Walking & Access
The parish has one of the highest concentrations of public rights of way in the area – a total of 74 separate paths, of which seven are Roads Used as Public Paths (RUPPs) and four are bridleways.
Two long-distance footpaths – the Shropshire Way and Hutchison Way – and the Much Wenlock loop of the National Byway Heritage Cycle Route also pass through the parish.
The Parish Council is currently working with the Borough to renew the definitive map of local rights of way, which will be published on this website when completed.
Considerable work is also underway with the Borough and the Shropshire Wildlife Trust to improve access to The Wrekin.
A walk around the pathways of Little Wenlock is featured in one of the Shropshire Star's walking routes - read more here.
The Wrekin Trundle November 2010
Marilyn Pietroni has during the last few months been working on the concept of a route entitled “The Wrekin Trundle”. She has had the full support of the Parish Council who has given her a small grant with which to research the project. The aim is to establish an off-road, appropriately surfaced, multi-user, rural trail, 4 kilometres long and 2.5 metres wide (with a verge for passing), running west-east, between the Wrekin and Lawley Village. Priority will be given to its suitability for disabled people, for whom this will be the first major rural trail in Telford.
The Trundle will be free and open year-round, with rest areas, information panels and several access points. Volunteers, including disabled groups, will contribute to its development, maintenance and management.
The urban populations of Wellington, Dawley and Lawley currently use motor cars to visit the Wrekin Forest. Disabled people have no access. The Trundle will make a major contribution to equality of access for all. Furthermore, it supports sustainable transport policy, promotes community mental and physical health, and makes it easy for families and friends to explore the countryside together. It also offers outdoor educational opportunities for schools and adults, using the rich heritage of geology, and natural and social history.
The Trundle passes through an Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Ercall Forest and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty safeguarded by Shropshire Wildlife Trust. It is strategically placed to connect existing trails and key restricted byways to be restored by UK Coal following the Huntington Lane Surface Mining Operations in about 2014. In time, it will provide an off-road link to the Town Park.
The Huntington Lane Surface Mine Community Fund has unanimously supported an application for 10% of the total funding following strong support from Little Wenlock Parish, and Telford and Wrekin, Councils and key landowners. An application to the Veolia Cre8 Scheme has been made for £300,000 to develop the route has been submitted. The project involves the following voluntary groups: Telford Local Access Forum, Telford Disability Forum, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Wellington Walkers Are Welcome and local schools and colleges.
The project would not only involve the above voluntary groups but will also bring generations together, involve the wider community, help improve health and wellbeing, leave a very valuable legacy and benefit all sections of the community. Should the bid for the funding be successful and “The Wrekin Trundle” be established then Telford and Wrekin Council will accept responsibility for its on-going future and maintenance.
The Wrekin Trundle August 2011
After all the hard work and expense that went into the Wrekin Trundle bid the team were very disappointed that it did not win. The bid had reached the last eight from over 200 applications and had then reached the last two or three.
The Trundle Team, lead by Marilyn Pietroni, now aims to proceed with the Entec environmental impact report for the whole trail and the Donkey Field development. It proposes to develop the first part of the proposed trail from Lawley Church to New Works, a route requested by the residents of New Works, with parking, bench walks and picnic tables. If there is sufficient money it is proposed to do planting for the blind and partially sighted on the route.
The Trundle Team will now apply for funding to complete the trail from other sources.
The team will also ensure that the seven landowner permissions for upgrades and new access along the Trundle route are placed on to the Definitive Map as soon as possible with their new bridleway status and the Trundle label so that permission is not lost.
Tom Pickering Benchwalks
150 people packed the Village Hall on Saturday March 17th 2007, to mark the official launch of Tom Pickering Benchwalks. Having only completed “planting” the final three benches the previous night and the handsome leaflet collected from the printers just a day or so before, we certainly cut it a little fine. But the sun and Tom’s memory continued to shine on us as Sharon and the whole Pickering family did the official honours at Tom and Dot’s bench on Buildwas Lane.
After three years of planning we have a truly wonderful new resource in our eight craftsman-built benches, enjoying some of the best views in and around the village. It’s even more satisfying to know that they have come entirely from our own natural resources at Harris’ Coppice and are each dedicated to a local loved one.
We know many parishioners who’ve already experienced and enjoyed the Benchwalks, and several visiting walkers and cyclists have commended us on them. As well as convenient places to take a break and appreciate our wonderful environment, they provide specific encouragement for those with less mobility or energy to get out and about.
Bless you Tom, you’ve certainly left us with a hugely valuable thing to remember you by. We hope you like what we have done with your project.
Your pictures, observations and information to add to the resource page on this section of the website would be appreciated by logging onto Contact Us on this website.
For full details of the project, the map, illustrations and descriptions of the bench sites, click here.
