Cannock Chase is Spooky!

Yes, having investigated sightings of big-cats, werewolves, Bigfoot-type beasts, over-sized snakes, wallabies, wild boar, and much more in the woods of the area, I know that the Cannock Chase is spooky!

But, this time, it's not me making the statement. Rather, the local press are highlighting the fact.

Just a few days ago, I was contacted by Annette Belcher, one of the writers at the local Stafford Post newspaper, who asked for a comment-or-two from me about this latest development; and which, of course, I was pleased to provide.

Here's an extract from Annette's article, so you'll have a full understanding of what this new story is all about:

"It’s official - the Chase has been hailed one of the spookiest places in the country. The beauty spot, which stretches through Stafford, is renowned for its werewolf sightings, according to a latest paranormal study. It is all revealed in the work of paranormal researcher Lionel Fanthorpe, 74, from Cardiff. The study looks into paranormal events in the UK during the past 25 years. The study provides a breakdown of Britain’s spookiest places and focuses upon unexplained incidents reported to the police and leading paranormal organisations since the 1980s. There have been 21 reported cases of werewolf sightings, with the Cannock Chase werewolf being the most renowned."

And here's the link to the full article.

But, hang on, I haven't quite finished yet...!

Over the last decade or so, intriguing reports have surfaced - from the many and varied little pools and ponds that can be found in, around, and on the outskirts of, the Cannock Chase - of sightings of exotic fish, crocodilians and much more of a distinctly out-of-place, aquatic nature. Without doubt, the most famous example of such activity occurred a number of years back at a small and semi-secluded body of water known as the Roman View Pond - that exists on the fringes of Cannock.

It was from there, in the hot summer of 2003, that hysterical rumors wildly spread around the town of Cannock to the effect that a giant, marauding crocodile was on the loose. Local police, representatives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), and the nation’s media all quickly descended upon the scene, as they valiantly and collectively sought to ascertain the truth about what, at a local level, fast (and inevitably!) became known to one and all as the "Cannock Nessie."

Of course, the facts were somewhat more sober and down to earth. As my good friends Jonathan Downes and Richard Freeman of the Center for Fortean Zoology demonstrated to practically everyone’s satisfaction when they visited the area at the height of the sightings, the "beast" was likely nothing stranger than a three-foot-long Spectacled Caiman – a crocodilian reptile found throughout much of Central and South America.

It was the conclusion of Jon and Richard that the unfortunate creature had probably been housed locally by an unknown exotic-pet-keeper – that is, until it grew to a point where it became completely unmanageable, and was then unceremoniously dumped in the pool late one night and under the protective cover and camouflage of overwhelming darkness.

Almost certainly, Jon believed, the creature would not survive the harsh autumn and winter months that were destined to follow. And, sure enough, as the English weather changed for the worse, sightings of the mysterious beast came to an abrupt end.

Nevertheless, whenever I am back in the area, I always stop off at the pool and cast a careful eye firmly in its dark direction – just in case something monstrous and unholy decides to once again surface from the depths and put in a brief appearance.

So, why - you may well ask - am I bringing this up now?

Simple: there has been a new development of a very similar nature at yet another body of water in the area: a small, 3-meter-deep pool that is hidden in a corner of the Brickworks Nature Reserve at Wimblebury - which is only a stone's throw from the heart of the Cannock Chase.

As the Chase Post newspaper notes, up until recently "...the only things lurking in the murky waters were six bicycles, a shopping trolley and scaffolding poles."

But all that recently changed, as the Post also notes in a brand new story.

Cannock Chase Council officials, concerned about vegetation dying, have made a startling discovery, says the Post.

The Post explains that amongst the usual debris and rubbish, "...there were fish in the water, lots of fish - 20,000, to be precise. Even more baffling, there were not just native species: as well as roach and perch, ornamental varieties such as brown goldfish and koi carp were found."

The Post expands further: "Ray Smythe, clerk at Heath Hayes and Wimblebury Parish Council, said: 'No one knows how on earth they got there. We can only think someone released them, but I’d be surprised if anyone knew the pool was there.'

"Members of Stoke-on-Trent Angling Society have been drafted in to net the mystery fish - and move them to nearby Milking Brook. A spokesman for the club confirmed the operation had been a success. He said: 'We estimated that around 20,000 fish were transferred to Milking Brook. This needed three journeys, which, in each case, involved three tanks full of fish. I can confirm very few fatalities occurred during the operation.'"

There's little doubt - as Jon and Richard's fine detective work demonstrated a few years ago - that someone was even then releasing exotic creatures into the pools of the Cannock Chase. Whether or not this latest development is directly linked to the earlier activity - or if it's an example of someone else adding to the ever-growing body of out-of-place animals that inhabit the Cannock Chase - is something that remains to be seen.

But, this new story only reinforces what I said at the beginning of this blog-post: Cannock Chase is spooky! And long may it remain so!

Water-Beasts of the Midlands - A New Theory

(The Canals of Birmingham, England: The Alleged Haunt of Giant Eeels, picture taken by Nick Redfern, 2010)

As someone who grew up in the West Midlands and Staffordshire areas of England, I take keen note of sightings of strange creatures seen in the vicinity. And, one particular interest of mine is the issue of water-based beasts reported in these parts.

Back in the late 1980s, when I was working as both a fork-lift driver and van-driver, I heard a number of noteworthy stories pertaining to sightings of monstrously large, and decidedly violent, eels that allegedly roamed the winding canals of both the city of Birmingham and certain areas of the nearby county of Staffordshire.

One particularly memorable account originated with a lorry-driver who recalled such a sighting somewhere in Birmingham, West Midlands one summer’s day in the latter part of the 1980s; and that “shook the staff rigid” at a store that overlooked the stretch of canal in question. In this case, the animal was described as being dark brown in color and was said to be no less than an astonishing fifteen feet in length. Supposedly, it had been briefly seen by a fork-lift driver, who had sat, not surprisingly mesmerised, watching it “circling” one particular area of the canal frequented by a large number of semi-tame ducks that the staff at the store would regularly feed with bread during their daily lunch-hour.

Then, in the early part of 2003, a story surfaced in the local press to the effect that the remains of a large, dead python had been found in the same precise stretch of canal where the giant eels were said to have been seen roaming years earlier. It was January 23, 2003 and the Birmingham Evening Mail newspaper splashed across its pages a story titled 15-Foot Python Dead In Canal. Steve Swingler, the journalist who broke the story, wrote:

“Walkers, joggers and cyclists have been pounding a towpath in Edgbaston oblivious to a near-15ft Burmese Python lurking just feet away below the water. The giant reptile, capable of killing a child, was fished out of the canal near Rotten Park Road, Edgbaston by the RSPCA [Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] yesterday. It had been spotted by a terrified passer-by.” The beast, Swingler added, had only been dead for a short time.

Inspector Rob Hartley, of the RSPCA Rescue-Centre in Barnes Hill, told the newspaper, with much justification, that: “It’s like something out of a horror movie. This thing is massive; we’ve never seen one this big before. It’s a monster. We’ve measured it at fourteen and a half feet and up to 14 inches wide. It probably weighs at least 11 stone [154 pounds]. We don’t know whether it simply got too big for someone to look after and they let it go free or it escaped.”

And more was to come. In the hot and humid summer of 2003, hysterical and pretty much near-unbelievable rumours wildly spread around the town of Cannock to the effect that a giant, marauding crocodile was on the loose in the area. Yes, really! Local police, the nation’s press, and even representatives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) all wildly rushed to the scene of the action – which was the Roman View Pond, just outside of Cannock – and valiantly sought to determine the full facts about what, amongst the local media and the populace, was fast becoming known as the "Cannock Nessie."

In reality, the "Nessie" turned out to be a three-foot-long Spectacled Caiman!

But, while investigating the affair at the time it occurred, Jon Downes recorded that: "...we found ourselves in the middle of Cannock Chase, and deep in conversation with the local wildlife-officers who told us that koi had also been turning up in isolated ponds across Cannock Chase, as well. It seems as if there is some kind of strange, Piscine Johnny Appleseed at work, doing his best to stock of the waterways of the West Midlands with these large, ornamental fish."

And, six years later, in 2009, it seems that someone was yet again up to their old, nighttime tricks, and once more anonymously dumping exotic creatures in a certain body of water around the town of Cannock. On this occasion, however, the scene of all the action was a small, three-metre-deep pool that is hidden in a corner of the Brickworks Nature Reserve at Wimblebury - which is only a stone’s throw from the heart of the Cannock Chase.

As the Chase Post newspaper humorously noted, up until recently "the only things lurking in the murky waters were six bicycles, a shopping trolley and scaffolding poles." But all that changed in 2009. Cannock Chase Council officials, concerned about vegetation dying, made a startling discovery, said the Post; adding that amongst the usual debris and rubbish, "there were fish in the water, lots of fish - 20,000, to be precise. Even more baffling, there were not just native species: as well as roach and perch, ornamental varieties such as brown goldfish and koi carp were found."

And only very recently a two-foot-long snapping turtle was caught by an astonished angler in the waters of Birmingham.

So, you may ask: where am I going with all this? Well, a couple of weeks ago, I received a phone-call from a man named Terry Baxter, who lives in Birmingham, and who had seen an article I had written some time ago on the Birmingham eel encounters of the 1980s.

Terry had an intriguing theory to explain why people are seemingly dumping exotic animals in the waters all across the West Midlands and Staffordshire. He didn't doubt that such actions are overwhelmingly reckless, however.

And, I fully agreed with him: letting such creatures loose in deep ponds on a nice sunny day during a hot English summer might seem a good idea at the time. But, when autumn and winter arrive, the creatures are unlikely to survive for very long at all - which is precisely why the "Cannock Crocodile" was so active in the summer of 2003, but summarily vanished forever as the good old English weather got worse and colder.

But, Terry was not of the opinion that ignorant, stupid people were simply dumping these beasts because they had grown too large, and vicious, to handle. In other words, this wasn't the work of inexperienced owners simply getting rid of their increasingly aggressive pets.

Rather, Terry claimed second-hand knowledge of a group in the Midlands - and what sounded like a distinctly shadowy group, too - that was "very Fortean" in its nature, beliefs and pursuits. He felt that the group was trying, albeit in a somewhat unwise and skewed way, to "make Britain mysterious again."

Somewhat puzzled, I asked him to clarify what he meant by that, and he replied that, in centuries-past, Britain was packed with legends of strange beasts of all manner. But that, today, he added: "...all we've got left are big-cats, and even Nessie has gone off the radar."

Well, I wouldn't say it's quite that black-and-white and simplistic, but he does have a point!

So, according to "certain information" Terry claimed to have acquired, there were - and still are - people in the West Midlands and Staffordshire trying to turn back the clocks on the sterile concrete jungle, and create modern-day mysteries of a "water-monster" variety, specifically by introducing exotic animals to certain parts of the British Isles.

As Terry put it: "They want to see legends developing of the 'Great Serpent of Cannock;' or the 'Giant Fish of Birmingham,' really so that the old stories and legends will live again and England will be magical and mysterious again."

Whether Terry is right or not is moot. But, there's no doubt at all that we have indeed seen regular dumping of exotic animals in the waters of central England for years.

I don't support these actions, at all, not do I think it's a good idea in the slightest. But, as a theory - and one based on what Terry claims is second-hand testimony from a source with some knowledge of this situation - I can't rule out the possibility that this is precisely what is going on and why.

Keep watching this space, and I'll update you when (hopefully) I hear more...

The Ghost Woman of the Cannock Chase

Readers of this blog will know from previous entries that I have a deep interest in tales of werewolves and lycanthropy; and I have been keeping you informed of the recent wave of sightings of werewolf-style entities seen at the German Cemetery on Britain's Cannock Chase, a large area of forest situated only a couple of miles from where I used to live.

Well, not only has the Chase been home to diabolical werewolves, mysterious big cats and even alleged Bigfoot-like creatures over the last few years, but now it seems that ghostly, spectral figures are also putting in an appearance, as this story below - from this week's edition of the local Chase Post newspaper demonstrates.

This particular incident apparently occurred last November; however, it was the recent publicity afforded the unusual and ever-present activity on the Chase that prompted the witness to come forward.

Whatever is afoot, it seems to me that the Cannock Chase is rapidly becoming one of those classic "window areas" that seem to attract such a high-level of extreme strangeness.

Here's the latest from the Chase Post:

Mysterious figure spotted on Chase
Jun 20 2007

A mysterious apparition confronted a local woman on a lonely stretch of road.
The unearthly figure has been dubbed 'The Lady of the Chase'.

In recent weeks there has been a rash of sightings of mysterious beasts on Cannock Chase.
If these reports are to be believed werewolves, cavemen, panthers and wolves could all be lurking on the Staffordshire beauty spot.

And as paranormal investigators from around the globe prepare to converge on the Chase, another eyewitness, 'Linda', has come forward to tell us her disturbing ghost story.
"I had what I can only describe as a totally surreal experience whilst driving across Cannock Chase last year," she said.

"I had not been able to tell anyone about this apart from my partner.

And he encouraged me to contact you following some of the reports you have made in your paper."

Linda was returning home after visiting a friend in Pye Green, near Cannock, last November when she was confronted by 'the lady'.

"It was about 11.30pm and I decided to cut across the Chase. As I neared Spring Slade Lodge I had to brake hard as a person suddenly stood in the road."

After Linda recovered from the shock of the near collision she turned her attention to the figure in front of her car.

"In my headlights the form was of a tall female, pale grey in colour. She appeared to be naked but with no visible breasts or genitalia.

"Immediately, I was drawn to her eyes - large hypnotic eyes that totally transfixed me. I was in dread and unable to move a muscle. I was aware I was being 'mentally examined' and there was nothing I could do to prevent this."

After a couple of minutes the figure turned and walked away into nearby woodland.

"It was only when she had disappeared that I could move again," Linda said. "I accelerated away in panic."

She told us she has not been able to drive across Cannock Chase since the incident and added: "Sometimes, after a dream, I can see a vivid image of the woman's face with those staring eyes. I'm not a very good artist, but felt compelled to draw the face of this figure. I call her 'The Lady of the Chase'. Has anyone else seen anything like this?" Have YOU seen The Lady of the Chase? Call the Post on 01543 501763 or email chase_post@mrn.co.uk

Do Werewolves Roam The Woods Of England?

Well, I said that I was going to publish the details of the latest wave of British werewolf sightings to my blog next week; however, a bit of free time came along this afternoon, so here's the story a few days earlier than expected.

Britain has a long history of lycanthropy - from the tale of the notorious Flixton Werewolf that terrorized the north of England more than a thousand years ago, to the strange sagas of the Hexham Heads, the Abbotsham werewolf, the wild Wolfman of Lynton, and countless others.

But quite possibly nothing compares with the incredible wave of wolfish-weirdness that has recently descended upon Britain's Cannock Chase - a large area of forest land in central England, and a location that has become a veritable hotbed for encounters with big cats, ghostly black dogs, Bigfoot-like entities, and now werewolves.

The Chase is located only about 4 miles from where I used to live; and so I know the area very well, having spent a considerable amount of time there investigating the strange beasts said to roam those darkened woods (for my forthcoming book on the subject that will be published by the Centre for Fortean Zoology's CFZ Press, and titled The Lords of the Gray Woods: Strange Creatures of the Cannock Chase).

Last summer, startling reports surfaced of a wild wolf on the loose in the vicinity; however, if the current spate of sightings prove to be accurate, then that wolf might be a little more monstrous than has been previously assumed.

On April 26, 2007, the Stafford Post newspaper (which covers the area in question) stated the following: "A rash of sightings of a 'werewolf' type creature prowling around the outskirts of Stafford have prompted a respected Midlands paranormal group to investigate. West Midlands Ghost Club says they have been contacted by a number of shocked residents who saw what they claimed to be a `hairy wolf-type creature' walking on its hind legs around the German War Cemetery, just off Camp Road, in between Stafford and Cannock. Several of them claim the creature sprang up on its hind legs and ran into the nearby bushes when it was spotted."

The newspaper continued:

"Nick Duffy, of West Midlands Ghost Club, said the stories of werewolf sightings in Chase area were something that he had encountered before. He said: 'The first person to contact us was a postman, who told us he had seen what he thought was a werewolf on the German War Cemetery site. He said he was over there on a motorbike and saw what he believed was a large dog. When he got closer, the creature got on his hind legs and ran away.'"

The Post quoted Duffy as adding that: "I’ve spoke to many witnesses and I know when they are putting it on. But what struck me as strange about this was the way he told it. I'm in no doubt that he was telling the truth."

The creature was also apparently spotted by a scout leader walking over the forest land earlier in April. The man, who the Post stated did not want to be named, said he saw what he initially believed was a large dog prowling by the bushes. It was only when he got into his car to drive away that he realised something weird was afoot.

He said: "It just looked like a huge dog. But when I slammed the door of my car it reared up on its back legs and ran into the trees. It must have been about six to seven feet tall. I know it sounds absolutely mad, but I know what I saw.”

And this week, both the Chase Post newspaper (whose official website is home to countless weird animal reports from the area) and the Birmingham Post ran the following story:

"A tribe of subterranean creatures who surface on Cannock Chase to hunt for food could be behind a rash of 'werewolf' and Bigfoot sightings near Stafford. And the mysterious beings could also be responsible for a string of pet disappearances, it has been claimed.

"West Midlands Ghost Club, our area's top paranormal investigation group, say they have been contacted by a number of shocked eye-witnesses who claim they have come to face to face with a 'hairy,wolf-type creature' at the beauty spot. A scout leader and a local post man are amongst the' credible' witnesses to contact the club.

"Theories behind the sightings range from a crazed tramp to aliens. But now another paranormal expert has put forward the theory the sub-human beast is not a werewolf at all - but a Stone Age throwback. The investigator, who wishes to remain anonymous, told us : 'Strange sightings in this area have been made over many years by civilians, military, police, ex-police and scout leaders on patrol. Some incidents have been reported and logged but others not - some people don't want to be classed as mad.'"

The newspapers elaborated further: "The strangest rumour has come from a senior local resident who believes the mysterious intruders to be subterranean," he told us. "The creatures have made their way to the surface via old earthworks to hunt, for example, local deer."

And, on the surface, the far-fetched tale could be easily dismissed. However, the Post's source added: "It's a fact that there has been significant mining activity under Cannock Chase for centuries. And it's a fact there is a high rate of domestic pet disappearance in the area - especially dogs off the lead...just ask anyone who walks their dog near the German War Cemetery..."

Well...I'm not quite prepared to say that monstrous, hairy beings dwell deep below the Cannock Chase in some dark, cavernous abode, but there is no doubt that the cemetery in question (photograph above; copyright Nick Redfern) has been an absolute beacon for monstrous and weird activity for the last two decades.

And, it's certainly the case that the area has been the site of animal (particularly deer) mutilations, and tales of marauding "things" lurking in the woods.

Whatever is going on, it seems that something is being seen; and as someone who has undertaken a wealth of investigations into werewolf and wolfman encounters, I shall be following this story very closely. Indeed, as soon as I get the chance, I shall be back, descending on the area once again myself.

All comments, encounters, reports and opinions are welcome here at this blog!

If you decide to check out the story in person for yourself, remember to keep a careful watch if it's a full moon...

Big Cats on Britain's Cannock Chase...

Regular readers of this blog will know that I take a particular interest in chronicling accounts of weird beasts seen in the direct vicinity of Britain's Cannock Chase woods, which is situated only a few miles from where I grew up
As readers will also know, in recent months there have been sightings of alleged Werewolf and Bigfoot type creatures on the Chase.
And, now, a concerted effort is being made to try and determine once and for all if "Big Cats" also lurk in the depths of those mysterious woods, as the following story from this week's Chase Post newspaper reveals:


Scots Aim To Uncover Cannock Beast's Lair

Big cats on Cannock Chase are big news in Scotland, with the country’s leading researchers into unexplained phenomenon determined to crack the mystery of the Chase Beast...and they believe they might have almost done it.
World-renowned investigators at Big Cats in Britain - the largest and most active big cat investigation group in the United Kingdom believe the Beast’s lair could be on the verge of discovery.
And they got in touch with The Post this week, urging readers to contact them with their sightings so they can narrow their already extensive search.
Martin Rainer, Cannock Chase Coordinator for the organisation, said the information he’s received has convinced him that rumours of the beast are fact.
“I strongly believe these big cats are out there,” said Martin.
“Maybe not in the heart of the Chase, but possibly around the fringes which do not receive as much human traffic as the main Chase.
“There are several theories as to what these cats are,” added Martin, “but we can only go on the facts.
“70-percent of all reported sightings are of a black animal.
“These can only be one of two - a black jaguar or a black leopard.
“ Both are known as a black panther.
“We have had bodies of most of the cats reported except the black one, which is the true British Mystery Cat.
“If ALL these sightings were true then it would mean we have more black leopards in this country than the whole continent of Africa.
“It’s quite plausible for the cats to be here, unwanted pets released, etc, and the Chase would have maybe been an ideal place to release these animals.
“Surviving there would not be a problem - plenty of food, cover, and the climate holds no problems for them at all.
“They can survive on two rabbits a day and there are plenty of deer around also.”

Ghostly Encounters at the Castle Ring

As I have noted on many occasions in the past, the ancient and historic Castle Ring that can be found in the woods of Cannock, Staffordshire, England has proven to be a veritable hotbed of cryptozoological activity, with several reports of shambling, black figures, and at least one big cat encounter, having surfaced in the last decade.

Located near the village of Cannock Wood and constructed between 500 B.C. and A.D. 40, Castle Ring is an Iron Age structure commonly known as a Hill Fort. The highest point on the Cannock Chase, it is 801 feet above sea level, and it main ditch and bank enclosure is fourteen feet high and, at its widest point, 853 feet across.

Little is known about the mysterious and long-forgotten people who built Castle Ring, except to say that its creators were already in residence at the time of the Roman invasion and remained there until approximately A.D. 50.

And now there's a new angle on the mystery of Castle Ring: ghostly orbs and spirit beings. The story - from this week's Chase Post newspaper - is related below, and here's the original link.

Spirits are alive on Castle Ring
Sep 5 2007
Spirit beings are 'alive and well' on Castle Ring.
Local paranormal investigators claim the spirits revealed themselves on camera during a ghost hunt at the historic site.
A dozen investigators took part in a 'psychic picnic' followed by an evening vigil at Castle Ring, Cannock Wood, a couple of weeks ago.
And members say they were astounded by the pictures of spirit mists and orbs - said to be the manifestations of spirit beings.
They also took dowsing rods traditionally used for finding water. But these began spinning in reaction to the spirits, they claim.
Organisers Dave and Viv Llewellyn say the psychic press now says there is scientific proof that such energies exist.
Dave told The Post: "Spirit energy was respectfully asked to allow their energy to come close and show themselves by spinning the rods and appearing on camera."
Dave said when pictures were taken without asking the spirits to appear there was nothing there. But when the group, which included psychic mediums, asked, the mists and orbs appeared.
"The change in energy could be felt quite distinctly," he added. "If someone felt there was something there, we stopped at points around the ring."
The investigation took place at Castle Ring from 9pm-10.20pm.
"One or two were nervous," Dave admitted. "But no-one had anything negative. They were just all inspired and fired up to learn more. This has not been done for entertainment, but by serious minded people."
Similar responses also took place during an earlier vigil that night near the German and Commonwealth Cemeteries at Cannock Chase. Organisers say orbs actually followed them along a pathway.
The event was organised in conjunction with Nicky Jones from Bridgtown psychic centre Into the Light.

The Cannock Chase Creatures: On the Prowl Again

Once again, my old stomping grounds - the Cannock Chase woods in Staffordshire, England - are in the news, as the killing of a deer on the Chase last Sunday prompts concerns that a big-cat is on the loose.

Mike Bradley, of the local Chase Post newspaper states: "The disturbing discovery of the fleshless corpse of a mutilated deer on Cannock Chase is leading many to believe that the mythical beast of Cannock Chase is back and on the prowl. The image was snapped by a local man out for a Sunday stroll with his family. Matthew Harrison, of Cannock, said that he was disturbed by the discovery. Every ounce of flesh seemed to have been stripped from the animal in a meticulous manner."

Here's a link to the rest of the article.

The Cannock Bigfoot

Last week, I was interviewed by the British Sunday Mercury newspaper about the many and varied stories pertaining to (and sightings of) Bigfoot-like creatures in the woods of the Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, England.

Having grown up there, I can say for certain that the whole area is rich in Bigfoot reports. But, I'm convinced the creature is not all it seems to be - or maybe it's more than it seems to be! As I told the media:

"I think the Cannock Chase Bigfoot has paranormal origins and is linked with the large amount of paranormal activity in the area. If this creature was flesh-and-blood, there would have to be more than one to ensure reproduction. If there was a colony of them on the Chase, we would be seeing massive evidence of them feeding on the local animal population. But the amount of deer kills that have taken place are not anywhere near enough to feed a colony of these creatures."

And that's the problem with not just the Cannock Chase Bigfoot, but the larger issue of Bigfoot in Britain in general. There are numerous reports; but a distinct lack of the type evidence for their existence that typifies (for example) the eating-habits, reproduction, habitat etc. of the Mountain Gorilla.

The British Bigfoot looks like a large ape; but has a far more phantom-like nature to it.

Here's the link to the full article.

British Werewolves - The Saga Continues...

The British Chase Post newspaper continues to report on the controversy surrounding the alleged werewolf encounters in the vicinity of England's Cannock Chase woods, as the following article from last week's edition demonstrates:

Internationally-renowned X-File investigator and author Nick Redfern has shed new light on the mystery wolf-like creature said to be roaming the ancient woodlands of Cannock Chase. Speaking exclusively to The Post from his Dallas home, Walsall-born Nick said he has been busily amassing credible evidence on paranormal experiences across the Chase.

And while his research has found that it is 'highly unlikely' to be a werewolf or 'caveman' lurking in the undergrowth, he believes the cause of people's sightings is of paranormal origin: "I have investigated reports of wild boar, wallabies, big cats and even Bigfoot-like beasts in the area. But the werewolves are definitely the strangest. Back in the eighties, reports surfaced of something that became known as the Ghost Dog of Brereton which was a strange, large dog-like animal. And last summer there were local stories of a wild wolf seen near the M6. So I'm convinced people are seeing something."

Nick also takes seriously the idea that a real-life wolf may be at large on the Chase."We know that people who have had big cats as exotic pets have released them into the wild when they got too big to handle. Perhaps something similar has happened here with a wolf."

But what of the idea that actual werewolves are on the loose on Cannock Chase? Nick said: "Britain has a long history of werewolf encounters, from the Flixton Werewolf of the 10th Century, to the story of the Hexham Heads of the 1970s. Personally, I think that if people are seeing some sort of werewolf-like creature, then it's likely to be paranormal in origin rather than physical."

Nick also notes that the German War Cemetery, where the sightings have occurred, has also been the site of many supernatural encounters with ghosts, UFOs, big cats and other strange things: "I think it is highly unlikely that an evolved, physical creature - a werewolf or caveman - could hide out in caverns beneath the Chase and remain undetected. But people are definitely seeing something out of the ordinary, and it is a fascinating story."

Nick also told The Post that his brand new book - 'The Lords of the Grey Woods: Strange Creatures of the Cannock Chase', which is scheduled to be published towards the end of the year, has a whole section on wolf and werewolf-style creatures seen on the Chase.

"I'll be investigating these new cases as they parallel some of the reports in the book already." *What's your view? Discuss this story - and lots more - by logging on to: www.iccannock.co.uk/messageboard

The Cannock Chase Beast (Or One Them At Least!) Is Back

Once again, Britain's Cannock Chase woods are the site of reported encounters with mysterious creatures.

As the Chase Post newspaper states: "Further grim discoveries have been made on Cannock Chase fuelling beliefs the beast is out there. Following the discovery of a mutilated deer near Birches Valley three weeks ago two more Chase Post readers have come forward to tell of their shocking discoveries. Both say they believe something is targeting deer in the area after finding stripped carcasses miles from roads. And the possibility the Chase panther is a reality has given them paws for thought."

Here's the rest of the article.

If you ever get the chance, check out the Cannock Chase. I grew up only a few miles away, and as a kid I had a lot of fun running around the spooky woods of the Chase. Now, as an adult, whenever I'm back in the area I get to run around the Chase woods in search of monsters! Life can be very strange at times!

British Werewolves Still Creating Controversy

From Britain's Stafford Post newspaper, here's the latest on the werewolves of the Cannock Chase:

Wolves may live on Chase - Expert, May 30 2007

A rash of 'caveman' and 'werewolf' sightings near Stafford could have a rational explanation - after one expert claimed REAL wolves could survive on Cannock Chase.

Paranormal investigators around the globe are in a frenzy after the Post revealed reports of a 'strange creature' on the beauty spot were growing.

Theories about the identity of the mysterious beast range from a 'deranged tramp' to a subterranean caveman who has made his home in an ancient network of tunnels beneath the Chase.

However, one investigator, based in Dallas, Texas, told us although he had an open mind on the supernatural explanations for the phenomenon, he suspected wolves, extinct in this country for hundreds of years, could have returned to the ancient hunting ground.

Nick Redfern, originally from Walsall, said this week: "Back in the '80s, reports surfaced of something that became known as the Ghost Dog of Brereton - which was a large dog-like animal seen here. And last summer there were local stories of a wild wolf seen near the M6. So, I'm convinced people are seeing something."

The paranormal expert, who is currently writing a book on reports of strange creatures on Cannock Chase, told us he took the idea of real wolves scavenging there ' seriously'.

"We know that people who have had big cats as exotic pets have released them into the wild when they got too big to handle - so perhaps-something similar has happened here with a wolf."

Derek Crawley is chairman of Staffordshire Mammal Society. He told us wolves, hunted to extinction in England more than 500 years ago, could make a home on the Chase. But he doubts a pack roaming there today could keep such a mysterious and low profile.

"There are enough prey items to sustain a population of large predators there," he said. "As for wolves, theoretically, yes but in reality, no. They are a pack animal so people would see a lot of them. They would confront dogs and other animals. So if there was a population, they would very soon be known about.

"What it could be is huskies. People do train them over the Chase and they can look quite 'wolf-like'." He added: "There are plans to reintroduce wolves but that's in areas like the Scottish Highlands where there are very few people. It wouldn't happen on Cannock Chase."

The Creatures of Cannock Chase

The strange saga of Dr. John Kerr-Butter - and his potential links to the many and varied weird beasts that have been seen in and around England's Cannock Chase woods - is a truly fascinating one. Indeed, it's a story I highlighted, back in 2009, in one of my Lair of the Beasts columns for Mania.com. And, I'm pleased to say, the fascinating tale of the doctor and his amazing menagerie is now catching the attention of the Cannock media too.

The End Of An Era

Sad news: the Chase Post newspaper, which covered the sprawling, creature-infested Cannock Chase woods of Staffordshire, England is no more.

Yep, after decades of publication, it has finally closed its doors.

Aside from the most unfortunate thing - a significant loss of jobs - the closure of the Post will mean that a key outlet for breaking stories on sightings of big-cats, Bigfoot-style entities, werewolves, and unusual water-based beasts, on the Cannock Chase will be no more.

I have a lot of good memories of the Post, particularly when in 1999-2001 me and Irene Bott, formerly of the Staffordshire UFO Group, wrote a regular, weekly column for the newspaper called The C-Files.

It was that particular column which prompted a lot of eye-witnesses to crypto-creatures on the Cannock Chase to come forward.

Here's wishing editor Mike Lockley and the rest of the team all the very best for the future.

Cannock Chase: A Fortean Hot Spot

In recent weeks and months, I have posted regular updates on the many and varied reports of Bigfoot, large cats, ghostly black dogs, and even werewolves in the vicinity of Britain's Cannock Chase woods. Now, UFOs are making their presence known in the area.The Chase, it seems, is rapidly becoming a Fortean hot spot, as the Chase Post newspaper reveals:

Mystery lights have been spotted over Chadsmoor - the latest in a long line of UFO sightings around the town.
Ministry of Defence officially declared Cannock Chase as a UFO hotspot.
A Smillie Place resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "It was about three minutes to ten on Saturday night. I looked into the sky and there were these three orange orbs. I've never seen anything like them before."
The resident said that she watched the scene for about a minute and a half, during which time the lights put on a strange display before vanishing.
"One of them, the first in the line, came across the sky and then just stopped dead. The two lights behind it followed a second or two later. When they were all close together, the first light vanished. Just disappeared completely. Like it just shut down into nothing."
And at the same time, in nearby Cemetery Road, resident James Douglas also spotted the mysterious lights.
"They were more or less in a straight line," he said. "It was a couple of minutes to ten. The lights weren't very big - they didn't look all that far away but they didn't look too big, either. They weren't making a sound. The first one just stopped dead. The other two sort of dawdled up to the first one, and as soon as they did, the first light just switched off, kind of thing. Just vanished. Didn't drop or rise or anything. I called my wife, but when she came out on the garden there were just two of them left. I've absolutely no idea what it was."

A British Bigfoot Encounter?

Once again, Britain's Cannock Chase woods are a veritable hotbed of weirdness. Yep, after a bit of a lull, here's a newly reported sighting (although the event is said to have occurred last year) of an alleged Bigfoot-like creature in the area.

I've said it before and I will say it again: if these reports aren't hoaxes (and I'm convinced most of them aren't), then the Cannock Chase Bigfoot has to have paranormal origins.

Indeed, having grown up only a couple of miles from the woods, I know the exact area that the witness is talking about very well.

And, there is no way that a 7-to-8-foot tall man-beast can exist on the Cannock Chase (yes, it's of an impressive size and very dense in places, but it's not that big and it's surrounded by towns and villages), avoid detection and also leave behind no evidence of its "den" (or wherever it lives) or its eating habits - which would have to be huge, given the sheer size of the creatures reportedly seen in the woods of the Chase.

Literal ape-men? No. Some sort of phantom of the night? Yes.

Cemetery Cats

A new story posted at the website of Britain's Chase Post newspaper reveals the details of a hitherto-unknown "Big Cat" encounter at the German War Cemetery in Britain's Cannock Chase woods. As my latest book (There's Something in the Woods) reveals, the cemetery in question (see the photo) has for years been a veritable hotbed of monstrous activity.

Indeed, big-cats aside, the book details numerous encounters in the vicinity of the cemetery (and, in some cases, directly within it) with Bigfoot-like creatures; beasts that sound suspiciously like werewolves; and even little, hairy sprites.

There's something very strange indeed about the Cannock Chase in general and the cemetery in particular. And, having spent much of my life living only a stone's throw away from all the action, I can say for certain that if you want to hunt a cryptid, there's quite possibly nowhere better to go - right now, at least - than to the heart of those darkened woods!

Cannock Chase - The Weirdness Continues

As I revealed last week, not content with being home to giant-cats, Bigfoot-style entities and even werewolves, Britain's Cannock Chase woods are also fast becoming a beacon for activity of a distinctly ghostly-kind.

And on this specific issue, here's the very latest from the Stafford Post newspaper that covers the area in question:

Last week's chilling tale of a ghostly female figure on the Chase has spawned a stream of X File reports from Stafford readers.
One housewife rang us to say her mother-in-law, now deceased, also saw the alien on a rain-lashed November 40 years ago.
She was driving on the Milford Road and had just passed Shugborough when she saw a bedraggled woman by the side of the road.
Our reader takes up the story: "My mother-in-law thought, 'she must be soaked' and offered her a lift. She was immediately struck by her clothes - the woman was shabbily dressed and her clothes were not in keeping with the times.
"They chatted and there was no sign of anything untoward."
But the driver never forgot what happened next.
"She dropped the lady off in Newport Road, Stafford, turned her head for less than a second and when she looked back the figure had vanished - disappeared-into thin air. She could not possibly have moved from the scene in that short space of time and my mother-in-law never forgot the encounter."
A 30-year-old resident will never forget the summer's day he went fishing, with his dad, to Hopton Pools.
It was 13 years ago, but the events of that day will always stick in his memory.
"Suddenly there was the sound of swords clashing together and the whistles of arrows flying over our head. There was not a soul about for miles, but we could hear a full-scale battle taking place around us."
Hopton was the scene of a bloody civil war encounter and there have been a number of reports of locals claiming to hear the battle.

Latest on the Cannock Cats

The large, exotic cats of Britain's Cannock Chase woods have once again surfaced from their shadowy lairs...

Cannock Chase Creatures

In what some may surely say is a very welcome break from all of the discussion concerning the stranger beasts that are rumored to inhabit Britain's Cannock Chase woods, we say "welcome back!" to a far more down-to-earth critter...

The Cannock Chase: Never-Ending Weirdness

Time and again I have highlighted here the many weird sightings of mysterious beasts (including Bigfoot, big cats, and werewolves) deep in the heart of England's Cannock Chase woods. Well, the weirdness shows no sign of stopping - indeed, it's positively escalating.

Here's the first new story; here's the second; and here are a couple of other new paranormal-driven stories from surrounding towns and villages: story one and story two.