There will be a meeting of

ALL FRIENDS ROUND THE WREKIN

MONDAY, 11^TH. FEBRUARY NEXT

7PM – 9PM

WELLINGTON CIVIC CENTRE

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

to an

OPEN FORUM

To discuss

NEWS AND VIEWS

After the election of a

NEW CHAIRMAN

And the election or re-election of president, secretary and treasurer

We hope to hear the latest proposals from

SHROPSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST,

SHROPSHIRE HILLS,

THE WREKIN FOREST PARTNERSHIP,

DISNEYLAND? THEME PARK? QUANGOS?

PLEASE COME ALONG,

HEAR WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 8/1/08; 8:05:32 PM
To the News dept.
Discuss Comment [0]
Come to the open meeting!

I've just had two phone calls put to me. One from Peter Holt, one from Pete Lambert. It seems Peter Holt called Peter Lambert for my phone number.

I'm not clear, exactly of the purpose of the call from Peter Holt other than to berate me for publishing the email, which has been (so he told me) taken up by yesterday's Shropshire Star and for putting the posters up on his land. I think, in the telephone rant that he also accused me of asking dog owners to leave poo in bags, as well as accusing me of littering via the posters. Also, I was accused of looking to publicise myself. My response was that I publish everything that comes through this site. I do so openly, to encourage debate and to be open.

He also accused me of 'having a pop' at him because of his status as a landowner. My reply was in terms of being able to have a pop at him for trying to sell a large portion, in chunks, of The Hill to the only the highest bidder, for attempting to build on the rifle range (which was rejected out of hand) and disallowing on-topic fly-posters, then taking them down—I'm quite sure it was him. Though I have to concede, that generational landed gentry, isn't a part of my personal politics just as it probably isn't a part of the other 99% of the UK.

I suggested to him that this site and the Friends was an open forum, though, sure it is just me at the minute. I would hope that he does take the opportunity to defend, back-up or otherwise inform, publicly, rather than being reactive/autocratic. He replied, 'you're joking!' I don't know why he wouldn't; whether it was because it would be furthering his errors, or pandering to me.

I'm told that he also shouted at George Evans over the posters on Sunday morning. While, diplomatic as ever, Pete Lambert thought Peter Holt was 'a little upset' in his conversations.

I would now also sensibly suggest that Peter Holt, as trustee of the Orleton Estate, employ a public relations team to manage its (and his) reputation. The Wrekin is a hot, local potato, it's getting hotter, now that there is increasing pressure from the expanding Telford New Town.

Peter Holt did say, however, that he wouldn't let anybody tarmac any paths, that he and his family has looked after The Wrekin for generations, and had 'seen orff' many types of organisations that wanted to 'do things' on The Hill. Which is why his section of The Hill is in its present dilapidated, wonderful, wild state. The benign neglect, everybody so loves.

Pete Lambert said he would contribute something to this site over the next few days—he's out doing good somewhere, till then. He was 'concerned' that he'd done much to bring Orleton Estate (Peter Holt) to the Wrekin Forest Partnership, and this was now in jeopardy. Much of what Pete does, is slowly winning the trust of the landowners and this is to be done, face-to-face on a personal level. Pete Lambert was concerned that the current furore may let the other landowners back out too.  He said, The Hill itself has that many SSIs and other protections, that nothing much can be done, particularly in terms of development. However, the land about it is vulnerable and under threat. I don't think I'm too popular with the SWT, presently :-(

Some of the forestation, around The Hill, isn't open to walkers. Pete's trying to open it up. In my heart, I don't want it open! I don't want, nor do I need to tramp through or pressurise any more natural areas—leave it to the birds and the occasional shooters. Your views may vary on this.

Pete also mentioned, by way of an aside, that the workers on the Raby Estate, the dark side as I call it, the SW part around the Little Hill and the Magic Tree, which is excellently managed, from what I hear and see have been subjected to abuse by visitors! I don't know why, these people are real forest workers! This is terrible! Shameful!

The Pancake Day meeting, the first of the Wrekin Forest Partnership is a closed affair. (I'm told I must try and stop the AIWL group from barraging it with pitch forks.) This WFP is bringing councils, landowners, AONB, SWT and AFRTW. This meeting, I'm told will decide the future direction of this WFP. Though, I see in the terms of reference, that access and promotion are key words, what do they really mean?

There is an open meeting of All Friends Round The Wrekin on 11th February, 7pm Wellington Civic Centre (which I'll post about later) which I hope the whole world and his wife will turn out to. It's important that we gather views before and during, so that the chairperson, and president or whoever it is that sits on the WFP has a clear idea of what the Friends want for The Hill, so that they can steer, or try and steer councils, quangos (I've been told that 'they' and 'it' are not quangos, but it's good enough shorthand) and landowners.

With this in mind, I'll soon be canvassing the 200 (and growing) members of this site for their wants and don't wants. And that's is all folks. I'm not going to go looking for news, I'm not going to go looking for confrontation. But, if confrontation comes to me, I'll report it, and I really do hope that the confronters will air their contrary views here, publicly as Pete Lambert said he would.

As ever, this is an open website, and an open AFRTW. These are just my views. If you have anything to say, publish it here yourself, or email me and I'll add it. If you call (I'm not going to publicise my number) it'll go on the site, in my words, not yours!

My sole aim in putting up those posters was to gain more ordinary members for the Friends, to reach out to those that do not ordinarily attend meetings. To open the debate, not to cause a furore. But, events, my dear boy, events have caused this story to run into confrontation, not debate. Still all this publicity gains more members, more support for The Hill. And that is good. Even if I'm being called names.
# Posted by Steve Hooker at 8/1/08; 6:14:30 PM
To the Gossip & Rumour dept.
Discuss Comment [0]
Two angry phone calls

Yesterday, I took these pictures of poo bags on the way up to Tom's. Can you spot the poo bags? Careful, in some there's more than one!

How many poo bags can you count?











# Posted by Steve Hooker at 8/1/08; 9:41:30 AM
To the Gossip & Rumour dept.
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Million bags of poo