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Starry Night, Swinmoor House, Herefordshire, 2022

Starry Night

Damien WalmsleySep 4, 20225 min read
Living near Birmingham, any night sky photography is severely limited due to light pollution.  During lockdown there was the chance to undertake star trail photography and I featured this in a previous article on my website “Stars in the Sky”. In 2022, our family holiday was deep in the Herefordshire countryside at Swinmoor House, Madley.  We were … Continue reading Blog
16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, 2022

The damage to 16 acre wood

Damien WalmsleyAug 24, 20223 min read
Eighteen months ago, I visited 16 acre wood which is on the HS2 line. I wrote an account of what was happening to this ancient woodland. On a bright Sunday in August 2022, I decided that it was time to give an update on how HS2 is progressing in this area and document their approach … Continue reading Blog
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022, Touchwood

Open all hours with my key

Damien WalmsleyAug 23, 20223 min read
After two abortive attempts to get to Touchwood, one at the wrong time and the other at the right time (but too near the stores opening time), I arrived at the ideal time.  Midnight is when the centre allowed #keytothecitybrum holders to enter the shopping centre. As you can imagine, this is not an easy time … Continue reading Blog
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022, 103 Colmore Row

The popular key – 103 Colmore Row

Damien WalmsleyAug 23, 20223 min read
By far the most popular venue for the #keyofthecitybrum was Birmingham’s newly built skyscraper, 103 Colmore row. On the 18th floor, there is a south facing viewing platform that provides amazing views of the City’s major buildings.  When the Key started, Instagram was inundated with pictures of the City of Birmingham from this platform.  Many of these pictures … Continue reading Blog
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022, Lapworth Museum

Route 61 and two more keys

Damien WalmsleyAug 22, 20224 min read
Northfield Community Garden The 61 and 63 buses routes are ones I know well as I use them to visit the dental school at Pebble Mill. I don’t often stay on the bus but for the keys of the City Brum, I carried on and headed down to Northfield.   The final bus stop was only a … Continue reading Blog
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022, Green Lane Mosque

Key to Green Lane Mosque

Damien WalmsleyAug 20, 20223 min read
This venue like all the others was unique and the #keytothecitybrum takes you to places that you would never normally visit. Green Lane Mosque is in Small Health Birmingham not far from the Birmingham City Football ground. It is an easy venue to find with parking access in the adjacent supermarket car park. I made … Continue reading Blog
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022, Hall Green Library

Time to Reflect with my Key

Damien WalmsleyAug 20, 20223 min read
The following visits were quiet and enabled me to reflect on my journey around Birmingham with my #keytothecitybrum. Two different venues, but each allowing a key holder to stop, pause and take in life. Robin Hood Cemetery The key took me to Robin Hood Cemetery near Hall Green, a place I have visited several times … Continue reading Blog
Key to the City Brum, Fierce Festival, 2022, Blyden's Garden

Keys to the Blyden’s Garden and the Legacy Centre

Damien WalmsleyAug 15, 20225 min read
My next two venues for #keytothecitybrum were close to each other and both were intriguing. They took me to a part of Birmingham that I have rarely visited. I have had no previous reason to visit the area and I have only passed through on the dual carriage way onto Perry Barr. The north west … Continue reading Blog
Keys to the City, St Margaret’s Church, Ward End, Birmingham. August, 2022

My Key opens another three locks

Damien WalmsleyAug 13, 20227 min read
I planned my day to take in three locations of the Key to the City Brum around the West Midlands. Each venue is very different but they were linked by the way that I planned my visits for the day. I was to find out that these particular venues were very photogenic. Also each of … Continue reading Blog