not so.

The prolonged period of dry, hot weather has had a severe effect on some of the younger trees growing along the Railway Walk. Unlike the older and taller trees, which have much longer roots that reach further underground to more moist earth, the younger trees are forced to shed some leaves in order to reduce their overall demand for water.

If you know of a tree near to you that is shedding leaves at the moment, and you are able to spare some of your waste vegetable water (not water containing detergents), then please give them some much-needed water.

A bi-product of the present spell of dry weather has been the recent appearance of the above wrapped bales-this scene was photographed early this morning about half a kilometre north of the old Wombourne Railway station, looking north-west.
Farmers certainly subscribe to the saying, �__make hay while the sun shines�__- I have vivid recollections of years gone by, when wet summers would limit farmers to baling hay on a rare dry day, only for them to be forced to wait days for bales to dry out following intervening thunderstorms. Wrapping bales in this way protects them from the rain. (Heavy, thundery rain likely tomorrow).

Modern-day farming techniques can involve utilising bale-wrapping equipment �__ this almost mimics introducing a supermarket concept of encasing the freshness of the newly harvested hay!
Just a reminder-confirming that
there will be a committee meeting in the Wombourne Council Chambers tonight at
7:30 pm.

This spring has seen a veritable explosion of hawthorn blossom
seemingly in most rural areas adjoining the Wom Brook area. On a recent trip
along the M 40 to within 20 miles of London, the same appeared to be true of
most rural areas, particularly the hedgerows bordering fields.

The above photo was taken looking south along the Railway Walk, towards the
Brook.
Hawthorn ( scientific name – Crataegus mongyna) is a deciduous
tree (loses its leaves in the autumn), that produces distinctive white blossom
between May and June, and red berries (haws) in the autumn.
Its distinctive thorns help protect seedlings of other trees, and deter livestock
from damaging hedges bordering fields. It can live for 250 years, and grow up
to altitudes of 500m above sea level.

Rather disappointingly, last Saturday’s meeting at Wombourne Leisure Centre was very poorly attended. However, a number of points were discussed relating to taking steps towards achieving Green Flag Award status for the Railway Walk.

In pursuing this award, it is hoped that the profile of the Walk would be raised, with the view to further developing the overall conservation plan for the area, as well as increasing awareness of the history, flora and fauna associated with this important habitat.

A further meeting is planned, when members of the Friends of Wom Brook will add their support to this venture. It was agreed to feature the Railway Walk in future within this blog, as both the Wom Brook and the Railway Walk are interrelated geographically.

Baggeridge Country Park have contacted the Friends of Wom Brook, with regard to holding a meeting with regular walkers and recreational users of the Kingswinford Railway Walk.

The Park authority, also part of South Staffordshire District Council, are responsible for the management, conservation and development of the Railway Walk, and are currently investigating upgrading the Walk to LNR (Local Nature Reserve Status), and along the way, obtaining the Green Flag award.
The Green Flag Award is administered by the Civic Trust, an urban environment charity

An open meeting will be held at the Wombourne Leisure Centre on Saturday 18th March at 11:30 a.m., to discuss taking these ideas forward, particularly with regard to providing information and interpretation along the Walk.

As the 2005/6 winter draws to a close with a flourish (or should that be a flurry) of snow showers and frosty nights, Wombourne woke to yet another morning of snow and ice.

Walking along the Brook-although picturesque, was not without its risks-snow had obscured ice, causing a number of early morning walkers to slide unexpectedly.

The above photo was taken looking south along the Railway Walk, where it crosses the Brook-almost out of picture in the left foreground is the footpath leading to the centre of the village.