We have just returned from a summer cruise to Stone and back.
The canals were fairly busy but only an odd queue at the locks made for enjoyable interludes chatting to fellow boaters.

For the first time for many years we were just the two of us with no one to please.
Fishing and relaxing was the order of the day and made for a lovely cruise.
The weather was variable but generally fair the canals were teaming with swans with cygnets, moorhens with chicks, ducks with ducklings, kingfishers, herons, housemartin’s , buzzards, dragon flies unfortunately the butterflies were very rarely viewed.
The wildlife trust with a lovely reserve at Wolseley Bridge this site is free to enter and offers lots of information about the wildlife and history of the area.
We decided to join a bat walk which was fascinating and provided a wonderful opportunity to see bats at very close quarters and to learn about their lives. The reserve provided numerous viewings of three types of bats. This was the best £2 each we could have spent and all run by volunteers who are passionate about their subject . www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk