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NEARBY AREAS |
Situated on the western edge of Coventry, Allesley is
adjacent to the very pleasant Warwickshire countryside forming the Meriden
Gap. This acts as a vital green buffer keeping apart the urban sprawl of
the industrial cities of Birmingham and Coventry.
Consisting of
slightly undulating mixed farmland it is a countryside of many fields,
hedgerows, woodlands separated by numerous roads and of course typical English
country lanes. The nearest villages are Corley, Fillongley,
Meriden, and Berkswell.
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A number of country lanes radiate out from Allesley,
sometimes producing ideal routes for cyclists and walkers (and border
collies).
But why do some people go out of their way to
desecrate such lovely
natural places. |
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Winter's Day in Clay lane |
The endless mosaic of pasture fields and arable land divided
by ancient natural hedgerows is all around the visitor here. The hedgerow
trees, many several hundred years old, are mainly oak and ash which, being
deciduous, lose their leaves every winter to stand like "tree skeletons".
Farmland
Early Spring colour
showing in the oak trees |
The whole district was once part of the large Forest Of
Arden and many small pockets of woodland remain. Much consists of natural
English species but some of it is now taken over by commercially planted
foreign conifers. At the end of Clay Lane is one tiny example.
Elkin Wood
A few years ago it was a dark and forboding untidy tangle of
closely packed tall, thin trunked conifers, many dead and leaning on their
neighbours. Then the Woodland Trust charity stepped in, and helped by donations
from local people, purchased the little wood. Now slowly Elkin Wood is being
improved and opened up for people to enjoy. |
Elkin
Wood
Dark neglected woodland |
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Elkin
Wood
New paths and cleared areas |
Crisscrossed by ancient rights of way the Meriden Gap
provides a huge choice of routes and scenery for the rambler. All photographs
were taken from a Public Footpath or road.
The coming of Spring provides some new colours after the
dreary winter.
Private Undisturbed Woodland
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Few "bluebell woods" remain now so we are lucky in having
several to see on our walks. This amazing solid carpet of blue extends
throughout the whole wood.
( Click on thumbnails for larger photographs)
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At the same time of the year a lovely contrast can sometimes
be seen by fields of yellow crops of oil-seed rape in flower in April. Open Field near Meriden |
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In late summer a purple swathe of wild flowers marks an
uncultivated area of land. In the foreground a public right of way shows
clearly across the field of ripening corn.
Late Summer in
another part of the same field another year |
This lovely corridor of countryside is under continual
pressure from developers, and regrettably the Planning Authorities are slowly
giving in. Old farmhouses and buildings are being allowed to be converted into
offices and industrial premises. Farmland is worth more for Golf Courses than
for agriculture so more are opening up all the time each with its noisy
clubhouse and leisure centre. The Birmingham Airport, the National
Exhibition Centre and the nearby Business Park all eat more and more into this
green belt strip.
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