The people's group campaigning for The Wrekin

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MAP
I'm putting together a map of the tracks and walks and everything!

HOW TOS

  • How to join up to this site: it's open, any one can become a member. We totally hide your email address from spam bots too. Just join up!
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An independent group of individuals who share a love of The Wrekin and a determination to see it preserved for the good of its communities, landscape, wildlife and heritage.

Read more about Purpose, principles, activities and structure.

Some promotions about The Wrekin:

The Wrekin Hill
Allan's Twh cover
This book is available for £12.99 from all good booksellers and the Halfway House after the launch on 8th April 2007, or direct from Allan himself, in which case send a Sterling cheque for £12.99 made payable to ALLAN FROST  at 1 Buttermere Drive, Priorslee, Telford, Shropshire, TF2 9RE, United Kingdom. Overseas buyers should send an International Money Order for that amount (there is no additional charge for postage for this book).

Wrekin Wraiths, Rebels and Romans
Wrekin Wraiths
The book is available from all good booksellers and the Halfway House on The Wrekin after the official launch at the end of October 2006 or direct from Allan himself, in which case please send a Sterling cheque for £5.99 made payable to ALLAN FROST at 1 Buttermere Drive, Priorslee, Telford, Shropshire, TF2 9RE, United Kingdom. If you live outside the United Kingdom, send an International Money Order for £6.99 made payable to Allan Frost at the above address.

Fern Ticket
fernticket.jpg George Evans, the venerable chairman of All Friends Around The Wrekin has a booklet out. Already on its second reprint and the only book about The Wrekin, like ever!

Join George for a walk up and around The Wrekin, learn all the important landmarks and all the historical aspects of The Wrekin.

BTW: A fern ticket is the mythical permit to adventure on The Wrekin or in its magical forest. Couples spotted leaving a dance at the Forest Glen were asked. "Have you got your fern ticket?"

Wrekin Recipes
cookerybook.jpg
Recipes taught to the pupils of Wrekin Road School in 1904 with Emmie Teece's memories of the Wellington area in the years before World War One.
£2.99 All proceeds to the Wrekin Appeal

Available from : Langlands Records, Wellington; Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Abbey Foregate,  Shrewsbury

News Departments

Personal memories

The hill fort information board

DSCF3095
DSCF3095
e didn't make the top as The Wrekin had her cap on and the sunset was postponed.However, we saw Pete's Hillfort poster board and here it is.I think it's great and will tell everyone what to look out for.What do All Friends think?

Ancient George. # Posted by Steve Hooker at 23/6/08; 9:47:17 AM
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The hill fort information board



New member signed up says...
Amanda C Cox, says: I don't come from your area, but I do appreciate the wilderness. I am a tourist, but I respect the places I visit, and don't complain if its not as sterile or convenient as Hyde Park! I like stumbling about on rocks and sods, I don't need paths and roads. We should respect nature.

future: Nothing. Leave it alone.

I saw your campaign on the 'net and I think its indicative of the way the countryside is going, where its either a theme park or gets built on.

notfuture: Bringing in chavs with lager cans and crisp packets. # Posted by Steve Hooker at 23/3/08; 12:38:09 PM
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New member signed up says...



Wrekin Friend
Wrekin Friend
Wrekin Friend
Look who shared my lunch on top of The Wrekin this month.George the Ancient.
# Posted by George Evans at 21/3/08; 7:18:19 PM
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Wrekin Friend



Busy Sunday
Sunday was a bright, though nippy day. But still, the two car parks were full, and all the spaces on the side roads seemed to be taken too. What was it that made all these people decide it was "a nice day for it?"

I like to listen to the snippets of chatter as a bunch of people walk past. Mostly, it's work related. Or, University related. They're always deep in their conversation.

So, I wonder what those that aren't nattering as they walk past are thinking, or had just been discussing. I think these quiet ones are the ones that really enjoy the weather and the hill and the scene and the outdoors and the whole thing.

While the rest, are just out for a walk, and could be anywhere.

Full car parks
Full car parks

Full this way too
Full this way too


Like the M25
Like the M25

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 22/10/07; 1:12:26 PM
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Busy Sunday



Late evening, Autumn
Thursday night, hardly anyone up. But the light was lovely: yellow, low...

Late evening mushroom cloud
Late evening mushroom cloud

Next to Raven's Bowl
Next to Raven's Bowl

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 22/10/07; 12:39:28 PM
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Late evening, Autumn



Summer Solstice
Here's the sunset from atop The Wrekin on the Summer Solstice last night (21.6.7.).It comes with a reminder of our AFRTW meeting, 7.30 pm, Wednesday 11th July in Wellington Civic Centre.
DSCF2415

Hope it's thronged with Wrekin people.

Have fun,
George the Ancient.
# Posted by Steve Hooker at 22/6/07; 9:31:05 PM
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Emailing: DSCF2415



Wimberries, poo and swing
Looking nice up there with all this rain. Sunday we caught some fine weather and took all afternoon, around the pool looking for frogs, tramping up to Tom's for tea and chocolate, wandering down Beech Avenue to the swing. Here's some pictures of this.
Rifle range swing fun
Rifle range swing fun
Tiny, tiny frog hunting
Tiny, tiny frog hunting

More pop bags
More poo bags
Down Beech Avenue
Down beech avenue
# Posted by Steve Hooker at 19/6/07; 11:15:00 AM
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Wimberries, poo and swing



Ercall Wardens
The Ercall wardens , a voluntary group of  local people who have a special interest in the care of the Ercall nature reserve have their next informal  evening meet on Wednesday 1st November  at 7.30pm in the lounge bar of the Buckatree Hotal , Ercall Lane . Pete Lambert , the Wrekin Forest Officer of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust will be there talking about his programme of practical events for the rest of the winter . If you would like to join us please ring Pete on 01743 284285 to let him  know to expect you . # Posted by Pete Lambert at 2/10/06; 2:59:14 PM
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Ercall Wardens



More swing
Really, really high!

 

Esme blur
Esme blur

A blur
A blur


Brad gets highest
Brad gets highest

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 23/9/06; 3:44:30 PM
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More swing



Live from Beech Tree Avenue swing
Great! It's back. And we're going higher than ever :-)

 

Phone cam-2373
Phone cam-2373

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 23/9/06; 3:03:49 PM
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Live from Beech Tree Avenue swing



Mail from Alan Davies
Hello, just joined the Friends of the Wrekin, I was born in St.Georges. many years ago now. I was beginning to feel a bit of a traitor living in Wolverhampton, but nice to know others here too, even though I miss Shropshire and visit very, very often, finding any excuse to visit, even went to Ludlow Food Festival last week. Any way nice to meet you. Regards, Alan Davies

Alan, hope you can come tonight! And if you could learn to use the discussion group! Any nice memories of The Wrekin? No matter if they're just personal, of no news worthy nature. Just tell us more about that journey up in an old Austin, OK, it was a new Austin then :-) And what happened at those Forest Glen Parties??? Spill the beans dude ;-) Kiss and tell!
# Posted by Steve Hooker at 14/9/06; 10:36:01 AM
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Mail from Alan Davies



Rebels and Romans and Wrekin Friends
Allan Frost has been asked to bring copies of his forthcoming novel, WREKIN WRAITHS, REBELS AND ROMANS, to the meeting on Thursday night. Allan has agreed with George Chancellor that attendees can buy them at the special price of £5.00 each instead of the normal £5.99 on the night, after which they will revert to the full price. As the book isn't due to be launched until the end of October, this is a great opportunity to get your signed copy before anyone else. If you can't make the meeting, the launch will take place between 10.00 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturday 28th October in Wellington Library, Walker Street, with an unprecedented follow-up signing at the Halfway House on The Wrekin the next day, Sunday 29th October, again between 10.00 a.m. and 12 noon. # Posted by Steve Hooker at 13/9/06; 9:52:01 AM
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Rebels and Romans and Wrekin Friends



Wrekin mountain frogs!
On the never ending story of the frogs, of all those still listening. We know they're born in the pool, and get squashed crossing the road on their way to spawn. Now, we know where they went when they left the pool. Straight up The Wrekin.

On the shortcut straight up to Tom's we found loads, and loads of them. Esme's squeak, "frogs!" Alerted us, and soon we we seeing them all over, in the red, dead, damp ferns.

Now that the wimberries are finished, it's the turn of the blackberries. And my personal favourite, cob nuts.

 

Really, really there are frogs
Really, really there are frogs

Proof
Proof


Look at the water level-wow
Look at the water level-wow

Cob nuts or fresh hazel nuts
Cob nuts or fresh hazel nuts


Wheat field by the old rifle range
Wheat field by the old rifle range


# Posted by Steve Hooker at 6/8/06; 7:06:27 PM
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Wrekin mountain frogs!



Wimberries
Early season. Small but lovely.

 

Phone cam-1552
Phone cam-1552

Phone cam-001
Phone cam-001


# Posted by Steve Hooker at 25/6/06; 3:03:19 PM
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Wimberries



More to add
To our beasty notepads. Pheasant, green woodpecker. Dragonfly nymphes, many small underwater beasties, nemotoid worms, frogs, tadpoles and several unknown flowers.

Ercal tadpoles
Ercall tadpoles

Brad and Esme
Brad and Esme

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 24/4/06; 4:32:32 PM
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More to add



The direct route to tea
We took the direct route to Tom's Half Way House on Saturday.
The steep, direct way to Tom's
The steep, direct way to Tom's

Man! It was steep. We asked each other if it was a short cut, because it took so long. But then again, it always takes us ages to get anywhere on The Wrekin, there's just so much to investigate :-) On the way down Bradley got a sock full of mud.
# Posted by Steve Hooker at 13/3/06; 10:58:24 AM
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The direct route to tea



Sad old, soggy old Wrekin
I wish people would join up and post their own news items. But if you still insist I'll post 'em for you.... Here's one from Carol Williams...

So sad,

I am local as were my parents, grand parents & great grand parents all from Goblins Pocket, Ladygrove, Lawley Bank (son in-law & daughter live there now)

The reason for feeling so sad; I do walk the Wrekin trail twice a year, on boxing day this year it was impossible to park, vehicles everywhere, so in the time honoured tradition of my forefathers I returned home and walked to Wrekin from Lawley Bank with one grandson suitably equipped with back pack.

Climbing the great mound was hazardous & a lot less fun than it was because hundreds of people, dogs, cyclists, and four vehicles raced pushed and bustled for space.

The mound was tired & trodden, vegetation no longer thrives, the track is deteriorating it never has time to recover.

We are members of The Shropshire Wild Life Trust and would fully support any moves to limit visitors to this land mark. By charges or closing The Wrekin for three months of the year.
# Posted by Steve Hooker at 19/1/06; 1:06:02 PM
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Sad old, soggy old Wrekin



Dark side
Over the other end, the end near Neves Castle, I call the dark side of The Wrekin, it's far less popular. I hardly ever see another soul here. Particularly on week days. I wonder if it is because it's scary? Or, because it's just further away?

Piles of bleeding rubbish though. Were my boot not already filled with re-cycling as it is, I'd have cleared it. Next time.

The track now, is really muddy, difficult to walk up. Not that I'm complaining. The tractors have their jobs to do, chopping down trees, and I'm always happy to see them, when I do see them. Busy lumberjacks that they are.

And I wonder what trees spill pube-like growths at their base? Anybody? (Post something in the comments link below this item — in the greyed out text below,)
What a great place to dump pub waste
What a great place to dump pub waste
Who's afraid of the big bad wolf
Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Mu-mu-mee!!!
Thumb: Why do these trees have pubic-like patches
Why do these trees have pubic-like patches???? George Evans writes later: "they're lime trees, and that's the way they are."
Muddy tracks by the tractors felling trees
Muddy tracks by the tractors felling trees. Gwen and I don't complain though. What? Have it tarmaced over? Heh! We like mud ;-)
# Posted by Steve Hooker at 19/1/06; 12:59:06 PM
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Dark side



Recent pix
A big walk up past the Needles Eye from Little Hill, on a hot day, sweating buckets.
The Magic Tree on The Little Hill, South East of The Wrekin
The Magic Tree on The Little Hill, South East of The Wrekin

See why the pixies and elves love The Little Hill
See why the pixies and elves love The Little Hill

Looking past The Needle's Eye to Ironbridge Power Station
Looking past The Needle's Eye to Ironbridge Power Station

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 23/6/05; 8:22:12 AM
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Recent pix



Sunday along Spout Lane
Two nice shots one looking toward The Wrekin, the other away from it.
Looking up towards the Needle's Eye from Spout Lane
Looking up towards the Needle's Eye from Spout Lane

Dramatic view looking towards the Stiper Stones from Spout Lane
Dramatic view looking towards the Stiper Stones from Spout Lane

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 5/6/05; 8:58:35 PM
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Sunday along Spout Lane



Wrekin Pilgrimage
Found this in today's aggregator. Nice to see other 'outsiders' enjoying the Hill. Lovely fluffy clouds too.

On top of the Wrekin, 2
Weblog: Storyteller's World
Link: http://www.godspell.org.uk/wordpress/archives/351/


Originally uploaded by Tonus Peregrinus.

According to the books, a true Shropshire born woman or man is never lost, so long as s/he can see the Wrekin. As incomers, we’ve only just learned to recognise the thing; and even then only from the places we’ve seen it from before, viz. chiefly the Long Mynd, and the Stretton Hills. But this Bank Holiday we thought we’d go for a drive and see it for ourselves.

It turns out to be a kind of pilgrimage for the folk of Shropshire, particularly the urban dwellers of Telford. The top of the Wrekin, and the paths leading up to it, are like Piccadilly Circus, compared with the top of the Long Mynd. And all human life is there: whining infants, wingeing pre-teens, stressed parents, complicated families, and those of us with the children of our hands, thinking to ourselves “Thank goodness it’s not us having to deal with these brats” alternating with, “Here, this is a bit steep; hope the old ticker can stand it.”

The following morning the radio weather forecaster says, “The Bank Holiday weather didn’t disappoint for all of us.” The meaning of this gnomic utterance still eludes me. I thought the weather was really rather nice. "

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 1/6/05; 9:43:36 AM
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Storyteller's World - Wrekin Pilgrimage



The Ballard of Ercall Quarry
Here is a little verse that won a prize some time ago...

Peace-an-happy-time in a bosky-green under-tree,
Goldenshafted shinybeams – flitter-wicks play,
Ripple-tumble prill – washing itsy footprints,
Feather-furry-beasties happy-hopping, hey-hey!

Nasty-noisy clatterthing shattering stillness,
Rushing-shoving-pushing – scraping woods-away
Quarrelling, quarrying, kill-kill-killing,
Puffing-dust in bosky-wood – killing everyday.

Doggy-walky-woolly-hatters – great-big boots-on,
Spitting-feather-furious - in democratic-way;
Ring-a-council – write-a-paper – make-a-fuss – get-on-telly,
Shout-an-yell – demonstrate – have-their-say.

Still-an-hush returns to devastated moony-land,
Stony-rock-an-rubble – bosky-wood dead.
Woolly-hatters weeping for feather-furry forest-folk,
Should-have-done-it-sooner – ‘Our fault’, they said.

Tiny-bitty greenie-spots, mossy-lichen life appears,
Popping-up in warm-an-wet, hey-hey-hey!
Years-go – plants-grow – birdie-beasties coming-back;
Doggy-walkers happy – Nature rules OK.

Peace-an-happy-time in a bosky-green under-tree’
Golden-shafted shiny-beams – flitter-wicks play,
Ripple-tumble prill – washing itsy footprints,
Feather-furry beasties happy-hopping – hey-hey! # Posted by George evans at 24/5/05; 8:50:17 AM
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The Ballard of Ercall Quarry



Sometimes you need to rest your eye, just to take it all in.
All the way. I said, "we're going up The Wrekin today." OK was the reply.
"No, we're going up and having a picnic. We really are."
OK.
"Aww. cummon, it's a lovely day, let's go up."
"We said OK Daddy!"

I've made a gallery of our trip.
# Posted by Steve Hooker at 22/5/05; 4:05:06 PM
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The top of The Wrekin



Sunny afternoon on The Wrekin
I've taken to running up the 'dark' side of The Wrekin, near Neves Castle. Here's some nice pix from today.
The dark side of The Wrekin
The dark side of The Wrekin


Bluebell patch on my path
Bluebell patch.


The path I run along
The path I run along. It's all steeper than it looks.



# Posted by Steve Hooker at 30/4/05; 9:24:42 PM
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Sunny afternoon on The Wrekin



The Dark Side of The Wrekin
There's much I don't know about the hill. One thing I do know, it's beautiful - particularly over the otherside, near Neves Castle. Today we went looking for bird's nests, and found a wren's and an old tree creeper, maybe a tree sparrow.
bradAndEspesDiscoverTheOnlyMudForMiles.jpg
Brad and Espes discover the only mud for miles

thisIsWhereIGoHuffingAndPuffingRunning.Brad'sInTheBackgroundWithHisHandBehindHisBackContemplatingTheTrees.jpg
This is where I go huffing 'n' puffing—running with my new hobby. Brad's in the background with his hands behind his back contemplating the trees.
Big trees, small boy.

# Posted by Steve Hooker at 25/4/05; 9:05:04 PM
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The Dark Side of The Wrekin



A picture tells a 1,000 words
And what about signs? Do they tell the same? signsatwrekin.jpg How come the Huntsman has two signs? Why does this, the very start of The Wrekin look so much like a refuse dump?

Tatty toilets.

And this place is supposed to bring in the tourist dollar? I'm not saying that there should be banks of flowing flowers and Hawiian garlands thrown around every visitor, but surely this small spot could look neater. Surely?

Ah! But SWT didn't buy this part. This part belongs still to Peter Holt. So?

It's funny, I was thinking of adding a sign for this website and AFRTW, but at lerast my sign would have looked, good. Damned good, compared to the rubbish already there.
# Posted by Steve Hooker at 11/3/05; 8:52:28 PM
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A picture tells a 1,000 words



Best-selling author Bill Bryson has launched a call to improve protection of Britain's ancient trees and woods.

The appeal came in an address to the all-party Parliamentary Group on Conservation and Wildlife at a meeting hosted by chairman David Kidney MP. # Posted by Peter Jones at 3/2/05; 2:30:52 PM
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Better woodland protection urged



A Shropshire Lad: Betjeman's Banana Blush arrived yesterday, packaged as you would expect for a mid-priced Virgin re-issue -- a truly shabby and shameful exercise that must have taken 30 seconds to pull together.

But "A Shropshire Lad" is as good as I remembered after 31 years, so here it is, for a week or two, anyway. Purely for appraisal, and all that.
A Shropshire Lad - John Betjeman (music by Jim Parker)."

Nice. I found this above news item in the aggregator. It's from another blogger, who obviously likes it. Download it and play in your favourite MP3 player. # Posted by Steve Hooker at 24/1/05; 10:32:22 AM
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Comment [0] Trackback [0] Podcast enclosure  1286K to download
A Shropshire Lad Betjeman's Banana Blush arrived ...



Annual Wrekin walk
Jungle bells, Santa smells... It's that time of year, everybody! When we take a walk up The Wrekin.

Are you a New Years walker or a Boxing Day walker? Maybe a post turkey dinner walker?

Unfortunately, I'll be down in god's own country, Wales, land of my fathers... But, if you could tell me in the comments below, who, when and why you'll be doing the annual "better make sure it's still there" walk, I'd be most appreciative.

Perhaps you could co-ordinate within our discussion group with your chums when you'll be going up. You're very welcome.

Merry Xmas
# Posted by Steve Hooker at 21/12/04; 4:56:33 PM
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Annual Wrekin walk



Letters from Guernsey
I read with interest your letter in my local paper (The Guernsey Evening Press) a couple of weeks back, and have been meaning to contact you since!

My late father was a Shropshire lad, born at Prees, and brought up in Wem until he met Mum and came to Guernsey, and  we used to go to see my Grandfather in Wem when we were kids, and he took us to the Wrekin many times. I was hoping to get to Wem this year but unfortunately didin't make it, and am getting withdrawal symptoms especially having read your letter and going into the websites about the Wrekin!   I do hope the Shropshire Wildlife Trust manage to purchase it, and it can stay as it is for  people to enjoy.

I didn't realise it was as important as it is, and being a JRR Tolkein fan, I will read  and learn more!

Good luck with the campaign.

Regards

Dianne Plumley


(Our plight is reaching further and further!)
# Posted by Steve Hooker at 1/12/04; 10:41:32 AM
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Letters from Guernsey