Starcross Yard, Euston, HS2, March, 2025

If you want to escape the Hell’s Kitchen that is Euston Station whilst waiting for your train, visit this delightful pop-up park. The theme echoes the past people and life of the area, providing a quiet place to sit and watch the world go by.

Starcross Yard, Euston, HS2, March, 2025
The entrance to Starcross Yard
Starcross Yard, Euston, HS2, March, 2025
Striking artwork within the pop-up park.

I came across Starcross Yard by accident. My train was delayed at Euston Station, which is a common story. I therefore went out to the west of the station and walked along Drummond Street. I often walk along here to and from the station, using it as a shortcut to Triton Square, where there are sparkling skyscrapers and interesting pieces of art to photograph. To get there, you must walk across an area slated for the HS2 station. There is not much going on there now, as there is still debate over whether the station will be built. As you move along, security is intense, with several guards and wardens stationed near the entrance to Drummond Street.

camdengreenloop
Old ironwork vs new steel buildings.


Instead of going straight on, I turned right into Starcross Street, and this is where I found the pop up park. Starcross yard sits on the former site of the Maria Fidelis School, which was closed and relocated due to HS2 construction. Now, it has been transformed into a temporary pop-up park. With a triangular footprint, the small green area features a circular yellow mural and several benches. An interesting structure of four metal posts forms a canopy—these posts were taken from King’s Cross Station and thus maintain the railway connection. At one end, there is a training centre, and along the railings, information boards share stories of past people and events in the area.

Starcross Yard, Euston, HS2, March, 2025
A drink at the Exmouth Arms

Drummond Street and Starcross Yard are now home to a diverse community, mainly Bengali and Pakistani. Drummond Street boasts a rich mix of restaurants, sweet shops, and eateries, as well as a few public houses serving independent brews. As the sun streamed down, the shimmering glass towers of Triton Square loomed in the distance, but my attention remained on the pop-up park. I appreciated the little details that made the space unique, as my pictures show.

Starcross Yard, Euston, HS2, March, 2025
Echoes of place on the railings of Starcross Yard

The park also inspired me to research the names and histories mentioned on the information boards. I have returned a couple of times and plan to visit again in the future. How long the park will remain is uncertain, given the ongoing debate about HS2’s future at Euston, but until then, it will continue to be a welcome space for the community to enjoy.

Starcross Yard, Euston, HS2, March, 2025
The view of the Skyscrapers of Triton Square.
Digbeth Community Garden, Birmingham, March 2025

While organising a walk for the photographic group Negative Space, we explored Digbeth using the canals as our guide. After lunch, we headed back into town, walking via Shaw’s Passage. I was pleasantly surprised to find the community garden open, so as a group, we went in.

Digbeth Community Garden, Birmingham, March 2025
The entrance to the community garden

The garden is a small green space situated close to the HS2 works. In fact, the HS2 project is not particularly welcomed here, as one of my pictures shows. The walls of the garden are adorned with street murals several of which I have always wanted to see.  Such colourful images add to the space’s character. A path around the perimeter leads to the back walls, where I met one of the volunteers, who was dressed as a bumblebee. (I have forgotten his name, though I believe it began with an H.) His striking yellow-and-black costume stood out, and he was more than happy to have his photograph taken.

Digbeth Community Garden, Birmingham, March 2025
Street art and bath tubs
Digbeth Community Garden, Birmingham, March 2025
A resident bee keeper
Digbeth Community Garden, Birmingham, March 2025
HS2 is not welcome here
Digbeth Community Garden, Birmingham, March 2025
Art on the walls

Compost was the main topic of conversation that day. A few members of Negative Space were particularly enthusiastic about learning how the volunteers in the garden produce and distribute the compost. As it was early March, spring was only just beginning to emerge, so much of the garden’s work was focused on preparation. At the heart of the space is a beehive, though activity there was also just beginning.

Digbeth Community Garden, Birmingham, March 2025
Discussing the merits of compost.
Digbeth Community Garden, Birmingham, March 2025
Watering can at the ready.
Digbeth Community Garden, Birmingham, March 2025
Bee hive and flags

My aim is to return in the summer when the garden will be in full bloom and compare my photos from then to now. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my record of this visit.

Digbeth Community Garden, Birmingham, March 2025
An overview of the garden.

If you wish to know more about the Digbeth Community Garden then there is a website with further information.

There are other community gardens around Birmingham and I discovered a few on my journey with my Key to the City (links below).

16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025

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.

16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025
Over the hill and far away
16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025
HS2 signs
16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025
New bridges on the line.
16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025
Concrete structures.
16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025
Heavy machinery.
16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025
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.

16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025
Lots of numbers
16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025
The new pond.
16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025
The pond is still looking on.
16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025
Nature is always near.
16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025
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!

16 Acre Wood, Berkswell, HS2, February, 2025
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.

16 Acre wood, HS@ works, Berkswell, Sept 2024

Sixteen-acre ward has been a project that I started in March 2021, and I have visited the area at regular intervals since. The wood was in the news, when the initial plans for the HS2 line revealed that it would cut into the wood.  Therefore, trees were felled, and an old ancient pond was duplicated in a new location nearby.  This new pond has signage and chains to protect this nature venture.  Over the years, the landscape around the wood has changed drastically.  This is my fourth visit to the wood. As with the previous ones, I was interested to see if anything had changed since my visit last year.

16 Acre wood, HS@ works, Berkswell, Sept 2024
The new pond is covered with vegetation.
16 Acre wood, HS@ works, Berkswell, Sept 2024
No entry to the pond.

Fortunately, my drive to Berkswell village was not difficult as the HS2 works will close access to various roads around the area at a moment’s notice.  I parked my car near to St Mary’s Church, Berkswell, and walked along the boardwalk. There is a footpath that runs up the hill over a farmer’s field. This footpath meets up and follows the HS2 route I reached the part of the HS2 track which passes by Sixteen-acre wood and goes onto meet Kenilworth Rd.

16 Acre wood, HS@ works, Berkswell, Sept 2024
The landscape has really changed.
16 Acre wood, HS@ works, Berkswell, Sept 2024
Drainage and fences
16 Acre wood, HS@ works, Berkswell, Sept 2024
Not a place for swimming.

A year on and I noticed that the vegetation is starting to reclaim much of the area.   The new pond is thriving although it could do with some trees around the parameter.  Meanwhile the old pond has not given up and there is still life around an old tree has collapsed into the water. Walking down the designated footpath there is a sharp contrast.  On the left side beyond the steel fence the large land moving vehicles were resting as it was a Sunday, a day of rest.   The earth had been moved into heaps of brown soil and there were lines of plastic pipes lined up for draining the water.   On the right-hand side, the wood looked in a sorry state. Some of the vegetation is recovering but there are still scars around the knocked down trees.  Some of the trees looked like scarecrows contrasting against the bleak sky.   What did catch my eye was the number of butterflies and dragonflies that were present.  Nature is slowly attempting to get back to its feet after being interrupted by the HS2 works.   

16 Acre wood, HS@ works, Berkswell, Sept 2024
The old pond looks out at the new landscape.
16 Acre wood, HS@ works, Berkswell, Sept 2024
The trees look bare.

These pictures show the amount of construction that is happening as the pace of building is now moving quickly.   In the midst of this construction, there were some beautiful butterflies and I must have seen around 10 different types of insects.  There was a hoard of dragonflies that are living in the stagnant water created around the HS2 trenches.   Someone once told me not to worry about HS2 as everything will grow back once the viaducts that are planned are completed.   I wait to see if this will be true as the scars in the land look very deep.  I now have my 4th entry into my 16 acre wood project and I will return next year to  see what progress has happened and whether nature is coping with the changes forced on the landscape.

16 Acre wood, HS@ works, Berkswell, Sept 2024
HS2 construction is gathering pace.
16 Acre wood, HS@ works, Berkswell, Sept 2024
Earth moving equipment waiting for Monday morning.
16 Acre wood, HS@ works, Berkswell, Sept 2024
The stagnant water has encouraged the growth of the dragonfly population. The wood is to the left of the picture.

You may also like to see 16 Acre Wood in 2013.
My past entries of 16 Acre Wood show the ongoing changes and the blog posts are listed below.

Sixteen Acre Wood, Berkswell, September, 2023

On a day that the government announced a review of the spending of HS2, I revisited my continuing project on the damage to 16 Acre wood near to Berkswell.  I first started taking pictures of this small wood in March 2021 and revisited the area in 2022.  The spiralling costs of HS2 have made the headlines and there is talk of scrapping parts of the line from Birmingham to Manchester. These pictures show that so much alteration of the land has taken place that reversal of the project would leave so much scarring. Keeping the project going is the lesser of the two evils.

Sixteen Acre Wood, Berkswell, September, 2023
The change in the land by the HS2 works.
Sixteen Acre Wood, Berkswell, September, 2023
This reminds me of the Diggersaurus children’s book.

The footpath in Berkswell skirts around the wood and you are fenced off so that you are not allowed to wander onto the working HS2 area.  This is understandable as there are large land moving equipment on the site and the signs are very explicit about trespassing.  The former farmer’s field now resembles an assault course with deep trenches and large mountains of soil.  The edges of the 16 acre wood look sad and tired following destruction of the trees at the edge of the wood.  The old pond still looks on over the fields although today the wind was strong and this meant there was little insect life showing on the water.  The new artificial pond created by the contractors is populated with reeds and rushes but again the signs and the barriers do make it look as if there is something special going on in the area.

Sixteen Acre Wood, Berkswell, September, 2023
The old pond looks out at the upheaval taking place next door.
Sixteen Acre Wood, Berkswell, September, 2023
Pathways through HS2.
Sixteen Acre Wood, Berkswell, September, 2023
The flowers cover the paths.
Sixteen Acre Wood, Berkswell, September, 2023
The battle between nature and progress.
Sixteen Acre Wood, Berkswell, September, 2023
The new HS2 pond is struggling to impose itself. A few trees are needed.

I found this view of the wood back in 2011. The place looks so peaceful, blissfully unaware what would take place a decade later.

https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2577877
Caged in by all the fences.
Sixteen Acre Wood, Berkswell, September, 2023
The trucks take a Sunday rest.

As it was a Sunday, there was little activity so the large trucks and cranes were all quiet resting until the start of the week when they will begin again.  I took more pictures and the main changes were around the amount of earth that had been moved since I was last here. 

Sixteen Acre Wood, Berkswell, September, 2023
Detail of the old pond.

My next visit in 2024 will reveal what further progress has been made and whether they are any closer to completing the line.

The story of HS2 via BBC videos.

Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.

I enjoy a photographic walk with my Fujifilm x100v camera around the streets of Birmingham.  The early hours are best when few people are around and about.  This series of photographs begins at Eastside where the HS2 works are taking place.  Digbeth was next and I returned to Birmingham along the canal exiting again near to the HS2 works.  

Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
Digging holes and barriers around HS2

What is there to tell you about my walk?  No surprises, as building in Birmingham has not finished and HS2 is still digging and putting up barriers.  I took a few pictures and was interested to see BBC midlands covering the HS2 disruption in the evening news.  Why is HS2 taking so long and why is there so much disruption?  I do get upset with the blasé way they are undertaking the HS2 works.  I am sure it will look wonderful when finished but is it worth the upheaval and time taken.    
The latest BBC item puts HS2 under the spotlight.

Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
Curson street station awaits a HS2 upgrade.
Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
The empty Woodman pub awaits customers but when will they return?

Digbeth was quiet for a Monday morning and since the pandemic there is less footfall during business hours. The nightlife is always busy but there is a definite change in activity during the day.  My next observation is the encroachment of high rise living around Digbeth and the loss of character with the demolition and neglect of buildings.  

Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
Micheal Jackson on a furniture shop door.

There are several brownfield sites around the area that will become large skyscrapers.  Other signs of change include the former Typhoo tea building which is starting to see activity around the relocation of the BBC to the building.  Change may not always be positive and one of my pictures is outside what was the DigBrew entrance.  Sadly this excellent brewery has ceased trading and artwork from the street artist Tempo33 marks the spot.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-66199790
Don’t go there.
Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
The former Typhoo building soon to become the BBC Midlands Headquaters.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-66199790
Don’t park here.

There is much chaotic colour around the streets of Digbeth and the morning sun brings out the light and shadows.  The canalside is another area in Digbeth that is changing with several buildings undergoing renovation.  How this change will progress will be interesting to document in future months. 

Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
I’m late for an important date. (street art Tempo33)
Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
Colours stuck to a wall in Digbeth.
Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
Cryola’s wonderful street art is still attracting attention.
Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
Standing in Liverpool Street looking up Fazeley Street.
Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
Birmingham Canal Navigation through Digbeth
Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
The details under the Great Barr Street bridge.
Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
The Fox mural by Annatomix still impresses
Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
View of the canal buildings with Birmingham in the background.

My final picture was taken on my iPhone as I went past the Selfridges building.  I went low and framed the iconic discs in the background.  I was in luck as a woman walked past although she was confused by what I was doing.  The picture turned out well but was also a reminder not to attract undue attention during my street photography.

Eastside and Digbeth, July 2023.
The Selfridges Crossing.

Returning to the HS2 theme then there are more stories about the construction on my blog.  I have been documenting 16 acre wood and the damage caused by HS2 around Balsall Common since 2020.  Here is my account of this part of the HS2.

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