Blakeshall and Kinver Edge (NT). (15 February, 2015)

I started from Blakeshall carpark which is on the junction of Gipsy Lane and Blakeshall Lane. On the carpark is an information board showing the different trails you can take: Nuthatch, Woodpecker, Robin and Coal Tit. I didn't follow any particular one, just walked in a direct line to the ridge which passed through conifer plantations.

On the ridge, I walked south for a quarter of a mile which gave magnificent views to the west of Kingsford and beyond.  I then back-tracked and walked north along the ridge and on into the National Trust part of Kinver Edge.

The National Trust have been doing a lot of conservation work recently by taking out non-native trees and restoring it to its former habitat - lowland heath. I have got to commend the NT for their bold task (there has been a lot of criticism of what they are doing some believing they are destroying what is there) as this will attract back lowland heath bird specialities.

Birds of note on the walk included a mistle thrush in full song by Blakeshall carpark. On the NT part a flock of lesser redpolls flew over giving off their rattling calls and a green woodpecker was being vocal with its laughing call, known as 'yaffling'.

This time of the year, there isn't much in the way of flowering wild flowers, but the gorse was beginning to flower with its delightful yellow flowers. If the flowers are picked and crushed they give off a slight almond fragrance.

I took the same route back and had delightful views of a goldcrest.