In the green Black Country International Festival of Glass

THIS picture has been sent in by reader Richard Pursehouse, who spotted the buzzard (Buteo buteo) on Cannock Chase earlier this month.

This stocky raptor is the most common and widespread bird of prey in the UK and is a regular sight in the Black Country, soaring high in the skies overhead, riding thermal currents and turning in slow arcs as it scans the ground for its prey – rodents, rabbits, other small mammals, birds and carrion. Faced with lean pickings, they sometimes fill up on earthworms, which they find by pacing through grassland.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries these birds were persecuted by gamekeepers and in the 1950s myxomatosis wiped out much of their prey, but their numbers have recovered, now they are protected, and there may be as many as 79,000 breeding pairs in the UK.

THE 2022 International Festival of Glass begins on Friday, August 26, running until Monday, August 29, at venues across the historic Glass Quarter of Stourbridge and Wolverhampton.

The four days showcase the dynamic world of glassmaking by the world’s greatest glass artists with high-quality exhibitions, international masterclasses, artist demonstrations and presentations, including the flagship British Glass Biennale exhibition.

This year is also the UN International Year of Glass.

Since 2004 the Festival has celebrated the skill and innovation of the glass industry and makers, both historic and contemporary, local and international.

This year’s special theme sees the festival explore contemporary glassmaking from Korea, Japan and China and the masterclass programme has a great line up of artists, some passing on their skills for the first time.

Events take place at Ruskin Glass Centre, Stourbridge Glass Museum,

dshaw@blackcountrybugle.co.uk the Red House Glass Cone, the Lace Guild in Wordsley, Amblecote Wordsley Methodist Church, the School of Art, Wolverhampton University, and Wolverhampton Art Gallery, which has combined with the Contemporary Glass Society to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special exhibition with the work of 20 international artists that runs until October 23.

All venues are free to enter with the exception of the Stourbridge Glass Museum (£4 for adults and £2 for children) and there will be a charge for some of the events and workshops.

Other highlights over the Bank Holiday weekend include narrowboat trips on the Stourbridge Canal, displays of Japanese Taiko drumming and an evening of Korean culture, fashion, music and cuisine.

For full details of events, exhibitions and workshops at the 2022 International Festival of Glass log on at www.ifg.org.uk