A forgotten Highway . . . .

I'm a huge fan of Britain's inland waterways. Being a Black Country boy born & bred its difficult not to be - we're surrounded by canals here in Walsall.

I spend a huge amount of my leisure time on the local towpaths, be it cycling or walking, and always have one of my cameras to hand to capture the diverse scenery.

I have a great interest in the abandoned waterways of the area - what once were the motorways of the Midlands found themselves quickly outdated once the railway and road networks became established, and all too many beautiful stretches of canal were either filled in or simply left to crumble away.

This stretch of canal was once a busy arm of the Wyrley & Essington canal, serving the coalfields to the North of Walsall. Once the coal seams were mined out the canal fell into disuse, and was left to be reclaimed by nature. Luckily the powers that be have looked after the area, and what once was a busy waterway is now a peaceful haven, teeming with wildlife, and popular with local ramblers and dog walkers. The whole place looks entirely natural, until one glimpses signs of the hands of men - a section of original towpath here, or an overgrown bridge there . . . . .