The derelict Stoke-on-Trent street where up to 141 homes are planned
Nature finds a way to thrive in unexpected places – and a bright cluster of bluebells was a surprise find when I took a walk along Pyenest Street.
When I plan an annual trip to see the seasonal blooms – one of my spring highlights – I usually head for woodland, such as the tranquil Hem Heath nature reserve.
But that urban oasis has now been joined by another in my mind, following my venture to the derelict Shelton street just off Stoke Road.
I expected to see rubble of its built-up past, which were indeed present, but there were also flowers in bloom, blackberry bushes promising a fruitful harvest in the months to come and the constant soothing melody of birdsong above the hum of the traffic on surrounding roads.
Old pictures reveal that Pyenest Street was once filled with human life, with terraced houses boasting some impressive features such as Gothic-style windows and Minton tile mosaics. There was also a pub on one end, which would have brought visitors from further afield.
On Wednesday afternoon however the only human life to be seen was the occasional driver zipping past in a car towards Shelton New Road or cyclists on their way to other places.
I did see a rather grubby-looking black and white cat inspecting debris in the grounds of partially pulled-down buildings though, and heard the haunting strains of Greensleeves chiming from an ice cream van elsewhere in the area which led a melancholy air to my jaunt.
The remnants of human activity are ever present, despite most of the houses being long gone, having been demolished many years ago.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council described the vacant land at Pyenest Street as an "illegal dumping site" in a recent press release, and there is rubbish galore to be seen scattered next to the pavements or tossed into the undergrowth.
The litter ranges from bottles, cans and fast food wrappers to the burnt out carcass of what appears to have once been a bed frame.
A dumped sofa, next to a mismatched armchair, still upright, are joined by traffic cones on one side if you wish to sit a while and take in your surroundings.
If you've forgotten to pick up toilet roll on your shopping trip you're in luck because there's a four-roll pack with just one missing, just there for the taking. I declined this particular offer from the universe on this occasion though and walked on by.
If you want to take a leisurely drive along Pyenest Street to soak up the atmosphere, your days are numbered.
The city council is closing it from May 1 for two years, in a bid to prevent the fly-tipping issues all too apparent at the moment, and concrete barriers will be installed to prevent access.
The remaining vacant buildings, which have deteriorated over time, are earmarked for demolition.
These include a canalside warehouse and the former Harry Ramjams pub, which is still displaying some of its signage on the outside, while a bright yellow interior wall of a first floor room can now be seen from the street.
Up to 141 new homes are planned for the council-owned site.
A planning application has been submitted in recent weeks, with an illustrative masterplan including 91 houses and 50 apartments, ranging from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom family homes.
Canalside woodland planting, a children's play area and parking for up to 117 cars are also proposed. The aim is to provide "a distinctive, attractive and aspirational new neighbourhood."
A number of other previously-developed brownfield sites in the city have been redeveloped in recent years to provide new homes.
A new estate has sprung up in recent years on the land of Lichfield Street, on the approach to Hanley, which has completely transformed the look and feel of what was also once an urban wasteland teeming with wildflowers.
A return visit to Pyenest Street in years to come may well bring a similar change if the council's plans come to fruition.
The street could once again be home to human life as well as plants – but there's a lot of litter picking to be done first.
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READ: Investigation begins into cause of former Wade Ceramics building fire in Stoke-on-Trent
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