Beacon Hill

Spot the Little Egret in the distance bang in the centre of the photo.

Astonfields Balancing Lakes LNR is situated on the north-eastern edge of Stafford. The primary purpose of the balancing lakes is flood defence, but over the years a series of important wildlife habitats have developed on the site. The northern lake (marked 'main lake' on the map) is mostly open water with a small amount of emergent vegetation. In contrast, the southern 'lake' contains little open water throughout most of the year. At one end is an extensive reedbed that is dominated by common reed, whilst at the other there is a small area of saltmarsh community flora. The saltmarsh is of particular botanical interest because this type of habitat has been found at only one other location in Staffordshire. Notable saltmarsh species include reflexed saltmarsh grass, lesser sea spurrey, grey club-rush and buttonweed. The Local Nature Reserve covers an area of approximately 4 hectares and is also identified as a grade 1 Site of Biological Importance (SBI). The area of land where the balancing lakes are located was once wet meadowland, which flooded regularly. Despite the subsequent changes to the area, evidence can still be found of the access routes that were used to move cattle onto the meadows. In particular, a tunnel in the embankment of the old railway line (at the northern edge of the site) can still be seen clearly today. This old railway line, which used to run to Uttoxeter, is now a picturesque cycle route. Much of the Astonfields Industrial Estate that lies to the west of the balancing lakes was the site of a salt works until the 1960's. The large poplar trees on the eastern edge of the LNR were originally planted by Sandon Road householders to hide this 'eyesore' and to cut out the smoke the works produced. The salt works extracted natural saline groundwater and heated this to produce salt. The salt-rich waste materials were then deposited nearby. These deposits, together with the saline groundwater itself, are considered to be the reason for the presence of saltmarsh vegetation on this site. The northern balancing lake was constructed in the late 1970s to help protect Stafford from flooding. In 1990 this lake was dredged and the southern balancing lake was constructed to increase the flood retention capacity of the site.

At RAF Stafford

Hospice in Stafford, preparing for charity bike ride.

Taken during the Staffordshire Show

Dedicated to St. Peter

Stafford fire station, Beaconside, Stafford, Staffordshire.

Stafford Crematorium

The railway line from Stafford to Uttoxeter used to cross this field on an embankment and then bridge the road the photographer is standing on. Now all that remains is the grassy mound in the background.

The road leads from the crematorium down to the junction with the Stafford - Uttoxeter road (just out of sight).

Looking out of town along the B5066 with the junction of Fontill Road just on the right. The houses are all built in the 1930's.

Trechard Ave looking downhill, out of town. The housing was originally built for RAF personnell but is now used by hospital staff, private and rented.

Tedder Road in Stafford. The housing used to be for RAF personnel and much of this road still is for military staff although a lot of the housing has gone over to health service workers or private/rented.

The area used to be housing for RAF staff but is largely sold off to private occupiers or Health Service staff.

Portal Road, junction with Salmond Avenue, Stafford. Behind the trees to the right is the very busy Beaconside Road next to the 'retired' RAF station.

Salmond Avenue looking up the street - you may just work out the top of the District General Hospital in the background. The road across the foreground is Portal Road.

Beaconside at Stafford. On the left of the bend is Portal Road, access road to what was primarily RAF housing. To the right behind the hedge is RAF Stafford.