Woodland walk.

The day started a little dull but by the time we had completed our little tasks and were ready to go for a walk the sun was out and it was a fantastic day. Went off into Hopwas Wood, thankful that the fear of the loss of part of it to a gravel quarry had passed. The whole wood has been declared an ancient woodland now. We had no map so just followed our noses

Sycamore and silver birch growing on the gravel slopes. The whole wood would be a boaters gift with all the fallen wood. It is lucky that it is not on the tow path side as the fallen timber and rotting wood will certainly add to the biodiversity.

In 2013 we were here about a week earlier in May and the bluebells were just coming out and the wood floor was covered in wood anemone. This year the bluebells are just starting to go over and there isn't a sign of a anemone but there is plenty of greater stichwort to take it's place

We found our way to Wood Bridge and walked into the village of Hopwas. We went to the road brisge over the River Tame which also has a great view of the bulk of Hopwas Wood.

We wlked back over the canal to St. Chad's Church up the hill. The first Church was called St. John's and was on Hints Road. It was too small as the population grew so St. Chad's was built. The foundation stone was laid in 1879 and the church dedicated in 1881. It maybe took so long as it was built with the Arts and Crafts movement in mind using wood and techniques that were used in agriculture buildings. The bricks were hand moulded and the windows kept small. Just behind Helen sitting on the bench can be seen the font from the old St. John's church. It was supposed to resemble a Swiss chalet on the hill from the outside with a touch of Tudor indicated.

Inside it had a simply but elegant look and feel to it. St Chad was the first Bishop of Lichfield and died in 672.

The stained glass represents from left to right, birth, baptism, death, resurrection and Ascension.

The graveyard was very neat and tidy and had won numerous awards. behind the church the memorials climbed the slope to the fringes of the wood. And interspersed with them the forget me not was in flower. I expect that it had been deliberately planted and so made a nice touch. Next to the church was a path leading back into the wood so we followed our noses once again.

The bluebells will soon be finished as the canopy overhead will soon be much more dense as the leaves come out and fill on all the trees. At the moment the lovely pools of sunshine make the wood a very special place to walk. We only saw four people during our walk too.

There was plenty of traffic along the canal this morning and then again later in the afternoon but over lunch there was nothing stirring.

After nearly three hours we got back to the boat for some lunch. Helen decided to make the most of the sun by finding somewhere out of the wind to read her book. I had a check of the batteries and topped them up, and then tried to get a television picture by erecting the mast. The transmitter mast is only a few miles away but we are tucked behind a hill. I wondered if raising the aerial would just get us in line of sight, but no luck. I then set about re-sealing the front doors to try to cut out any drafts.