A walk from Hanley to Endon along the Caldon Canal.

 During a wet January finding countryside places to walk where you are not slipping around in mud can be limited. However a pleasant walk is to be had by walking along the Caldon Canal towpath from Hanley (or even Etruria which is where the canal joins the Trent and Mersey). Most of the towpath is a hard, concrete-type of surface which makes for easy walking. The canal has wildlife interest too. The photo on the right shows mosses (at least two species), growing on the concreted and pebble surface at the base of a bridge. Below are further photos of some of the biodiversity to be seen from the canal.

These ferns are growing under a road bridge over the canal. There are numerous other examples of ferns, mosses, liverworts and lichen growing on the hard surfaces that form part of the canal infrastructure.

Parts of the canal are bordered with trees and shrubs which are attractive in themselves and also provide habitat for other species. Here there are Guelder Rose berries and on this particular day Hazel catkins where putting on a fine display.

This is a view of the upper Trent valley near Baddeley Green. In this photo you can see a range of habitats which provide a home for a number of species. Recently, on some evenings, we have seen Snipe displaying here - about 11 birds but probably more. Also today there were Mallards (male and female), song birds and Moorhen.

Here is a Moorhen by her/his nest. It was actively adding pieces as we walked past. Presumably the remarkably mild January weather has encouraged it to think about breeding this early in the year.