Beyond the walls - a heron's haven; AWalkInThePark GRAHAM YOUNG VISITS COLE END PARK.

ENGLAND has what's left of Hadrian's Wall to try keep the Scots out and China still has the Great Wall to bring the tourists in.

Meanwhile, Coleshill (pop 6,500) has the unglamorously named A452 Collector Road, the M6, the M42, the Birmingham Northern Relief Road AND the A446 Stonebridge Road to keep the Brummies at bay! Or were these bostin' roads built in parallel to keep North Warwickshire's townies firmly in their place? Either way, the collective, divisive impact of these highways creates a significant barrier between 'them and us', with B4114 from Kingshurt the only direct route across.

Who needs a moat these days when you can just pour concrete everywhere? Another way in is to try to negotiate the big NEC and Stonebridge Island roundabouts on the A45 to find a place that isn't exactly well signposted en route to Lichfield.

Once you're finally in Coleshill itself, you'll find Cole End Park at the bottom end of the B4117 High Street.

And it's here that makes you realise how being cut off from the real world in this old Forest of Arden area can do wonders for wildlife.

The last time I saw a heron was in the middle of Pype Hayes Park, but I stumbled across one here in a way that almost made me feel like I was out of Africa and in the presence of an unnaturally large bird.

There's a long narrow tunnel underneath the A446 that has become a mecca for graffiti artists, some of whom have used the initials BNP.

Since the light in here is very dim, I foolishly left the tunnel with my camera's ISO rating still set to 1600.

What a shame, because as soon as I was back in daylight on the far side, I disturbed the said heron, which made a fascinating flapping noise as it struggled to climb out of the reeds and take to the skies with its giant wings and long legs all going like the clappers.

No picture, then, but you could certainly see why it would want to visit an area where the weeping willows make the river bank look like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

And where you could imagine families having summer picnics.

The River Cole, though, could do with a mini spring clean around the High Street bridge, as seen from a dedicated pedestrians' bridge running parallel .

VisitorInfo For more details about Coleshill and Cole End Park call 01827 715341 or visit www.northwarks.gov.uk

CAPTION(S):

Green and pleasant land: Cole End Park in Coleshill is a picture. Green peace: the River Cole runs through Cole End Park which is quiet despite its proximity to many major roads Tranquil: A man walks his dog across the River Cole next to High Street