Storm Dennis has seen the Wollerton Wetlands live up to their name, as these pictures show.
River levels are about 1ft down on their peak last night; and whilst those familiar with this area will recognise the footbridge, much else at the moment is ‘beneath the waves’ – with a walk over the field path from here to Stoke Heath definitely not on the cards!
Hodnet Footpath Group are pleased to announce dates for their accompanied (public) walks in 2020.
They seem to attract a diverse bunch of people, so why not come along for a pleasant stroll in good company? Make a note in your diary now, and keep up to date via the Hodnet website’s homepage or our groups Facebook page.
Free parking is available at all start points. Accompanied children and dogs [on leads] welcome on all walks. Sensible footwear advised, and maybe a torch on the Glow Worm walk. Most walks are of 2 – 2.5 hrs duration, but May 8th likely to be 3- 4 hrs.
If weather is terrible, these events will be cancelled and then run at same time/same day the following week.
The walk routes can be seen in the relevant walk leaflets, downloadable from https://hodnet.org.uk/main/index.php/tourism/local-walk-leaflets/
PROGRAMME
March 30th – Hodnet to Hawkstone Hall hotel (with planned tea/coffee stop and optional walk around their beautiful gardens), via Marchamley (Hodnet Walks 3). Depart 11.00 AM Lyon Hall car park, Hodnet.
May 8th – (May Day Bank Holiday – not 4th May as shown in many diaries printed before the Government changed the date!). Walk from Hodnet to Fauls (Hodnet Walks 6). Depart 11 AM Lyon Hall car park, Hodnet.
June 19th – Annual evening Glow Worm walk (Hodnet Walks 1). Meet by old Railway Line bridge on Station Road, Hodnet, for a 10.30PM departure.
July 30th. Summer Evening walk from Peplow to Stoke on Tern (Hodnet Walks 9).Depart 7pm from Peplow Chapel.
Sept 23rd – Walk around Fauls (Hodnet Walks 7). Depart 11 AM from Fauls Church.
What sort of world is it where people living in a country with a developed household waste collection service feel it is necessary, let alone acceptable, to dump rubbish on the side of the road?
This is the result (at the bottom of Mill Road, Wollerton) of someone seemingly happy to inflict their ‘discarded’ Christmas on the rest of us. It’s so wantonly done there are gift tag names on much of it!
Shropshire Council have now been notified of this incident.
Whilst there may be an innocent reason behind this’deposit’, if anyone does know of a family where an Emily Rose, ‘baby Janey’; Kenny [aka baby Kenny?] or Indiana may have received presents; or who the givers – Dean, Jade, Jessica, Talia or Uncle Leroy or Aunt Kerry may be, then please consider letting them know it’s been dumped there – in case they wish to arrange its removal; or let Shropshire Council know their details, so that they may investigate further.
This case of fly-tipping was also covered in the Shropshire Star – ‘The tree still had the decorations on!’
At this time of the year many of us traditionally wonder how to get a bit fitter – but don’t like the idea of joining a gym or jogging alone, etc. Well, here’s a possible alternative:
If you like walking, love the countryside and enjoy hands on projects, why not help the Hodnet Footpath Group to monitor, repair and improve our local footpaths?
We need new volunteers to help with our main work plus organising occasional local walks, updating our walk leaflets and generally promoting our work.
We’re a friendly bunch who enjoy keeping active, getting outdoors and our [your?!] work also provides a community benefit – our local paths are now so much better used than they were before our group started in 2011.
Why not come along to our next meeting and find out more, or give us a call beforehand for a chat.
We’ll next be meeting on Thursday 16th January 2020 7.30 p.m. at Wollerton Social (Bowls) Club
For more information contact David Wilson on 01630 685305
Steve Alden on 07774 969339
Hodnet Footpath Group’s last public walk of the year will be from High Hatton to Hodnet Heath (and back) on Wednesday 6/11/2019 – commencing at 11.00am, finishing by 1pm (anticipated). All are welcome, including dogs and children, the former on leads please.
The walk starts at the ‘Old Club’ in High Hatton, where there is parking. We’ll then follow the route of ‘Walk 8’ in our series of published local Walks Leaflets.
You can download a copy via our webpage.
On Saturday 21st September, Hodnet Footpath Group has arranged an afternoon walk from The Bear Inn, Hodnet, up to Marchamley and then back via Long Lane and a field path to Hodnet running past the Hearn.
We’ll meet outside The Bear at 2pm for this walk, which is about 3 miles in length along easy to moderate terrain – with a few stiles having dog gates en-route.
All are welcome, including dogs on leads.
By chance this date coincides with the recently announced last day of trading of The Bear, so we will call in at the end of the walk for a sociable ‘snifter’ – and to toast the future fortunes of Greg and Pia, who have run things well in their time at the helm.
On Thursday 18th July Hodnet Footpath Group has arranged an evening walk along the old railway line (home of the famous Glow Worms) from Hodnet to Wollerton, then down to the Wollerton Wetlands (home of much wildlife).
Special Guest: This walk will be accompanied by Lee Fraser from Shropshire Council’s Outdoor Partnership team, who will talk about the current and future management of these two important habitat/wildlife sites.
This is a walk of about 4 miles length along fairly easy terrain, with no stiles. Dogs [on leads] and children welcome.
Meet by the old railway line bridge on Station Road, Hodnet for a 7 pm departure.
Hodnet Footpath Group’s first organised walk of the year will be on Thursday 21st March.
Meet at the Lyon Hall, Hodnet at 11.00 a.m, from where we plan to walk our Walk Leaflet Route 2 (Long Lane to Wollerton) with a possible addition of a detour around the Wollerton Wetlands.
The route is moderately difficulty with a few stiles and is dog friendly.
Everyone is welcome, including well behaved dogs.
There’s plenty of parking at Lyon Hall and good footwear is essential.
We hope to see you there.
A recent work party undertaken by members of the Hodnet Footpath Group [HFG] means a footpath through the fields in the centre of the village is now accessible to a wider group of users. This is a quiet/pretty route that runs from the road next to the former Squirrel Pub to the road bend by the entrance to the Tennis Club, all as featured in part of the Hodnet Walks 2 leaflet.
For some time now the hedge by The Villa (at the Tennis Club end of the route) has been heavily overgrown and impeding walker access, but this has now been cut right back and the path cleared and levelled. In addition, the various stiles on the route which were not previously ‘dog friendly’ now have dog gates/access provided.
As ever, dog walkers should keep their animals under control when walking (and on leads in fields with livestock present), and clear up any dog faeces.
HFG undertakes various works in and around the village to improve local footpaths, and welcomes others who may wish to get involved. See our webpage on this website for more details.
The photos below illustrate the improvements.
Hedge – before work
Hedge – during work
Hedge/path – on completion
Hedge/path with 1st customer!
Dog access by former Squirrel Inn
Dog Gate by old railway line
Dog Gate by The Villa