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Category Archives: Walsall Council
New Hall Mill open this Bank Holiday Monday – come and get crafty!
New Hall Mill is open again this Monday for their Arts and Crafts Day and I can heartily recommend the place – It’s fascinating and I had a great time there on Spring Bank Holiday Monday – not enough people know about this wonderful building.
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged #365daysofbiking, 31 August, Alan Dawson, Art and Crafts day, bank holiday, Bank Holiday Monday, bike cam, collection, Cycle rides, Cycle Route, cycleway, cycling, Nature Day, NCN, New Hall Mill, Newhall, off road, open days2015, Park, Pipe Hayes, Plants Brook, Sutton Coldfield, Things to do, urban, urban birdlife, Valley, Water Mill, Wylde Green
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Knaves Court open day and fete this Thursday!
Knaves Court, the elderly person’s housing complex in Brownhills near Anchor Bridge, are holding an open day and fete this Thursday, 27th August 2015, and everyone is welcome to attend.
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Bold, colourful design. Bright and airy, even on this wet day.[/caption] Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 2015, 27 august, Anchor Bridge, Brownhills, community facility, Fete, fun, fun day, housing complex, Knaves, Knaves Court, open day, stalls, Walsall Housing Group
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Walsall Arboretum Environment Day – on now, and it’s free!
Here’s great event just kicking off in Walsall Arboretum right now (Sunday 16th August 2015) running until 5pm – loads of free nature and wildlife stuff to do for all the family, including the truly remarkable activity of chainsaw sculpting.
Posted in Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local music, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 15 August, 2015, arboretum, chainsaw, cycling, Environment, Events, free, fun day, Nature, New Photos, sulting, Walsall
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Photos from the 2015 Brownhills Community Fun Day
Last Saturday, as I advertised here on the blog, it was Brownhills Community Fun Day at the Activity Centre – what used to be the old Central Boy’s School or Annexe, and Bonita Clayton from the Community Association has been in touch with a note of thanks and some photos of the day.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2105, 8 August, activities centre, Annex, BCA, Brownhills, Brownhills community association, Clayhanger, Community Fun Day, Events, fun day, images, Lichfield, pictures, Shire Oak, thanks, Things to do, Walsall Area Partnerships, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Group
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Folded book art event at Brownhills Library today!
Naomi Jones, Area Librarian from Brownhills Library at the Parkview Centre has been in touch to ask if I could give a plug for a folded book art event being held at Brownhills Library today (Thursday 13th August 2015), from 10:30-11:30am.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 13 August, 2015, Brownhills, Development, event, Events, folded book art, free, Library, Naomi Jones, Parkview Centre, Talk, Things to do, Thursday, Walsall, Walsall Council, workshop
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Plea to find family of deceased former British Rail employee
Walsall Environmental Heath Department have issued an appeal to trace the family of Walsall resident Mr. George Brian Leach, who passed away in Parklands Court Nursing Home, Bloxwich on the 4th August 2015.
Posted in Environment, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 2015, 4 august, Austin Street, Bloxwich, died, Environmental Health, Family, Forster Street, george brian leach, help, Julie Faulkener, Lichfield, Neil Harris, Parklands Court, passed away, releatives, request, search, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Council, West Midlands
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Brownhills Community Association Fun Day this Saturday!
Hey – if you’re looking out for stuff to do this coming Saturday (8th August 2015), look no further than Brownhills Activity Centre (The old Central Boy’s School, or Annex to my generation), just off the Miner Island in Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, 9 August, activities centre, Annex, BCA, Brownhills, Brownhills community association, Clayhanger, Community Fun Day, Events, fun day, Lichfield, Shire Oak, Things to do, Walsall Area Partnerships, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Group
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Stalls available at the upcoming Knaves Court fun day
I’m interested to see that Knaves Court, the elderly person’s housing complex in Brownhills near Anchor Bridge, are planning a fun day on the 27th August 2015, and they’re looking for stalls to attend.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 2015, 27 august, appreal, Brownhills, Fete, fun day, Knaves Court, stalls, Walsall Housing Group
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New Hall Mill open this Sunday – come and share a hobby!
Theres a lovely thing to visit locally this Sunday (9th August 2015), that’s close by, free and absolutely fascinating…
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged #365daysofbiking, Alan Dawson, bank holiday, bike cam, collection, Cycle rides, Cycle Route, cycleway, cycling, GoPro, HDHero 3+, Hob by day, Nature Day, NCN, New Hall Mill, Newhall, off road, open days2015, Park, Pipe Hayes, Plants Brook, Ride cam, Scouts, shooting, Sutton Coldfield, target, Things to do, urban, urban birdlife, Valley, Water Mill, Wylde Green
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Don’t bank on it
Many of you have asked me for updates on the situation with Ravens Court, the decaying, derelict shopping precinct that lies deserted in the centre of Brownhills – you’ll remember that way back in November 2014, Walsall Council issued an ultimatum to the owners that if they didn’t submit a planning application within six months, they’d initiate legal proceedings to force the landlords to tidy it up.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 215 Notice, Blofeld, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Compulsory purchase, Derelict, Events, Facebook, John Bird, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, New Tesco, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Retail, Stev Wade, sympathy, Tesco, Tesco Development, teve Wade, Vandalism, Vivienne Aston, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
3 Comments
Holland Park fun day this Wednesday – get down there with the kids!
Summer holidays, eh – kids already driving you mad already – this Wednesday 29th July 2014, between 10:30am and 4:00pm there will be an opportunity to get them off that games console and out into the fresh air with the annual summer fun event at the ever popular Holland Park in Brownhills
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 2015, 29 July, Brownhills, community games, Events, fun, fun day, Holland Park, kids fun day, Park, stuff to do kids events, summer holiday activities, Walsall, Walsall Council
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Flytipping scum plaguing Brownhills
Brownhills Councillor Steve Wade has been in touch recently on a number of local issues, and I’m very glad to see him developing an online presence and keeping us informed of stuff he’s dealing with – and I’m very grateful for the positive moves he’s made to communicate with me and the blog – there’s more to come from Steve later this week.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills common, Cheap tat, Coppice Lane, Councillor, Fly tipping, flytipping, Holland Park, Lay By, Local politics, metal theft, Operation Steel, Politics, Scrap, scrap metal, Silly, Steve Wade, Street pride, tat men, tat trade, trading standards, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, waste transfer
4 Comments
New Hall Mill – A local, working watermill – open this Sunday
Theres a lovely thing to visit locally this Sunday (12th July 2015), that’s close by, free and absolutely fascinating…
Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged #365daysofbiking, 12 July, Alan Dawson, bank holiday, bike cam, Cycle rides, Cycle Route, cycleway, cycling, GoPro, HDHero 3+, Nature Day, NCN, New Hall Mill, Newhall, off road, open days2015, Park, Pipe Hayes, Plants Brook, Ride cam, Sutton Coldfield, Things to do, urban, urban birdlife, Valley, Water Mill, Wylde Green
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Brownhills Local Committee: changes afoot?
Here’s just a bit of news I picked up off the grapevine, so I’m not 100% sure of the accuracy but I’m hearing that the long-serving and dedicated Doug Birch MBE has stood down from the Chair of Brownhills Local Committee for health reasons.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Brownhills, Brownhills Local Committee, Clayhanger, Doug BirchMBEVivienne Aston, Events, Lichfield, Local politics, Politics, Shire Oak, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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On now – 2015 Walsall Wood Family Fit ‘n’ Fun Day
Now that summer is here, the nights have opened out and hopefully the good weather is at last upon us, why not take the family up to Oak Park today (Saturday 4th July 2015)?
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, 4 July, activities, Brownhills, Family, fit, Fit'n'fun, Fitness, fun, Oak Park, Reach up tower, Saturday, Shire Oak, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood football club
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2015 Walsall Wood Family Fit ‘n’ Fun Day this Saturday
Now that summer is here, the nights have opened out and hopefully the good weather is at last upon us, why not take the family up to Oak Park this Saturday 4th July 2015?
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, 4 July, activities, Brownhills, Family, fit, Fit'n'fun, Fitness, fun, Oak Park, Reach up tower, Saturday, Shire Oak, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood football club
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2015 Brownhills Canalside Festival on today!
Details of this year’s Brownhills Canal Festival taking place today (Sunday 28th June 2015) at Silver Street in Brownhills have kindly been supplied by The Clayhanger Kid himself, Brian Stringer – it’s always a good event and last year was better than ever!
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local music, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 10am-4pm, 2015, Barge, Boats, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills Canoe Centre, Canal, canalside, Canoe, Clayhanger, Committee, Contach, Contact, Events, Festival, Fete, information, June 28, Local, local blogs, Marina, Narrowboat, outdoors, pageant, planning, running order, Summer, Sunday, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Some bins not emptied today – leave them out folks….
I’m hearing that today (Friday 26th June 2015), some bin collections were missed in Brownhills, Walsall Wood and Shelfield, apparently due to a truck breakdown – these things happen.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, 26 June, 27 June, bin collections, Bins, breakdown, Brownhills, cart, Clayhanger, clean, collection, collection day, Events, failed, green, household waste, information, Local politics, Lorry, missed, Recycling, Refuse, rubbish, Shelfield, truck, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
4 Comments
It’s a bum rap – but there’s no such thing as bad publicity
A delightful bit of urban mischief in Brownhills has gone semi-viral on local social media – Oh dear me, the jokes write themselves.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local music, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 10am-4pm, 2015, Barge, Boats, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills Canoe Centre, Canal, canalside, Canoe, Clayhanger, Committee, Contach, Contact, Events, Festival, Fete, information, June 28, Local, local blogs, Marina, Narrowboat, outdoors, pageant, planning, running order, Summer, Sunday, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
11 Comments
2015 Brownhills Canalside Festival on this Sunday!
Details of this year’s Brownhills Canal Festival taking place this Sunday (28th June 2015) at Silver Street in Brownhills have kindly been supplied by The Clayhanger Kid himself, Brian Stringer.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local music, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 10am-4pm, 2015, Barge, Boats, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills Canoe Centre, Canal, canalside, Canoe, Clayhanger, Committee, Contach, Contact, Events, Festival, Fete, information, June 28, Local, local blogs, Marina, Narrowboat, outdoors, pageant, planning, running order, Summer, Sunday, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
1 Comment
Folded book art event at Brownhills Library tomorrow!
Naomi Jones, Area Librarian from Brownhills Library at the Parkview Centre has been in touch to ask if I could give a plug for a folded book art event being held at Brownhills Library tomorrow (Thursday 18th June 2015), from 2pm-3pm.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 18 June, 2015, adult learners week, Brownhills, Development, event, Events, folded book art, free, Library, Naomi Jones, Parkview Centre, Talk, Things to do, tursday, Walsall, Walsall Council, workshop
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Need help creating your CV? Free workshop tomorrow!
Naomi Jones, Area Librarian from Brownhills Library at the Parkview Centre has been in touch to ask if I could give a plug for a CV Development Workshop being held at Brownhills Library tomorrow (Tuesday 16th June 2015), from 10:15am-12:30pm.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 16 June, 2015, adult learners week, Brownhills, CV, Development, event, Events, free, Library, Naomi Jones, Parkview Centre, Talk, Things to do, Tuesday, Walsall, Walsall Council, workshop
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New Hall Mill – A local, working watermill – open today
New Hall Mill is open again today (Sunday, 14th June 2015) for their Wild Flower Day and I can heartily recommend the place – it’s fascinating and I had a great time there last Bank Holiday Monday – not enough people know about this wonderful building.
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged #365daysofbiking, 14th June, Alan Dawson, bank holiday, bike cam, Cycle rides, Cycle Route, cycleway, cycling, GoPro, HDHero 3+, NCN, New Hall Mill, Newhall, off road, open days2015, Park, Pipe Hayes, Plants Brook, Ride cam, Sutton Coldfield, Things to do, urban, urban birdlife, Valley, Water Mill, Wylde Green
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The Friends of Brownhills Common – June meeting tonight!
Here’s one for people interested in the issues surrounding Brownhills Common – theres a meeting at 7:00pm tonight, Monday 8th June 2015 of the Freinds of Brownhills Common group at the Environmental Depot, 200 Pelsall Road, Brownhills – WS8 7EN – please meet in the reception by 7:00pm.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged 2015, 8th June, Brownhills common, Chasewater SSSI, Conifer, Consultation, Countryside Services, Cycle rides, Events, forestry, Freinds, Greenspace, Heathland, Kevin Clements, local blogs, Management, Natural England, Plantation, scrutiny, Special, Things to do, tree removal, Twitter, Walsal Wildlife, Walsall, Walsall Council
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A different slice of urban life
This is a followup to the ride cam I did a couple of weeks ago on National Cycle Route 535 down the Plants Brook/New Hall Valley cycleway, from Sutton to Tyburn – here I pick up the route from the Birngham and Fazeley Canal at Tyburn, and finish at Digbeth Junction in the city centre.
Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Shared media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged #365daysofbiking, bike cam, Birmingham, Bordesley, Canal, Cycle rides, Cycle Route, cycleway, cycling, Erdington, Fazeley, GoPro, HDHero 3+, NCN, Newhall, off road, Park, Pipe Hayes, Plants Brook, Renaissance, Ride cam, Song for all seasons, Spaghetti Junction, Sutton Coldfield, Things to do, Tyburn, urban, urban birdlife, Valley, Wylde Green
9 Comments
Flour power
Last Monday, I popped out on the overcast, grey afternoon and rode to New Hall Mill for their open day – this is the working flour mill reader Alan Dawson recommended to readers last weekend – I’ve fallen in love with this remarkable place.
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged #365daysofbiking, 25th May, Alan Dawson, bank holiday, bike cam, Cycle rides, Cycle Route, cycleway, cycling, GoPro, HDHero 3+, NCN, New Hall Mill, Newhall, off road, open days2015, Park, photo gallery, Pipe Hayes, Plants Brook, Ride cam, Sutton Coldfield, Things to do, urban, urban birdlife, Valley, Water Mill, Wylde Green
21 Comments
It’ll soon be time for the 2015 Brownhills Canalside Festival
Details of this year’s Brownhills Canal Festival have kindly been supplied by The Clayhanger Kid himself, Brian Stringer – this yeart it’s Sunday, 28th June 2015.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local music, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 10am-4pm, 2015, Barge, Boats, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills Canoe Centre, Canal, canalside, Canoe, Clayhanger, Committee, Contach, Contact, Events, Festival, Fete, information, June 28, Local, local blogs, Marina, Narrowboat, outdoors, pageant, planning, Summer, Sunday, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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Why not visit a local working water mill today?
Here’s a great example of how one post can lead to another via an unexpected tangent – and it’s really rather excellent.
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged #365daysofbiking, 25th May, Alan Dawson, bank holiday, bike cam, Cycle rides, Cycle Route, cycleway, cycling, GoPro, HDHero 3+, NCN, New Hall Mill, Newhall, off road, open days2015, Park, Pipe Hayes, Plants Brook, Ride cam, Sutton Coldfield, Things to do, urban, urban birdlife, Valley, Water Mill, Wylde Green
19 Comments
Travellers pitch up at Oak Park
In recent days, there has been a traveller encampment at Aldridge Airport, which has now moved on, whilst another has sprung up on the Oak Park playing field near to the Football Club in Walsall Wood.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge Airport, Brownhills, camp, Council, encampment, Events, Eviction, Facebook, legal, Lichfield, New Photos, Oak Park, travellers, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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Meet a top author at Brownhills Library!
Naomi Jones, Area Librarian from Brownhills Library at the Parkview Centre has been in touch to ask if I could give a belated plug for a meet the author event happening tomorrow (Tuesday, 19th May 2015).
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 19 May, 2015, Afternoon, appearance, Author, Brownhills, Charlotte, event, Events, Fiona Joseph, free, Library, meet the author, Naomi Jones, Parkview Centre, Talk, Things to do, Tuesday, Walsall, Walsall Council
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Valley views
Here’s a quick ride cam for the people out there who enjoy them, as I haven’t done one for a while – and I’m aware there’s a lot of interest in off-road cycle routes in the area, too, so I thought I’d share this one.
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Shared media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged #365daysofbiking, bike cam, Cycle rides, Cycle Route, cycleway, cycling, GoPro, HDHero 3+, NCN, Newhall, off road, Park, Pipe Hayes, Plants Brook, Ride cam, Sutton Coldfield, Things to do, urban, urban birdlife, Valley, Wylde Green
7 Comments
Crossed purposes again
On or around April 29th 2015, the Four Crosses Pub – the last true boozer in Shelfield, and a popular local pub I’ve enjoyed in the past – closed suddenly, and was boarded up, which has caused understandable outrage amongst pub-goers and real ale fans in the area.
Posted in Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged ACV, Alcohol, asset of community value, CAMRA, concern, Derelict, Drug, Events, Facebook, Four Crosses, Hostel, Lichfield, local blogs, Local politics, New Photos, planning, protest, Public Meeting, Pubs, Redevelopment, Richard Worral, Shelfield, Things to do, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
9 Comments
Sue, Grabbit and run
Sue Arnold, losing parliamentary candidate for Walsall South would like to graciously thank the residents there for all the votes, and isn’t bitter at all that sitting MP Valerie Vaz increased her majority – some could read Sue’s thank you message as a dire warning that they’ve made the wrong decision, but I’m sure that’s an unfortunate ambiguity.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 2015, Brownhills, Clayhanger, Council, Councillors, Election, Events, Facebook, Funny, General, Lichfield, local blogs, Local politics, Mike Bird, Politics, poll, satire, Shire Oak, The Plastic Hippo, Things to do, UKIP, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
6 Comments
2015 Walsall local election results – the political pendulum swings back?
Well, Walsall politics is never dull and following the surprise routing of Labour nationally, despite strong performance from their local Parliamentary candidates, Walsall Council swung back within reach of the Conservatives following the local election count this afternoon.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, 7 May, Aldridge, Aldridge North, Brownhills, Conservative, Council, Council Election, Councillors, Election, election results, Labour, Local, Local Election, Local politics, Mike Bird, North, Politics, results, Tory, Twitter, UKIP, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Ward
1 Comment
Local Parliamentary Constituency results for 2015 General Election
It’s been a long night – it’s now 5:30am – late for even me – and I’m off for a kip – it’s been a tough night for lefties, but I was pleased to see David Winnick hold onto his seat in Walsall North, which saw a very harsh campaign.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, Brownhills, Clayhanger, Council, Councillors, Election, Events, General, Lichfield, local blogs, Local politics, Mike Bird, Politics, poll, Shire Oak, The Plastic Hippo, Things to do, UKIP, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
3 Comments
Just do it
Look, I’ll not beat around the bush – it’s general and local elections today and you can’t possibly have missed this fact – It’s been one of the nastiest, most closely fought campaigns in my living memory, and very probably represents the end of two party politics in the UK as we know it.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, Brownhills, Clayhanger, Council, Councillors, Election, Events, General, Lichfield, local blogs, Local politics, Mike Bird, Politics, poll, Shire Oak, The Plastic Hippo, Things to do, UKIP, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
2 Comments
Out of ordure
A couple of days ago, I featured here the curious case of the missing dog poo bin just behind Chandlers Keep near the canal in Brownhills – local dog walkers were unhappy at the disappearance of the well used disposal point.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged bin, Brownhills, Canal, canal & river trust, Chandler's Keep, dog waste, Lichfield, New Photos, poo, removed, Shire Oak, Silly, towpath, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
21 Comments
Bin and gone
OK – no mucking around, enough is enough – someone has nicked a bin full of dog poo, we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it any more!
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged bin, Brownhills, Canal, canal & river trust, Chandler's Keep, dog waste, Lichfield, New Photos, poo, removed, Shire Oak, Silly, towpath, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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Aldridge Brownhills election hustings – on tonight!
Here’s a great thing from Russell Smith, the human dynamo behind the very successful Aldridge Community Cinema project – Russell has organised a hustings for the Aldridge-Brownhills parliamentary constituency, where candidates to be our next MP have been invited to attend and take questions from members of the public.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 24th April, Aldridge, Aldridge Brownhills, Brownhills, candidates, event, Events, Facebook, hustings, Lichfield, local blogs, Local politics, MP, parliament, Politics, PPC, question, Russell Smith, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, who are they
2 Comments
Open Mike
Yesterday, whilst mooching on Panoramio for an image of Chasewater (sometimes it’s the best way to find my own photos, oddly enough) I came upon a gallery by a reader and contributor the the blog, Mike Leonard – it’s remarkable.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Clayhanger, Derelict, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Panoramio, Pubs, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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The Friends of Brownhills Common – meeting next Monday
Here’s one for people interested in the issues surrounding Brownhills Common – theres a meeting at 7:00pm next Monday 20th April 2015 of the Freinds of Brownhills Common group at the Environmental Depot, 200 Pelsall Road, Brownhills – WS8 7EN – please meet in the reception by 7:00pm.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged 20th April, Brownhills common, Chasewater SSSI, Conifer, Consultation, Countryside Services, Cycle rides, Events, forestry, Freinds, Greenspace, Heathland, Kevin Clements, local blogs, Management, Natural England, Plantation, scrutiny, Special, Things to do, tree removal, Twitter, Walsal Wildlife, Walsall, Walsall Council
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Your chance to find out about our local deer…
I don’t know much about this one, but just a quick heads up: there’s a talk entitled ‘The Deer of South Staffordshire’ on at Chasewater Innovation Centre at 11:00am tomorrow morning, Wednesday 15th April 2015.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged 15 April, 2015, Brownhills common, Chasewater, Chasewater SSSI, Deer, Events, Heathland, Innovation centre, Lichfield, Local History, Management, Natural England, Ranger Rob, Red deer, Talk, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall
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Recent antisocial behaviour in Church Road, Brownhills
Here’s a message I’ve had from a resident of Church Road in Brownhills – I don’t suppose I number many of the local yoots amongst the readership, but if by chance one is passing and reads this, stop being prats, OK?
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall Council
Tagged ASB, Brownhills, Children, Church Road, doorbell, Events, gangs, kids, Lichfield, nuisance, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Walsall Council, Youth
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Who are they – your chance to question election candidates for Aldridge Brownhills
Here’s a great thing from Russell Smith, the human dynamo behind the very successful Aldridge Community Cinema project – Russell has decided to organise a hustings for the Aldridge-Brownhills parliamentary constituency, where candidates to be our next MP have been invited to attend and take questions from members of the public.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, 24th April, Aldridge, Aldridge Brownhills, Brownhills, candidates, event, Events, Facebook, hustings, Lichfield, local blogs, Local politics, MP, parliament, Politics, PPC, question, Russell Smith, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, who are they
2 Comments
New road safety initiative for Brownhills
You all know that I love local wildlife – and that I’m particularly fond of the local deer population, who have sadly been involved in many accidents with vehicles in recent years on roads around our commons, countryside and open spaces.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Accident, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Clayhanger, Common, Deer Safety partnership, Fatality, Lichfield, Local Committee, Mervyn Smith, New Photos, Red deer, Reservoir, road safety, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
21 Comments
Plea for family of deceased Caldmore man
We seem to have had a lot of appeals in the last few months to trace the family of local deceased people – but I make no apology for running another one; these appeals are essential, and I really feel for anyone who passes away alone.
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Posted in Environment, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 17th February, Caldmore, Darlaston, David Lockley, died, Family, help, Julie Faulkener, Lichfield, Neil Harris, passed away, releatives, request, Road, search, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Council, West Midlands
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Plea to find family of man who passed away in local hostel
Yet another in a sudden spate of requests from Walsall Council to help trace the family of unfortunate souls who passed away locally seemingly without immediate friends or relatives.
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Posted in Environment, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Alexander Grey, died, East Staffs, Family, Happy Times Hostel, help, Lichfield, Neil Harris, passed away, Psychic, Rebecca Evans, releatives, request, search, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Council, West Midlands
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What’s going on at the old Focus store on Northgate, then?
Images taken last weekend. Lots of you have contacted me asking about the works currently ongoing at the former Focus DIY store on the corner of Coppice Lane and Northgate, Walsall Wood. Local gossip had it for a long time … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged application, B&M, Big K, Cheap tat, Derelict, Do it all, Events, Focus, for, Lichfield, Middle, New Photos, Northgate, Oak, planning, Redevelopment, Royal, sale, Vandalism, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood, work
15 Comments
Plea for family of deceased Darlaston man
We seem to have had a lot of appeals in the last few months to trace the family of local deceased people – but I make no apology for running another one; these appeals are essential, and I really feel for anyone who passes away alone.
Posted in Environment, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Darlaston, died, Family, Geoffrey Smith, help, Lichfield, Neil Harris, Park Street, passed away, Port Engineering, Rebecca Evans, releatives, request, search, Staffordshire, teacher, Walsall, Walsall Council, West Midlands, Willenhall, Winifred Betsy Smith
2 Comments
Tick tock
This is just a reminder and a request – it’s been three months to the day since the dynamic duo of UKIPs Brownhills Councillor Steve Craddock and his best mate and Walsall Conservative former Regeneration head-honcho Adrian Andrew claimed to have brought home the bacon and hammered out some progress on the redevelopment of Ravens Court.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 215 Notice, Blofeld, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Compulsory purchase, Derelict, Events, Facebook, John Bird, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, New Tesco, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Retail, sympathy, Tesco, Tesco Development, teve Wade, Vandalism, Vivienne Aston, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
6 Comments
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