ROYALPROJECTS RIGHT ON TRACK

HEATHER LARGE LOOKSATSOME OF THE WAYS THE COUNTY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE KING’S CORONATION, WITH SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT AT THEFOREFRONT

Community groups and volunteers will be working together to create alasting legacy as they celebrate the King’s coronation.

Aseries of projects focusing on sustainability and the environment –both keen passions of His Majesty –are getting under way across Telford &Wrekin.

Among them is theTelford Coronation Walks, 23 new circular walks which will be developed by the Friends of the Telford T50 50 Mile Trail.

They have been designed to help people explore interesting and green historic places around Telford.

“Given King Charles’ love of the environment, history and outdoors, this seems especially appropriate,” says Anne Suffolk, who is part of the volunteer-led group. Most walks are between three and four miles and all are under five miles, which means they can be enjoyed in one to two hours.

They will all start near abus stop or a large car park to make it easier for walkers to get to the beginning of each route.

“The 23 Telford Coronation Walks explore the remains of early canals like the Guillotine Locks in Hadley and the beautiful pools around Trench, take you to the squatter’s cottage in Lightmoor or tell the story of alocal hero likeDawley’s Captain Webb,” explains Anne.

“Some walks where children go to admire huge flocks of ducks and geese, such as The Flash in Priorslee owe their origins to thelong history of mining in the area. Other walks take in the history of old towns like Dawley,Newport,

Oakengates and Wellington that make up the new borough of Telford and Wrekin

“There are scenic viewpoints where one can hear birdsong or even spot wild deer such as around Smalley Hill Local Nature Reserve and New Works.”

The Telford T50 50 Mile Trail was created to celebrate thenew town’s 50th anniversary in 2018. It links together parks, woods, pools, nature reserves and open countryside with theWorld Heritage Site of the Severn Gorge, birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, and the many new and historic towns and villages that make up Telford

Friends group member,Naomi Wrighton, says the Telford Coronation Walks have been designed to help people discover less familiar green spaces on their doorstep.

THIS PAGE,CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Sarah Ryan at Maws Craft CentreinJackfield; artist’simpression of The Monarch’sMini Kingdom at Maws Craft Centre; Friends of the TelfordT50 50 Mile Trail; Anne Suffolk andNaomi Wrighton present The Coronation Walks which havereceived funding; Upper House Barn in Madeley whereKing Charles II was hidden under the hay is one of the landmarks along the first Coronation Walk.

FACING PAGE FROMTOP: The trail goes through pretty woods and dingles; volunteer Rob Miles working on the coronation garden project at Maws Craft Centre.

The projects benefited from council funding p j g

“We’re trying to connect people in Telford with green, open spaces. There are alot of green spaces in Telford but some people don’t know they are there.

“Wehave deliberately not included The Wrekin,The Ironbridge Forge and Coalbrookdale as there are manywellknown and well-documented walks in these areas already,” she explains.

Everyone is invited to join the first guided walk which takes place on Monday,May 8at10.30am from The Hub on the Hill, Sutton Hill Local Centre, 104-106Southgate, TF4 4HG.

“Why choose Sutton Hill?,” says Anne. “Well, the present monarch’s namesake King Charles II once had to flee for his life over what is now Sutton Hill housing estates and golf course.

“After his defeat at the battle of Worcester in the Civil Warhewanted to cross the Severn to escape to aWelsh port. Disguised as alabourer and coached to speak with aShropshire accent, he intended to use aferrynear Coalport.

“Arriving in Madeley he was forced to hide during the day in abarn when he found the town and river heavily guarded by Cromwell’s forces. At night fall he retraced his steps back towards Boscobel where he hid in the famous oak tree, before heading south to sail to exile in France.

“The circular walk retraces his flight across Sutton Hill to the barn in Madeley and back. The very scenic route follows public rights of way including part of the Silkin Way, passes the Hay Incline to the viewpoint at thetop of the Ironbridge Gorge, though aprettywood and then around part of theedge of the golf course.”

Each Telford Coronation Walk will be supported by free leaflets and gpx files to download from www telfordt5050miletrail.org.uk website. All will be signposted with waymarks with the special crown and four nations’ symbols logo. Anot for profitguidebook costing about £5,will also be available when the last walk is completed around the end of 2023. All thework will be done by enthusiastic local volunteers giving their time and energy for free.

Telford Steam Railway is looking to create awoodland walk, which will be called Coronation Way, between the Barrow Crossing and Doseley Halt.

The area is already popular with walkers who generally follow the formation of the old track bed.

But there are plans to extend the line and relay new track in thenearfuture so the railway team decided to create adedicated footpath for people to use instead.

At the moment, the railway’s regular passenger timetable consists of adeparture from Spring Village north to Lawley Village and then back along the line to stop at Horsehay &Dawley.The train then repeats this journey in reverse, for a round trip taking 50 minutes.

The ambitious Steaming to Ironbridge project would see steam trainsregularly returning to theIronbridge Gorge for the first time since 1966. The next phase of work will see the track relaid to Doseley Halt.

“Once thetrainsstartrunning it will notbesafe for people to do walk on the old track bed so we wanted to create a dedicated walkway,” says the railway’s commercial director andvolunteer Richard Owen.

The team will be planting native trees along the trail as well as plantsthat benefit wildlife. “We’re located on one of the wildlife corridors in Telford so we want to see what wildlife we can attract to the area,” says Richard.

The railway is alsohosting acream tea special service to celebratethe King’s Coronation on Saturday,May 6. For tickets, see www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk

At Maws Craft Centre, work is under way to create acommunalwildlife garden, which will be known as The Monarch’s Mini Kingdom, in the Victorian courtyard.

The project is being led by Sarah Ryan of Wild At Art, the centre’s gardener Rob Miles and Nicky Fraser of Loam plants and desirables.

They will be supported by asmall group of volunteers, who responded to a appeal on social media, to transform an existing green space in thecourtyard to create ahaven for awildlife.

It is hoped that this will help to foster both love and respect for theenvironment and help inspire people to find ways of encouraging wildlife in their own gardens.

There will be benches to provide people the chance to spend time in the garden and reflect on what they can see.

Nicky, whohas designed the new garden, says all of theplants going into the ground have been chosen to benefit wildlife.

“Wealready have alot of wildlife here, especially moths. We want to educate people to love all insects, not just the bees, because they all play an important role.

“There will be asuccession of flowers throughout the year.Weare going to be planting nectar-rich plantslike shasta daisies and anthemis. We’re going to have undulating privet hedges to hopefully attract the privet hawk moth.

“Wealso have acolony of sparrows nesting in one of theroofs here and there’s nothing they like more than a privet hedge.

“Although we can’t havea pond for safety reasons, we will be creating awatering hole for thebirds and the insects. It will look like apond but will only be two or three inches deep and filled with stones. It means thebirds can drink and bathe and the insects can drink from the water.Wewant to protect the environment and help it to flourish,” explains Nicky

Subtle signage will provide people with information about what they can look out for in thegarden and there are plans to create achecklist for children.

“It will also be aquiet place to sit and it will feel enclosed, abit like asecret garden,” says Nicky

“People use this area not just to visit the shops and units, but as awalkway so they will also benefitaswell as thepeople living in the flats above the courtyard.”

Sarah will be running workshops giving participants the chancetomake stepping stones, bird feeders and bug hotels for the garden.

She says the team is keen to hear from anyone who is able to support the project either by sparing afew hours to help or donating nectar-rich plants.

“Atthistime of year people are splitting plants in their garden so of they have any spare, it would be great if they would consider donating them to us,” she says.

Anyone able to help can call 07921542900 or contact Sarah or Nicky via their Facebook pages.

All three projects have received financial support from Telford &Wrekin Council’s King’s Coronation Celebration grant fund.

More than 50 applications seeking support for communityevents and projects were approved with council leader Shaun Davies saying: “The aim is to make the Coronation weekend one to remember,as well as supporting projects throughout theCoronation year that create lasting memories. It will be atime for celebration, community spirit and for marking this occasion.”