Aldridge, in a Campervan

Steps going up, Chasewater Country park, Brownhills, West Midlands, England

Chasewater Reservoir, filling again after being drained for repair in 2010. The dreadful wet summer has helped here of course. The level should be almost at the start of the pier.

Pier at Chasewater Reservoir, normally this would be standing well int he water but Dam repairs meant the lake was drained an only now due to all the rain in the UK is it filling again. It’s now at the point it was during the 1976 Drought.

Beautiful lake near Norton Bog , Chasewater Country Park, a site of nature conservation. The water is very clear with fish and other wildflife.

Anglesey Basin in the sunshine, Wryley and Essington Canal , looking from Chasewater reservoir Dam. Chasewater Country Park.

Pink wild roses at Chasewater Country Park, the lake slowly fills behind, a benefit of all the rain this Summer.

Chasewater Light Railway - wagon in a siding covered in Wild Flowers, the only good bit of all the rain this summer. The flowers make the wet walks around Chasewater Reservoir well worthwhile.

Common Knapweed at Chasewater country Park - the Chasewater Reservoir should be right up to the beginning of the pier , it was drained in 2009 for repairs and is slowly filling with all the rain.

Duckling at Chasewater Reservoir, seems like the last of the Ducklings this year.This brood was very bold.

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Chasewater Reservoir was drained in early 2010 for maintence to it’s dam which being from the 17th cebntury was just an earth dam and beginning to leak. We’ve watched as it’s slowly filled back up - the only real benefit of a soaking wet summer in the UK.

The problem photographing this is being in exactly the same position and elevation each time, these two are within 6ft of each other.

The area is rich in wildlife and ducks, the Chasewater light railway runs round the edge. It’s lovely.

We went for a walk round Chasewater Lake and Chasewater Country park, Brownhills. The roof of the visitor centre has plants and mosses planted on top and they are different colours at different times of the year. Best seen on google earth!

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Chasewater Steam Railway at Chasewater reservoir and country park - a retired two mile stretch of light railway with restored steam engines and carriages plus other rolling stock. It runs on restored track round Chasewater reservoir, they have a museum and restored signal boxes and ticket office with cafe and restaurant. Well worth a visit just to see the Steam trains in full steam.

http://www.chasewaterrailway.co.uk/index.php

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These Red Deer Hinds were separate from the couple we saw earlier, younger and smaller. The fence on the bottom picture is behind a fast moving busy road that runs near Chasewater reservoir, they were not bothered at all though we were concerned they might spook and run onto the road.

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A quick visit to Chasewater reservoir yesterday , we were delighted to find it filling quite well. Hardly surprising though after all this rain, and it would have been better had this rain been in the winter before the higher temperatures and new growth on the trees took up some of the water. It’s hard to get a good *before and after* picture but this is a good attempt.Top picture May 12th, Bottom mid April.

I was told by a member of Chasewater nature group I met that Ringed Plovers are nesting on the lake bed and are being driven off my dogs and people walking over there. They need to erect signs and fences, or make some effort, had the bloke not told me I wouldn’t have known.