Champion job of looking after the Shropshire Way
A new group has formed to look after the Wellington section of the Shropshire Way.
Telford & Wrekin Council’s volunteer Street Champions have joined forces with Wellington Walkers are Welcome and Friends of Dothill Local Nature Reserve to form the Wellington Friends of the Shropshire Way. The Friends group has adopted the Wellington section which forms part of a new Main Route from Whitchurch in the north to Ludlow in the south that was opened up earlier this year.
The new route links up with the Silkin Way and passes through Dothill Local Nature Reserve and Wellington before wending its way to The Wrekin. Orange way-marking discs guide walkers along the route.
Over the past few months, the Friends group has been out at regular intervals litter picking and doing a recce of the route. The litter build up around the historic Forest Glen site at the foot of The Wrekin was found to be particularly bad and so the group has organised a litter pick of the area next week if the snow clears.
Bob Coalbran of Wellington Walkers are Welcome said: “The Wellington Walkers Are Welcome Path Maintenance Team has already done a lot of work along the new route clearing rubbish and overgrown vegetation to provide easy access for walkers. The section the new Friends group of volunteers has adopted runs through Wellington which has a railway station, bus station and free car parking – making it an ideal gateway for all those looking to explore the wonderfully diverse nature of the countryside around the town.
“Most people who come to enjoy the walks and views are very good at taking their rubbish home with them, but there are still alas some who don’t. We are going out to remove the rubbish at the Forest Glen site and report any fly tips we spot to the council. The plan is to do more targeted litter picks and we would love for people to come along and help.”
Cllr Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member, said: “We are lucky to live in such a spectacular county and it is really fantastic to see these volunteer groups taking pride in our community and working together to look after this beautiful stretch of the Shropshire Way.”
If the weather holds, the Forest Glen litter pick is on 12 December from 10am to 12pm and people are asked to just turn up on the day.
For more information about the Wellington Friends of the Shropshire Way or to find out what they are up to, join their Facebook group. Alternatively email pride.officer@telford.gov.uk.
