Berkswell windmill keeps the sails turning.

by Damien Walmsley 05/04/2024 05/04/2024

Berkswell Windmill Open Day, Ballsall Common, April, 2024

If you love windmills then visiting Berkswell Windmill should be high on your list. The Grade II listed working windmill is open during the summer and a watch on their Facebook page keeps you notified on the opening times. Generally it is open every month from Easter Monday till the end of October. I saw the Facebook notice and arranged to visit with my daughter and grandson. The weather forecast was dire and we expected rain. However some of the weather apps were suggesting there may be a break in the clouds.

Parking is limited in Windmill lane near to Balsall Common village. The poor weather forecast may have kept some people away as when we arrived there were spaces available. A friendly greeting at the gate and a small donation to the upkeep of the Windmill and we were in. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived as there were two other photographers who I knew also taking pictures. It was good to catch up with Mark Pemberton and Melissa and chat about our photographing adventures. Then I took pictures of the Windmill which is in tip top condition. There were Morris Dancers, cream buns and tea. What was more astonishing is that the sunshine arrived. I was able to take pictures with nice white fluffy objects called clouds. Most of the month of March has been overcast and wet so an afternoon of sun was most welcome. The volunteers were showing people around the Windmill although we did not venture to the top and I will save that for another time.

The Windmill is one of the most complete Windmills in the world but there are storm clouds literally on the horizon as the area is under threat with a large housing development being planned. This would stop the sails from turning. However on this day, I just enjoyed the windmill and having a lovely cup of tea with a cream scone. My grandson loved all the toy cars and slides that were available. My daughter loved sitting in the sun just taking in the scene.

If you love windmills then here are a few more for you.

Please put the sails back on Chesterton windmill

Tysoe Windmill

Reach for the sky

This blog features Antimachia Windmill on Kos Island, Greece.

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Visiting Bournville Village Trust with IgersbirminghamUK

by Damien Walmsley 04/04/2024 05/04/2024

IgersbirminghamUK, Selly Manor, Bournville Village Trust. March 2024

Birmingham has a long and rich history and the names of George and Richard Cadbury are linked with the story of the City Their success in creating Cadbury’s Chocolate led to the building of their factory in Bournville. The brothers created a Garden Village around the factory to cater for their employees. Sadly Richard died before seeing the project completed although this spurred on George Cadbury to complete the project. Bournville village is now run by a Trust and is a legacy which is enjoyed by both residents and visitors to the area.

IgersbirminghamUK, Bournville Village Trust. March 2024 — The Rest House which is at the centre of Bournville Village.

IgersbirminghamUK organised their first photographic Instameet of 2024 at Selly Manor which is part of Bournville Village Trust. Selly Manor also has a long story. The original building “Smythes Tenement” dated back to 1476. Over time, the building deteriorated and was split into separate dwellings called the “Rookery”. The house was saved from demolition by George Cadbury who brought the property in 1907 and relocated Selly Manor from Selly Oak to Bournville Garden Village. The House was rebuilt next to the Chocolate Factory in 1916 and opened as a museum.

Nearly 30 photographers arrived at the Museum on a bright sunny Saturday morning. We received a welcome from staff member, Daniel, who gave us an overview of the house and then encouraged us to visit the rest of the area. We were given a leaflet of the heritage trail that takes in all the notable buildings in the Bournville village. We have some excellent photographers in the IgersbirminghamUK ranks as evidenced by the pictures that emerged on Instagram. You can follow the pictures and reels from the day with the following tags and I have provided links to the relevant pages. Please take some time to visit the pages and see the wonderful pictures. Thanks to the other members of the IgersbirminghamUK team for their organisation and help with the meeting Nicky Warwickshire, LenaMac77 and James_never_Jim.

The following is a selection of my pictures from the Selly Manor and Bournville Village Visit.

Further reading on Selly Manor and the Bournville Village Trust.

Following on from Selly Manor some photographers moved onto the Bournville Quaker meeting House where one of the Quakers, Anne, was most kind and showed us around inside. The outside of the church does have a fairy castle feeling. Inside the large hall was impressive with light streaming through the windows. There is a raised platform with chairs and table from the Selly Manor museum. This, as Anne pointed out, is not used for worship as Quakers sit around in circles in the centre of the hall usually with a table. Anne then took us up to the balcony to see the organ and from here we were able to take pictures down into the hall. I was even fortunate that Anne agreed to be in my 100 Strangers project.

IgersbirminghamUK, Selly Manor, Quaker Meeting House, Bournville Village Trust. March 2024 — Bournville Quaker Meeting House.

There is much more to see in and around the Bournville Village Trust and those photographs will have to wait till another day. I spend much of my time talking to other Instagrammers during an Instameet and do not get the opportunity to take that many photographs. Catching up with others and seeing what they have photographed is a bonus with such Instameets. After the meeting we headed off to the Glass House brewery by the canal in Stirchley. We had a good catch up including talking about that elusive picture that got away!

If you are interested in the @IgersbirminghamUK Instameets then I have other accounts on my blog with the one below as a starting point.

Autumnal colours at Birmingham Botanical Gardens lights up IgersbirminghamUK Instameet

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London times – taking in the streets of Islington and Shoreditch

by Damien Walmsley 03/04/2024 04/04/2024

Walking the streets of Shoreditch, London, March 2024

London is an ideal place for urban photography as it offers so many different places that offer variety. There are several large-scale cityscape vistas which sit with the smaller scale scenes taking in street art and street photography. The start of my recent photo walk with colleague Peter Thompson was the Angel, Islington and from here we accessed the Regent’s canal. A link to this part of my photo walk is below. Leaving the canal we moved around Shoreditch taking in some of the street art and catching people interacting with their urban surroundings. Architecture was another focus of my lens. Finally we finished off at Horizon22 which is also covered in a separate blog entry. So sit back and be prepared for a roller coaster of pictures from my walk in Shoreditch. (All pictures taken on my Fujifilm x100v)

Two churches and one bridge
Start at Birmingham Cathedral and take pictures inside then move down church street towards the pedestrian bridge over Queensway then make our way up Bennett's hill to St Paul's church and pictures inside the church there. I will see if we can get access into both places. What do you think? Based on the following.

Andy Street says. "I’m pledging to launch an international architectural competition to build a NEW BRIDGE connecting the Jewellery Quarter & Colmore Row . The link between two of Brum’s best areas isn’t good enough, we have to deliver an accessible link that celebrates the city’s heritage."
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/competition-fix-rickety-old-city-28913191 — Little Red Riding Hood.

You made it to here and your reward are links to my other recent London Times postings.

London Times – The London Horizon from Horizon22

Walking the Regent’s Canal – the Shoreditch stretch

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London Times – The London Horizon from Horizon22

by Damien Walmsley 28/03/2024 29/03/2024

Horizon22, Bishopsgate. London, March 2024

I have been up the Shard and visited the Monument. Both buildings have their charm and give unparalleled views of the London skyline. I have seen Westminster and beyond from the London Eye where your excitement builds as the wheel slowly turns. Eeventually when you reach the pinnacle of the journey, you have a super view of the Houses of Parliament and the Southbank where cars and trains move around like they are part of a model village. There are many others that I have been fortunate to visit over the years and all provide an assortment of bird eye views of London. Do I need to visit another high-rise viewing platform?

My recent visit to London was to undertake a planned photowalk organised by my photo-colleague Peter Thompson, that would take in the Regent’s canal and Shoreditch. We covered most of the itinerary during the day. We were nearing the finish and about to reward ourselves with a cup of tea before heading off for our trains home. We had walked the streets and towpaths of London and my feet were hurting. I was weary. Peter Thmpson suggested Horizon 42 as our final place to visit before that much needed cup of tea. I was not sure what to expect from another high rise viewing platform. Visiting the viewing platform is free but demand for tickets on the Internet is high. Arriving at the entrance door to the building, the sign display indicated that tickets were available. A quick visit of the Horizon42 web site on my iPhone followed by downloading of the tickets, and we were through security and taking the ear popping lift to the summit.

The Horizon22 viewing platform is simple but effectively designed. There are split level floors and there is little to no décor on the white painted walls. This maximises the light reflections and creates few distractions when taking and reviewing your picture taking. Looking down from the upper platform, I noticed how the sun streams into the area creating shadows. People are free to move around the spacious area and interact with the large windows that are present. The day I went the weather was clear and the London landmarks were easy to spot. The viewing platform looks out over Tower Bridge and the Shard. I was able to see Canary Wharf and other places quite clearly. I had my polarising lens cover on my Fujifilm x100v which minimised but did not completely eliminate the reflections in the glass from the strong sunlight. In spite of this my pictures turned out well and I appreciated the view in between using my camera.

I enjoyed my visit to Horizon22, the experience was good and I found the attendants to be pleasant and helpful. I was not allowed to take my mini tripod up to the top but the security ensured that it was carefully looked after and I picked it up on my exit.

There is a photography bonus in the plaza as you exit the building. You are able to look up to the top of the building which makes for a good picture composition.

Would I recommend going up Horizon22? Definitely! The skyscraper is probably a better experience than the Shard which requires the purchase of tickets. In comparison Horizon22 is completely free and a link to the website is below.

https://horizon22.co.uk

Having read my blog then you may find my account of 103 Colmore row in Birmingham interesting. Another viewing platform in yet another skyscraper.

The popular key – 103 Colmore Row

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Walking the Regent’s Canal – the Shoreditch stretch

by Damien Walmsley 24/03/2024 24/03/2024

Regent's Canal, Shoreditch section, March 2024

Emerging from a tunnel under Islington, the Regent’s canal begins its journey through Shoreditch. The canal is wide with a spacious towpath. Many runners and pedestrians take advantage of the scenic waterway as it passes through the east of London. There are many narrowboats along the way each with their interesting names and individual colours.

Several roads pass over the canal allowing views up and down the waterway. Iron arched bridges spanning the canal, rumble as commuter trains pass over them. Old industrial buildings sit on either side of the canal and many are converted to city living whilst others wait for progress to overtake them. There are cafes, pubs and restaurants with people sitting at outside tables taking advantage of the mild spring weather. Along the way there are small recesses around the bridges that have been made into communal gardens. I particularly liked the bird boxes put up on the canal bridge wall. For the photographer there are lines, reflections and opportunities for street photography. The buildings offer a range of architectural styles and the boats often spring surprises with the way that people have either painted them or the objects that they have collected on their travels.

Yellow was a theme of my walk. I just seemed to find lots of yellow objects as you will see. They were either single, in twos or multiple!

My walk started at the Colebrooke Row entrance in Islington and finished at Queensbrooke Road turning around to go back to the A10. There were so many pictures and here is a final finish to my pictures featuring one or two of the eating establishments on this stretch of the canal.

This is just one of many photographic walks that I have taken on the Regent’s canal in London. I have mapped different sections of the canal as it leaves Paddington basin on its long journey across north London to Lime House Basin. There are many parts still to discover whilst revisiting those that have already been photographed. I have added some further links below and I wish to thank Peter Thompson for showing me this part of the canal. Please visit Peter’s Website for some amazing travel photography.

For further photography of Regent’s Canal

Walking the Regent’s Canal – Queen Mary University of London to the river Thames.

Walking Regent’s Canal

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Disco powers the beating heart of Birmingham

by Damien Walmsley 22/03/2024 22/03/2024

Our beating heart, Snow Hill Square, Birmingham, March 2024

A big, revolving, mirrored heart has appeared in Snow Hill square accompanied by lights and seventies disco music. Quite a combination when you think about it. Such retro art installations catch my imagination. “Our beating Heart” is a pop-up show sponsored by Colmore Business District and is free to view.

I hurried along after a meeting at the MAC to see the latest art installation that Birmingham has on show. Snow Hill was quiet, sparsely populated with commuters heading home. In the middle of the square was the heart slowly revolving and lit up by lights. The 11,000 mirrors reflected the light around the darkened buildings of the square. The effect was pleasing and mesmerising as shards of coloured light gave a snowfall effect on the buildings. The music was very much retro. Whilst I was there taking pictures, songs from my youth were blasted out into the night. Heart of Glass by Blondie and Saturday Night Fever by the Bee Gees are two examples of the disco style music. This an open-air disco and luckily there was no rain.

Just to emphasise the fun of the evening two people were dressed up in multicoloured swap-shop jackets and were ready to engage in conversation with passers-by. The installation was Instagram friendly and I was not alone in taking photographs. Some serious picture taking was happening and a look at the socials shows how everyone wanted to have a piece of the action. The heart was not the easiest object to photograph, very bright lights against the dark is tricky at the best of times. My humble offering of photographs may not be the best but they give a flavour of the atmosphere. There is much more information on the Colmore Business District web site and the pity is that the heart is only around for a few nights. There was a board, where you could post supplied stickers saying how the heart made you feel. I enjoyed seeing the heart but left bemused that a disco light shaped as a heart with retro hits has captured everyone’s imagination. But that is what good art does by making you give an opinion. My advice go and visit as the heart is worth seeing just for the picture taking.

More information on the Beating heart designed by Studio Vertigo and the Colmore Business District.

Light Is Coming: Our Beating Heart

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Birmingham goes green for St Patrick’s Day

by Damien Walmsley 18/03/2024 19/03/2024

St Patrick's Day Parade, Digbeth, Birmingham, March 17th, 2024

Initially the weather forecast for St Patrick’s Day was rain but someone must have had a word with heaven. The rain stopped and the sun started to show itself from behind the clouds. Bradford Street in Birmingham is as straight as a die and runs parallel to Digbeth High street. At the top of the hill by Trinity Church, the floats, dignitaries and people were congregating.

The entry code was you had to wear something green and St Patrick was there overseeing the proceedings. The Peaky Blinders were behaving themselves and they had brought their own police force. Irish dancers and marching bands were adding to the entertainment. There were a group of dancers who had flown in from Bolivia. Their costumes contributed to the colourful noise around them. The scooters were polished so well that you got blinded by the reflections from the chrome work and mirrors. The floats were being loaded up and the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress were greeting everyone and having their picture taken. With so many photographers around it was not long before the West Midland Mayor, Andy Street made an appearance. Everyone was so friendly and the atmosphere was one of excitement and merriment.

Then the parade was due to start so we rushed down the street to St Anne’s church. People were lining the barriers as you went down the hill towards the city centre. Even the dogs were dressed up in the Irish tricolour flag. The parade was long and varied, stopping every so often to let the marching bands and the Irish dancers demonstrate their skills. People waved towards the floats and people in the floats waved back. Everyone was so happy.

.
Some of the big names in construction were there including Murphy’s and Mahoney’s. The Irish came over to Birmingham and contributed to making the city an industrial powerhouse. The parade reflected this contribution and everyone reacted to celebrating the rich history of Birmingham. These pictures are my own interpretation. At an event such as the St Patrick’s Day parade every type of photographer is out and about. BBC teams and local newspapers, amateur photography organisations and the casual mobile phone snapper were in their element. Everyone wants their photograph taken.

The BBC coverage is the best starting point for a record of the day’s events although a quick search of St Patrick’s Day Parade, Birmingham will open up many more.

The next parade in Birmingham will be Pride 2024 and here is my account from last year.

Joy and happiness at Birmingham Pride 2023

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A foggy start to the day in Birmingham

by Damien Walmsley 10/03/2024 10/03/2024

Pulling the curtains back, I saw the fog which lifts any photographers spirits. Fortunately, I had to be in Birmingham early and I knew that I would be able to get some good pictures of Dorridge station in the fog before it lifted. I was even more pleased that the fog had not lifted by the time I got to Birmingham city centre. The fog was still around the Bull Ring and Moor Street turning normal street scenes into atmospheric and mysterious places. The silhouettes of commuters provided the focus to many of the pictures. The majority of the photographs were taken with my iPhone15 which were then converted to black and white to take advantage of the contrasts available. I used Silver Efex Pro and I like the fine art processing or occasionally the overexposed settings that are provided. I also include pictures from the start of my journey in Dorridge where the fog was even thicker.

Dorridge station in the fog.

Fog at Dorridge, March 2024 — The platforms shrouded in fog.

I do like foggy mornings as these blog posts show.

Fog in the morning

The fog creates a black and white landscape

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I joined the RSPB and you should too!

by Damien Walmsley 09/03/2024 09/03/2024

RSPB Middleton Lakes, Staffordshire, March 2024

Situated in the Staffordshire countryside, RSPB Middleton Lakes are next door to the Aston Villa Bodymoor training ground. The area around the lakes offer differing recreation activities with Kingsbury Water Park, Middleton Hall and Drayton Manor funfair nearby. Water is an overarching theme of this part of Staffordshire with both the river Tame and the Birmingham and Fazeley canal passing through the area. However, the wildlife in the reserve are unperturbed by what is happening around them and just enjoy being given the peace and quiet away from the built-up areas of the city.

The RSPB look after the lakes and have designated different viewing areas for bird spotters and photographers. The first place that you encounter not far from the car park is a viewing platform that looks out towards the heronry and here I met Lynn who works for the RSPB. I had been meaning to join the charity for a while and after chatting to Lynn, I decided to become a member of the RSPB. Lynn pointed out the heron’s nesting in the trees over the pond from the viewing platform. I spent a lot of time observing the heron activity in the trees. I was fortunate to have my 400mm lens with me and therefore I viewed the herons as they went back and forth taking materials to the nest. There must have been around a dozen nests that I counted.

There are several bird feeders around the viewing area and blue tits, great tits, chaffinches and bullfinches were flying in and out. The track takes you along the side of a small river and there are several viewing areas. I stopped off at one and immediately there were several inquisitive small birds landing on the branches and checking to see what I was doing.

The path leads onto the Fisher’s Mill canal bridge where people leave nuts and other bird seed for the many inhabitants of the area. The path then opens up to the wetlands and having been there on a previous occasion, I headed south and explored the meadow area. This is a favoured place to see owls hunting both in the early morning or late evening evening.

https://www.justcolor.net/kids/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/nggallery/pokemon/Coloring-for-kids-pokemon-55760.jpg — A view of the wetlands at RSPB Middleton Lakes

On the way back, I brough some enamel badges for the grandchildren and set off home. Middleton Lakes reserve has so much nature on view and now as a member of RSPB I will take even more of an active interest in the area. The RSPB do such important work to maintain the natural habitats of our bird community. I joined to take an active interest in their work, I would encourage my blog readers to get involved too!

Middleton Lakes RSPB

My visit in 2022

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Early blossom brings colour to Oozells Square

by Damien Walmsley 08/03/2024 09/03/2024

Oozells Square has featured on my blog over the years. The appearance of the pink blossom on the trees heralds the start of spring in Birmingham. The square becomes a riot of pink colour and is a magnet for photographers. This year, the blossom has arrived very early by about 2 weeks. The warm wet winter has enabled the blossom to flower at the beginning of March. Whenever the blossom appears then people flock to the area especially at the weekends. On a bright sunny Monday morning, I had the square to myself bar a few people passing through. The sun was low enough to catch some of the blossom with its rays producing lovely colours. As luck would have it a few people passed by dressed in pink which matched the blossom. Taking photographs in the square is very competitive as many people will arrive over the next few weeks to get a picture. People dress up specially and families bring picnics to sit out and admire the blossom. The IKON gallery is an ideal backdrop to the blossom. Please feel free to visit my other posts on the blossom.

The blossom story from over the last few years.

2023 – Birmingham Blossom Watch

2022 – Birmingham Blossom

2020 – Blossom in Oozells Square

2018 – Cherry blossom experiments

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