This year, the Real Confetti Company offered evening viewings of the Confetti Fields for the first time, and I signed up immediately. There is always a short window when the Confetti Fields at Wick, near Pershore, open to the public. The weather and the timing of the delphinium blooms have a significant influence on this.
The view from the top of the field looking down towards Bredon Hill.
Although the dates did not suit the family calendar during the day, the evening timing worked for me. On a warm June evening, I arrived at the fields two hours before sunset.
On top of the viewing platform.The Delphinium flowers
As always, the vibrant colours of the flowers, neatly arranged in colour zones, were quite magical. The evening opening meant the field was less busy, allowing time to take pictures without the usual distractions of people walking through the lanes and avenues. When I arrived, the light was excellent and really brought out the colours. I met up with fellow photographer Dave Wells, and we were able to compare notes as we took our pictures.
The wildflowers were spectacular.Colour contrasts in the field.
Unfortunately, a sunset never materialised. The sun disappeared behind clouds on the horizon, and rain arrived just as we were leaving. However, this did not dampen my enthusiasm for photographing the flowers. Enjoy the pictures—and I have provided links to previous visits to the Confetti Fields in 2023, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
The Golden Lion is a building with a long and varied history. Walk along the main path in Canon Hill Park, and you will soon come across it. The scaffolding surrounding the structure gives its location away. You then realise that it commands a striking view of the green space, the boating lake, and the MAC.
Hard Hats at the Ready.
The Golden Lion has served many purposes over the years, including being used as a living space, public house, and a cricket pavilion. Its original location was on Deritend High Street, but it was moved to Canon Hill Park in 1911. If you wish to learn more about its background, the Birmingham Conservation Trust (BCT) website is a good place to start.
The outside scaffolding.
This blog describes my hard hat tour of the Golden Lion, organised by the BCT. Irene from the Trust was our guide, and she explained that restoration work on the building would soon begin. Only a few tours were scheduled before work commenced, so this was a rare opportunity to see inside the structure before any changes took place.
Inside the Golden Lion, Ground Floor inspecting the ceiling.Looking at the walls.Looking up to the roof and the space where orignially there was a second floor.
Irene was full of enthusiasm. As she explained both the history and the upcoming plans for the building, it became clear how closely the two are connected. We donned our hard hats and entered. Since the windows were boarded up, we needed torches to see. We were warned about low ceilings—and spiders. The latter, we were told, were actually a good sign, as they indicated that bats had not nested in the building, which would have delayed the restoration.
Debris on the floor.
We explored the ground floor and then the first floor. Debris lay scattered on the floors, and shards of light pierced through cracks in the walls. Despite this, the building was remarkably dry and structurally intact. Small holes in the walls provided natural ventilation, allowing the building to dry out quickly after rain.
Window latch.Secrets in the wood.Markings on the door.
As we moved through the space, there were clear reminders of its previous uses as a cricket pavilion and a ranger’s office. These later modifications were visible on the interior walls. There were fittings for benches, and the windows had been fitted with modern locks and latches. Originally, the building had another floor, and the outlines of where it once stood could still be seen on the walls. Early records from the 1851 census report that up to 50 people once lived in and around the building when it stood in Deritend. This included the courtyard at the rear where there were 6 small (slum) dwellings
Going down the stairs
The visit was fascinating, and the history embedded in the walls came alive during our conversations. I am looking forward to seeing the Golden Lion restored and given a new lease of life. Thank you to the Birmingham Conservation Trust for organising the visit, and to Irene for being such an informative and enthusiastic guide. Finally a special thanks to Pat Rodwell for obtaining tickets.
If you are interested in exploring historical buildings around Birmingham which are a lot safer and accessible then I would recommend a visit to Selly Manor as my blog shows below.
The poppy season does throw up surprises. Most poppy fields in the West Midlands are found around Bewdley and Kidderminster. Last year, there was a spectacular field in Kinver. Occasionally, a field appears closer to home, such as in Leamington Spa. This year’s surprise poppy field which was initially photographed by Jack March, a fellow weather watcher based around Nuneaton. He had posted some striking pictures taken in a poppy field in Leicestershire which were featured on the BBC.
The dramatic red of the poppies at dusk.
After some internet detective work, it became clear that the field was in Witherley, a charming village just outside Atherstone — only a 30-minute drive from home. As soon as I discovered the location, I checked the weather forecast. The month of May had brought good weather, though a change was expected later in the month. Fortunately, the forecast looked promising for the evening and the following morning. It was time for action. I packed my camera kit and tripod into the car and set off for Witherley to catch the evening light.
Sunset on the poppy field.
Finding the field was straightforward compared to some other locations I have written about. It was both easy to find and to access. When I arrived, two photographers were already there, focusing on close-ups of the poppies. I parked at the top of the field, and walked down towards the village along the side of the poppies. I found a good vantage point and began taking photographs. I captured some lovely images of the church bathed in the warm evening light. Looking back up the field, I noticed the sun setting beautifully over the crest. I quickly reset my camera to catch several shots of the golden sunset. The poppies glowed, their paper-thin red petals shimmering with life and shadows of nearby flowers. Poppy fields lend themselves both to sweeping landscapes and intimate portraits of individual flowers. Time passed quickly, and soon dusk settled in. I stayed to capture the colours of the clouds and the twilight. As the temperature dropped sharply, I was grateful for the warmth of the car once it had heated up.
One of many close ups of the flowers. Panorama of the field
It was a superb poppy field. I had enjoyed the evening session so much that I decided to return the next morning. With sunset at 9:00 pm in late May, I knew sunrise would be early — at 5:00 am. After just a few hours of sleep, I was up again and back with the poppies before dawn. This time, I parked closer to the village and entered the field via the footpath. I made my way to the opposite side and settled in to await the sunrise. The field is bordered on the west by the River Anker. As the sun began to rise, the scene transformed. Mist started to rise from the river and slowly spread across the field. For a surreal five to ten minutes, the entire field was shrouded in mist. Just as suddenly as it appeared, the mist lifted as the sun’s warmth burned it away.
The rise of mist from the river Anker.Sunlight bursting through the poppies.Close ups of the different poppies taking in the sunrise.Mist hanging over the poppy filed.
The sunrise was glorious, and I took many photographs with the cameras I had brought. The iPhone, always a reliable companion, captured some great shots as well. Eventually, there comes a point where you know you have taken enough pictures. Unbeknown to me, Jack March, the weather watcher himself, had been observing me and taking photos. I was so engrossed in my work that I had not realised he was there. At the end of the session, as I returned to my car, I met Jack, who had been waiting. Jack is an excellent photographer, and I have long admired his work. We had a fantastic chat about the poppy field, weather watching, and photography in general. I even took a selfie of us with the poppy field in the background. After saying our goodbyes, I set off home to review and post my pictures.
Selfie with Jack March, BBC Weather WatcherThe poppy field capital
Epilogue
There was another benefit from this trip to Witherley. On my way home after the evening session, I took a short detour to Church End Brewery. I found it tucked away behind Ridge Lane in a small village near Nuneaton. The tap room was open, and I came away with bottles of Fallen Angel and Goat’s Milk pale ale. It was a perfect photographic outing — capturing poppies at both sunset and sunrise, and returning home with some excellent beers for the evenings to come.
A few bottles brought at Church End Brewery to help during editing of my pictures.
If you enjoyed the latest addition to my poppy field journey then please read last year’s visit to Kinver. There are many other places I have visited and sadly some of these fields are no more. However, there are good memories of these places.
I took a walk from Snow Hill train station up towards Edgbaston village where I had a meeting. This is a collection of 10 images in black and white from my walk. All taken with my Fujifilm x100vi and converted to monochrome.
Brutilistic designCube 20Tagged windowsBusy towpathBnW not blueFive ways HouseForgotten entranceBroken WindowsEdgbaston Village
Enjoyed this, then read some more about Birmingham in Black and White.
Early starts in photography are always exciting, but only once you have set things in motion. As soon as the alarm goes off, I am on a mission. This time, my destination was Chesterton Windmill to see its newly restored sails. Sunrise at the spring equinox made the occasion even more significant. Since the clocks had not yet gone forward, the start was not too early.
A proud windmill on the top of the hill.
Driving towards Chesterton, I noticed a lingering mist over the fields. On arrival, the scene was too good to pass up, so I pulled over, took out my camera, and captured the ethereal landscape. This was one of the first photographs of the windmill with its restored sails, and the conditions were perfect—a leading fence, mist-covered trees, and in the distance, the windmill’s sails standing proudly.
The start of the spring equinox
When I reached the top of the hill, the moon was still visible, adding to the atmosphere as I prepared for the arrival of the day. The sunrise was beautiful, and though there were no clouds, the first rays of sunlight made the trip worthwhile. As the sun rose higher, its light reflected off the white sails, making them shine brilliantly. I took several more photographs with both my camera and iPhone before heading home for breakfast.
The moon sits alongside the sails.
I plan to return in a few weeks, as the windmill holds a special place for our family, particularly during those bleak lockdown days.
I was absolutely thrilled to learn that the sails were finally going to be placed back on Chesterton Windmill. This Grade I listed building holds so many cherished memories from before lockdown—a place to explore, take photographs through the changing seasons, or simply enjoy the historic beauty of this iconic location. During lockdown, the windmill became a refuge, a meeting point for family while maintaining social distancing. As a lover of landscape photography, the windmill has featured in many of my pictures. In fact, the Chesterton Windmill is an iconic location for many landscape photographers and is high on the list of Instagram influencers’ favourite buildings.
This classical view of the windmill with leading lines from the fields will soon have the addition of windmill sails.
Then, in the spring of 2021, the sails were taken down. There was no notice, no explanation, and no indication of when they would return. For years, the windmill stood without them—dignified yet incomplete. Over time, many local people gave up hope that the sails would ever be restored.
Behind the scenes, however, Warwickshire County Council had commissioned the production of brand-new sails, carefully crafted to honour the windmill’s heritage. The company appointed for this task was Owlsworth Conservation, specialists in the preservation and repair of historic buildings. Behind the scenes of apparent inactivity, both the council and Owlsworth Conservation had been diligently working through the challenges that come with such a project.
When I received an email from my close friend John Bray with the news that the sails were being installed, I was, as I said at the beginning, absolutely thrilled.
The newly made sails lie to the side of the Windmill as the supporting stocks are put in place.
The day arrived, and I gathered my cameras and set off for the windmill. When we arrived, the site was buzzing with activity. The sails were being installed using traditional, handcrafted techniques—pulleys and ropes at the ready. The only concession to the modern day was the use of a motorised articulated boom. One of the stocks that will hold the sails was already in place. Over the course of the morning, the second stock was hoisted into position. Although the sails would not be attached until the following week, the cross-bar mechanism was now ready to accept them.
The craftsmanship is evident of the newly constructed sails (plus attached earthing metal tape.)
The team was happy to talk about the process and the dedication required to restore the windmill. The work demanded skill, patience, and perseverance. The weather was bright, with blue skies and white clouds, but it was bitterly cold. The previous day, the restoration had continued despite a wave of hailstones. Yet none of this dampened the enthusiasm of the men working on the windmill. A video of the work being done is on the BBC website
From above, the work aims to pull the second beam upwards.From below, all hands keep the beam ready as it is hoisted upwards.The cross bars are ready for the addition of the sails.Paul Millwright of Owlsworth Conservation with the windmill in the background.
I look forward to seeing the sails in place, and in the coming months, my family will visit to relive our treasured memories of this beloved landmark. This ancient monument has witnessed so much change over the centuries, standing tall through shifting landscapes and history itself. Now, as it regains the sails that define it as a windmill, it is once more ready to embrace whatever the future may bring.
The team includes members of Warwickshire county council and Owlsworth Conservation
I have included one of several blogs I have written about Chesterton Windmill. The blog featured was written in 2019 and shows how the windmill looked with sails prior to their breakage.
I encouraged my daughter and grandson to join me on a walk to see the HS2 works next to 16 Acre Wood. It’s now 2025, and it’s time for an update on my visits to the site. These visits began in 2021, and I’ve kept a diary documenting all the changes that have taken place over the years.
Over the hill and far awayHS2 signsNew bridges on the line.Concrete structures.Heavy machinery.The gate
We’ve had a lot of rain recently, and the walk reflected this as the footpath became quite muddy. When we reached the area, the first thing I noticed was the progress made with two bridges. A lot of concrete had been poured, resulting in two large structures. The special pond had also received some attention. The overgrown foliage had been cut back, and we were now able to see the water and grass more clearly. No trees have been planted around the pond yet, so it will be interesting to see how it fares over the coming summer.
Lots of numbersThe new pond.The pond is still looking on.Nature is always near.The wood is a lot thinner.
Walking around the site on the weekend meant there were no concerns about taking photographs, which was a nice bonus. However, it was a long walk which Noah was not so happy about!
Walking along the footpath.
This is an update on a continuing story on 16 Acre Wood and the intrusion of HS2. Feel free to read the my other entries starting with the one highlighted below.
The Birmingham Light Festival has brightened up the city as look to the end of winter. Light festivals have been held previously, and this year, the company Opus supplied 11 imaginative light installations. Although many other activities were taking place, the BBC was planning a feature on the lights. I tagged along with John Bray, and we systematically tracked down most of the installations. It was also an opportunity to try out my night lens filter for my Fujifilm X100vi which was a present by my daughters. I was eager to try it out.
‘The Roof of Stars’ lights up Thorp Street, and transforms the area around Birmingham Hippodrome’s Stage Door. It was fun trying to capture both the cars and the reflections of the stars. Near to the main entrance of the Hippodrome, there is a peace poem – the words are very much needed at present.
The Roof of StarsPeace Poem
‘The Light Door’ at New Street Station was very bright. There were also many people around and catching either a clear shot or getting one where they were interacting with the light was not straight forward. I soon realised that taking pictures of these light installations was going to be tricky due to their placement and the challenge of capturing the atmosphere of people interacting with the displays.
The light door
The Mailbox featured a fruit machine installation, “Positive spin”. My Fujifilm did not have the wide angle view and I should have reached for my iPhone for a wide angled view. As we walked towards Gas Street Basin and Centenary Square, we spotted a light boat passing by on its way to the Mailbox, allowing us to capture the scene at just the right moment. There were volunteers from the Canal and River Trust who had been involved with the lights on the narrow boat.
Positive SpinThe narrowboat of light arrives at the Mailbox
Centenary Square had two installations: “Dance on Lava” Floor is LAVA x Silent Disco and “Night Badminton.” People were having fun especially on the dance floor. The badminton installation had a purple shuttlecock which was difficult to follow against the city lights and the dark night sky. The people playing the game did not seem to mind.
Dance Floor is LavaNight Badmington
I was not disappointed with the last three installations we visited. The first was “Ideas happen here” in Newhall Square, where the fountains and water reflections provided plenty of opportunities for great pictures. Saint Paul’s Square had a bioluminescent fungus display in lights, offering numerous leading lines and a quieter setting that made it easier to capture images. The final installation was “Flux” in Snow Hill Square. Fortunately, I found a display board where I could rest my camera, allowing me to take a long exposure shot of the bars of light as they whirled around.
Ideas happen here.Mycelium networkFlux
The one I missed was Alright Bab but as this is a legacy installation, I have time on my side to take pictures of it. I returned on the Monday and took pictures of this iconic phrase.
Alright Bab.
Tracking down the light installations made for an super night of photography. I was pleased with how my lens filter performed, as it cut down on light pollution and allowed for very small apertures, resulting in some nice starbursts. Winter is almost over, and spring is just around the corner, but I always enjoy these light installations.
Here are my blog entries from previous light festivals in Birmingham to enjoy.
The Stratford-upon-Avon CanalLooking out over bridge 56Leading lines to the tree
This walk took us to the Edstone Viaduct, a spectacular canal aqueduct that runs over the Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon railway line. We made our way from The View across fields, down to the railway line, which had an unguarded crossing. Crossing this we arrived at the road and made our way to the viaduct. On the canal, a few narrowboats were moored, but as it was a cold February lunchtime, there was very little movement. I always like crossing the viaduct as the towpath is lower than the water level and so you have a different view of the canal.
Watch out for the trainsFollowing the path
The towpath and fields were extremely muddy, so having good walking boots was essential. The Warwickshire countryside is picturesque and gently rolling, and even on a grey day, it offers interesting places to visit. The pictures from this walk capture the beauty of the landscape, showcasing how this part of the world remains charming in all weather conditions.
If you enjoyed this entry in my blog then please read about my 4 churches bike ride around the Warwickshire Countryside. I also enclose a pdf from the View with a map and further details of my walk.
Details of Edstone Walk (copyright with the View, Wootton Warren)
The year may have started with plenty of rain, but that never stops me from hunting for reflections. I have a few favourite spots where I find good puddles, and here is a selection from the start of 2025.
Kingswood Junction after a very heavy downpour flooded the towpath.Taken with my Fujifilm x100vi of Gas Street Basin. There is smoke billowing out of one of the narrowboats.
Someone recently asked about my technique for taking such pictures. When capturing reflections, I use my iPhone, seeking out patches of water and anticipating how a reflection may appear. A key step is to get as low as possible to the puddle. This can be challenging, especially with particularly muddy puddles, like the one on Normandy Hill. One wrong step, and you could end up a muddy mess if you stumble into the water.
This reflection was taken from the surface of a very muddy puddle on Normandy Hill, Hillmorton, Rugby.
I position my phone so that the back lens is as close to the water as possible, just before autofocus engages. This creates a blurred background effect as the phone focuses on the nearest object. Since you are often crouching in muddy water while holding your phone, you must anticipate the outcome of your shot rather than seeing it perfectly in the moment. Using a larger camera—even a compact one—would be difficult in such conditions. Of course, larger cameras work well when photographing a lake beneath a mountain range, safely away from the water’s edge. However, the beauty of using a phone is its ability to capture reflections effortlessly during everyday walks. There are two pictures, in this gallery that have been taken with my Fujifilm x100v and I am still able to capture the magic of reflections.
Tow trains, one local, the other to London with the reflections framed by the footbridge.This contrast of colours of the blue hour and the warm lights is enhanced by the reflections. The picture was taken with my x100vi.
Having taken reflection photographs countless times, I now appreciate that the real skill lies in composition. It is about anticipating the possibilities that even a small puddle can offer.
Reflections at Selfridges with a blue theme. A favourite place for photographs.
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