Fun

8/7/22 – New Date for Glow Worm Spotting

AMENDMENT: Due to changeable/unsuitable weather this event, planned for 1/7/22, has now been moved to the reserve date of 8/7/22. All other details unchanged. If you registered you will have been sent an advice email, if not and especially if you miss this website notice, please accept our apologies. Hopefully see you next week.

Hodnet Footpath Group are once again running our annual nightime walk to try and spot some of Hodnet’s rare glow worms.

These nationally scarce, and locally rare, insects live in certain parts of the vegetation alongside the old railway line from Hodnet to Wollerton. During their brief breeding season they may be spotted glowing to attract a mate.

Glow Worm taken at Hodnet 2016

A warm dark and moonless dry night is the best time to spot them from mid June to mid July, and our walk this year is being held on Friday 1st July. Although you can turn up on the night, it helps us plan/manage the event better if you register your interest. Please contact David Wilson email david.wilson65@icloud.com or call 07970 304169

Meeting Point: By the old Railway Line bridge on Station Road, Hodnet, for a 10.30PM departure. Alternatively, meet in the reception area of The Bear Inn, Hodnet, at 9.30pm for a pre-walk drink – departing for Station road at 10.15pm.

Children and dogs (on leads) welcome. A torch may be helpful for the walk [but isn’t necessary for spotting Glow Worms!]. Sensible shoes and clothing advised.

Note. If wet, the event will be cancelled and then take place on the following friday. If you let David Wilson know you are coming he can keep an email/phone contact for you and let you know if this becomes necessary.

Wollerton’s Platinum Jubilee Street Party

Thanks to a recently revitalised Wollerton Village Room group, Wollerton got together to organise its own street party on Sunday 5th June 2022 – to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

God bless you, Ma’am.

Despite fears of a poor turnout due to the weather forecast, and rather unpleasant working conditions for the team setting up the planned [and last minute extra] gazebos in the morning, in the end the rain abated. Notwithstanding the rain, we were rather thankful it wasn’t windy, as there was nothing that could really be done to anchor the gazebos down!

With a few last minute hitches with missing gazebo parts and a music IT glitch, all was finally ready and…. hurrah, a good number of people turned out for the event; with neighbours old and new mingling in an unusual setting to mark a unique moment in history – and after two years of Covid restrictions it all felt quite……liberating!

Whilst special thanks are due to the organisers, thanks are also due to all who attended and entered into the spirit of the occasion – as without them the event would not have been a success.

Some photos are included recording the progress of the day. Others can be seen on the Wollerton Village Room’s Facebook page. If you were there and have others you’d like to add, please send them to the webmaster.

1st Gazebos are up
A troublesome extra gazebo – where are the right bits?
Getting there !
Testing Testing!
5 mins to go!
All ready – but will it stop raining? and will anyone come?
Still raining, but people start arriving.
Party in full swing
Trying a game
Rain has stopped, specially closed road now in full use!

Explore ‘Wollerton Wetlands’… & beyond !

The next public walk in our programme for 2022 is on Thursday 2nd June.

Our walk is to the Wollerton Wetlands and then on to Helshaw Grange (see Hodnet Walks 5).

This is a varied walk with good views and departs at 10.00AM – Meet/roadside parking by Wollerton Village Room.

If you want to come along please email david.wilson65@icloud.com or call 07970 304169 on or before 5pm on Tuesday (31st May) – so we can assess numbers and the viability of the event. 

Many people have never seen the Wollerton Wetlands, but they are now quite established and worth visiting. So, if that is you or you’d simple like to join us for a pleasant stroll in good company please do come along.

Accompanied children and dogs [on leads] welcome on all walks. Sensible footwear advised, plus a drink/snack – although most walks are only 2 hrs duration.

Note. If weather is terrible, this event will be cancelled. If you have emailed David Wilson he will add you to our list of ‘friends’ and can then send a cancellation email on the day to warn you. So, please do let him know in advance if you’d like to attend, and how many will be accompanying you.

Walk routes can all be seen in the relevant walk leaflets, downloadable from https://hodnet.org.uk/main/index.php/tourism/local-walk-leaflets/


Wollerton’s Jubilee Street Party

Wollerton Village Room have arranged a Jubilee Street Party. Join family, friends and neighbours to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – in style!

It’s a ‘Bring & Share’ Lunch on Sunday 5th June from 12 –4pm and will be held outside Wollerton Village Room (but under cover if it rains!)

A formal invite will be delivered to homes in Wollerton plus parts of Lostford and Wood Lane shortly, but if you live elsewhere in Hodnet Parish and would like to come along you’d be welcome.

There will be: Gazebos, Bunting, & Lots of Balloons. Music, a Quiz, plus Additional Fun Activities including a Royal-themed Biscuit(s)Competition (under12s) and Royal-themed Cake Competition (over 12s)

Please bring along:

✓A buffet style lunch adequate for the size of your party &/or to share with others.

✓Plates, crockery and glasses [or paper/plastic as safer] for your party, and maybe some chairs [see below].

✓Soft drinks, bubbly and beers.

✓Your cake or biscuit competition entries.

✓Unionjacks, crowns & tiaras and anything you think of that will add to the fun of the day!

On the day:

Please arrive from 12 o’clock onwards. Please place your shared food items onto the buffet tables provided, outside the Village Room. Food should ideally have a cover to protect it from flies [or rain!] and if possible make a label so that people can see what delicious items are available to choose from.

Please place your royal-themed cake and biscuit(s)competition entries on the tables provided inside the Village Room. These will be judged by ballot from 1pm. A prize will be awarded for the most popular designs.

Tables and chairs will be set out in the street. We are hoping there will be enough for us all – but it may help/you’d be welcome to bring your own tables/chairs too.

Hopefully many of those attending can walk there, but additional car parking will be available at Wollerton Bowls & Social Club and also at the Tennis Club.

If you’d like any further information, please email wollertonvillageroom@gmx.com

We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Note. To facilitate the street party, the road will be closed immediately outside the Village Room from 10am to 6pm. A short vehicular diversion will therefore be in place – past the old animal pound and Catchem Corner to join Drayton Road, or via the Mill Road/Wood Lane crossroads to reach/leave houses in the village located on/off Mill Road.

Litter Pick 7th May 2022

Are you free for a couple of hours on Saturday 7th May? We will meet at Hodnet Rec at 10am for a litter pick of the Rec and the Railway Walk. We have litter grabbers, bin bags and hoops to hold them; we just need some volunteers!

It will be sociable, fun and a great way to meet people and support your community.

Parking is available at the Social Club.

Please contact steven.j.freeman@outlook.com to confirm your interest.

Keep On Moving Shropshire Festival

People over the age of 55 are invited to get moving again as part of an inspiring Shropshire festival. 

The Keep on Moving Shropshire festival is a partnership between Shropshire Council, Energize, Taking Part, Age UK and the NHS, and will launch on Sunday 8 May 2022.  Keep on Moving Shropshire Festival graphic

It starts with a free one-day launch event, set to take place from 10am until 4pm at Shrewsbury Sports Village.  

The event is aimed at people over 55, and will include inspirational and internationally-renowned speakers who will give talks on different aspects of positive ageing. There will also be taster sessions of activities for participants to try, from singing to walking netball.  

The festival hopes to inspire people to take part in local activities again after the pandemic, to build people’s confidence and get them out and moving. It is also hoped that the day will increase recognition of the valuable role older people play in communities, as well as improved understanding about what keeps people well as they age. 

At the launch there will be activities to try, inspirational speakers, and a keynote speaker who will discuss the science of ageing. There will also be a number of information stands highlighting different activities and voluntary and community sector support in our communities.  

Throughout May there will be taster sessions run by partner organisations through the county: look out for fun opportunities to try new activities where you live.  

How to book 

To book, please complete the EventBrite booking form which can be found at www.shropshire.gov.uk/KeepOnMovingShropshire