The end for Offa

As Offa was a Staffordshire man (as well as a king), I think I'm justified in using this scene, albeit that it is in Wales. 
This is the point at the northern end of Offa's Dyke - an earthwork ditch & rampart created (probably) to keep out the marauding Welsh in the eighth century. Much of it can still be seen, thanks to conservationists; and one can walk a prescribed long-distance path along what remains.

King Offa, though controlling most of middle England, kept his main court at Tamworth, which is in Staffordshire.

Golden public path

The farmer here at Little Sugnall has been ingenious I think. The public footpath runs right across his field, and he clearly has been thinking about the easiest way to get ramblers across the field without them trampling his crops.

So, what he has done is sprayed the path with some sort of herbicide (It think), which not only clearly marks the path - but provides a splash of golden colour too!

Underground pathway

This curious passageway, which leads under a private house in Wetley Rocks (near Leek) is, in fact, a legal public path. I can only think that the house-owner, wishing to extend the building on his/her property went ahead with their extension, but respected the law of the land enough by creating this access route under it. 
Even more weirdly, the other end of the passageway emerges in the house-owner's garden, before the path leads off into fields.

Sometimes I really am fond of the eccentric laws that England has maintained - for hundreds of years.

Snow is still with us - as you can see.

Railway niche

There’s a tarmac path that runs behind the town of Kidsgrove. Cyclists use it a lot, as it’s part of the ‘Sustrans’ national cycle network.

It’s actually what’s left of a section of the now dismantled ‘Kidsgrove Loop’ railway line.

Once one realises that, then the purpose of the niches in the side of the embankment wall becomes obvious. Railway workers would scurry into them to get out of the way of any approaching train.
The same concept is applied even in today’s road tunnels. Nothing changes!