Sutton Coldfield Countryside

When I was a young lad living in Moreton, Wirral, not far from Wallasey and Birkenhead in those revolutionary days of the early 60s, I would spend many an hour out in the fields around where I lived, not too far from Bidston Hill. When I look back now I wish I had owned a camera to take pictures of what has now long gone and disappeared from the memories of most. Now, in my 50s, I settled in Sutton Coldfield in the early 90s and can already see that which was beautiful, is rapidly disappearing under the threat of the ever greedy developer and even greedier council of the People's Republic of Birmingham! A field does not generate taxation, but an area full of miniscule throw up housing does! Especially when the new occupant pays 6 figures for a £10,000 cost property of breeze block and prefabricated sections. So, I have decided to capture what I can, when I can, so that people can look back from their concrete jungles of the not too distant future and remember what the fields nearby used to look like before the Labour Government with the "Humber Mouth" John Prescott, take it all away in his vision of housing - EVERYWHERE! Go out now with your cameras and record for your grandchildren what this area once looked like because once its gone ....................... this first batch were taken on 14th June 2005 around the fields of Fox Hollies, ASDA & Homebase in Minworth and Springfield Road. The batch taken on 31st July covers Springfield Road, Lindridge Road, Holly Lane, Grove Road/Ox Leys Road Crossroads, Bumble End Barn, Wiggins Hill Road and Bull Lane in that order. On 12 Nov 07 I went along, past Walmley, to Plantsbrook Nature Reserve opposite Pype Hayes Park; images below.




				These at New Hall on 17 June 2005. The next two show the encroaching housing on what was green farm land until only a few months ago.
			The following were all taken on July 31 2005 all within 3 miles of my house



	Xmas 2006					August 2007. Although actually by Castle Vale, the following images are worthy of note
							The canal which runs alongside Kingsbury Road opposite Castle Vale
October 2007
					Plantsbrook Nature Reserve Nov 07



The 5 evening shots above were taken whilst driving along the A38 towards Bassetts Pole and then towards Sutton Coldfield. The colours in the sky I have never seen before all at the same time, it was really "alien"!! February 18th 2008. From deep blue through purple, to pink and orange!! The next 14, taken 27th April 2008, show springtime on the fields and lanes above Sutton Coldfield to the east.






Around Sutton Coldfield
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
(1) How many of you look up when your shopping? This is above a store on High Street, Erdington. "Montague Burton, Tailor of Taste" very deco. (2) Above another store in Erdington High Street "The Church House". (3) Remain of the Church in High Street, Erdington, burnt out, probably by arson 2007. (4) The interior of the Red Lion pub near Station Road, tiled bar and carved wood surrounds.