Berkswell and St John the Baptist and St Laurence Meriden

 

Last week I went in search of snowdrops and a short trip to one of my favourite villages Berkswell.

The Bear Berkswell, my favourite pub. I can't believe I haven't been in a pub for two years. 

Wall Letter Box at the shop and post office. It was good to see the shop has now re-opened and includes a tearoom.

Village stocks - local legends according to "Berkswell Through the Looking Glass" by D E Gibbs suggest that the stocks have 5 holes as they were built for recurring offenders one of whom only had one leg.  The stocks are around 200 years old.

There used to be a museum in this cottage - sadly now closed.  

St John the Baptist is described by Pevsner as "easily the most interesting Norman village church in Warwickshire".

It was good to see the church is now open again. It has been closed for most of the pandemic.  At some stage I really need to go in the church again and take some better photos with the bridge camera. There are more Robert "Mouseman" Thompson mice to find and now I have Warwickshire Pevsner I have a better idea of features to look for.

12th century oak door with handmade nails.

The snowdrops are just starting to flower mainly in a sunnier part of the churchyard.

The Gothic War Memorial by Sir Charles Nicholson was erected in 1921. I don't think I have taken photos of the interior before. 

Well House formerly the Rectory

There is evidence of a pre-Conquest shrine at Berkswell and the well near the church may have been used for early immersion baptisms.  The well was restored in 1851.

The village of Meriden is only 5 minutes from Berkswell by car so I decided to stop off and see if there were snowdrops in St Laurence's churchyard.

According to Pevsner the timber framed Moat House farm opposite the church is dated 1609 but parts of the house are older.

I found the house as spooky as I did on a previous visit.

St Laurence dates back to Norman times.  

I found one clump of snowdrops in flower.

Mounting block outside the church.

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera.

Reference: "The Buildings of England Warwickshire" by Chris Pickford and Nikolaus Pevsner Yale University Press (2011)

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and Elmdon Manor LNR

 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

I took part, as I know many of you also did, last weekend on the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. I have so enjoyed reading about your counts.

So what did I see?

Magpie 2

Wood Pigeon 6

Blackbird 2

Blue Tit 2

Collared Dove 2

Great Tit 1

House Sparrow 4

Dunnock 2

Goldfinch 3

Robin 1

Not a brilliant total but in recent years I have found I see a lot less species than I used to.  Most of the regulars visited apart from Coal Tit but none of the less regular species such as Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stock Dove and Ring-necked Parakeet.

Sorry for lack of photos the sun was shining straight on the back garden and it was difficult enough trying to check the garden let alone take photos in the sun.

Elmdon Manor LNR

On Saturday D and I took a walk round the small Local Nature Reserve of Elmdon Manor.  The timing of the visit was not good as I had forgotten that Solihull Moors Football Ground is nearby and there was  a match on that afternoon which made parking difficult! Luckily, I got the last space in a pull in right by the reserve.

The reserve, which covers 5 hectares, was once part of the garden and grounds of Elmdon Manor.  The mixed habitat includes woodland, grassland, a large pool and what was once the walled garden where there is an orchard.  The walled garden was built in the 18th century.  The reserve is now owned by Solihull Council and managed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

It was nice to see some clumps of snowdrops around the walled garden in particular.  Birds were notable by their absence. We saw a jay and a blackbird!!!  

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

Photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330

Recent Reading

 

Recent Reading

The Shire book on Old Letter Boxes was fascinating and is a good little reference book.

"Secrets of a Devon Wood" is a beautiful book with the most wonderful illustrations and information on species the author has spotted and drawn.

The next in the Wesley Peterson series.

Another interesting Shire Book - I would prefer the paperback version and will purchase if I see it in the future.

As you can see I like Shire Books - great introductions to subjects and full of interesting information. 

Sorry I cut off the full title! It is "Candle for a Corpse".  The Mitchell and Markby books are another series I really enjoy.

Back to "comfort reading" and the Thrush Green books by Miss Read.

Finally, a couple of photos D took of Ring-necked Parakeets.

I am looking forward to taking part in the RSPB annual Garden Birdwatch this weekend and I know many of you will be taking part too so I look forward to reading about the species you have seen :)

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.