So close to the city centre, the WWB Annual Outing was definitely a delight for the senses, a haven of wild, wooded and wet spaces.
Meeting at Sarehole Mill, we were ten at twelve noon for lunch and a drink. Good conversation and the chance to catch up with each other was an opportunity well taken in the growing heat of the day.
With the Mill out of action, it was decided to walk up to the Moseley Bog a short distance away. With the outing being entitled ‘The Tolkien Trail’, it was still part of the much wider route which takes in many places around the city, too much for one single visit.
Once we had found our way into the place, we had a charming and gentle board-walk amble through thick woods, open grassy spaces, and the wet patches that give the almost secret spot its name. More quiet conversation and reminiscences were the order the day.
Exiting through beautiful sculptural gates, it was back to the real world of traffic and tricky road crossings but all safe back to the car park. Final thanks for the great company and chat had the group going their separate ways to the many diverse things of everyday life that plague us all.
Just for those who asked the question, the Bog is combined with Joy’s Wood which is named after Joy Fifer who, in 1980, lead the campaign to save the Bog from being destroyed by the council as part of their landfill programme at the time. The now naturalised space of the former tip is named for her and is part of the combined ‘Moseley Bog and Joy’s Woods Local Nature Reserve’ in perpetuity for the people of the city.
Thanks to the creator for such small wonders to have at our fingertips to enjoy now and hopefully again.
Writers Without Borders 