What Happened to the Canley Kangaroo?

For nearly 50 years the Canley Kangaroo stood by the entrance to Henry Parkes primary school. Being life size, the Kangaroo was an imposing statue that surprised many visitors. Why would a Kangaroo be sitting outside a school in the middle of England? But 'Skippy' was just a reminder that Sir Henry Parkes, who was born in Canley in 1815, made a massive contribution to helping ordinary people after he emigrated to Australia.
  
Sadly 'Skippy' was viciously attacked in the mid 1990's. The statue was smashed beyond repair by vandals, leaving the school without its mascot.
  

But all is not lost. When Canley railway station was rebuilt in 1995, a new kangaroo appeared on the outside of the booking office. Designed by the leading artist John Mckenna, the new Canley Kangaroo is a four foot high embossed panel in eye-catching blue.

Ten Shilling Wood - The Changing Seasons

Ten Shilling Wood changes its character depending on the time of the year.  In the winter it looks bleak and errie when the mist hangs over the trees.  But after a snowfall it appears magical with the ice crystals glistening in the sunlight.
   
However, the best time to visit is in May, when the woodland floor comes to life in a fabulous display of bluebells.  This is an ancient woodland which means that the wild bluebells have had hundreds of years to slowly colonise every part of the wood.  Bluebells like shade, so it is rare to find this wild flower in open grassland.
   
The changing seasons are captured in the photos, which have been taken from the same spot in the woodland, just inside the entrance from Wolfe Road.
  
To find out more, click the text on the photo strip where you can find the exact location for this viewpoint within Ten Shilling Wood.      

World Cup Football Players - Made From Plants

To celebrate the 2010 World Cup, two giant football players made from hedging plants have appeared on the A45 roundabout next to Canley fire station.  This busy road junction is the main entrance to Canley, and the 4 metre high footballers tower above the swirling traffic.

The sprouting football players will be spending the summer kicking a ball on their round pitch.  This is a superb example of how a little imagination and some skilful plant work can enliven an area.
 

Coventry Marathon - Hot Work In The Sun

The Coventry Half Marathon proved to be thirsty work for hundreds of runners, who bravely pounded the streets on Sunday 23 May 2010. The early morning sun was ideal for spectators, but the scorching heat added to the ordeal for many of the runners.

To give the athletes plenty of room to get a good stride, the roads on the 13 mile route were closed to traffic. At Mitchell Avenue in Canley, a runner risked disqualification by taking a short cut across the roundabout. But the marshal's did not spot the rule breaker, who shaved a few metes from the course.

The route through Canley ran along Wolfe Road, and down Charter Avenue where it entered the Warwick University campus. It took over 30 minutes for all the runners to jog by.

Woodland Bluebells

The ancient woodlands of Park Wood and Ten Shilling Wood come alive in May when a sea of bluebells signals the arrival of spring. The bluebell is a native plant, and looks stunning when thousands of vivid blue flowers carpet the woodland floor.

Among the bluebells, you may be lucky to spot the Yellow Archangel, which has a cluster of flowers around a spike.