Green Spaces Are Go

Free cycling sessions at Telford Town Park for members of the African Caribbean Community Initiative and attendees of Telford Mind’s Calm Cafés.

Eight sessions took place, starting on 22 June 2023, every Thursday between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.

Every Thursday from July 27 to the 31 August, 1.30-3.30pm in Telford Town Park

On Sunday 22 October 2023 Telford Bike Hub ran sessions to help both children and adults learn to ride and build confidence in their local green spaces. Sessions were held at Dale End Park in Coalbrookdale, Dawley Park, Hartshill Park in Oakengates, and Bowring Park in Wellington.

Then at the end of the year Travel Telford provided three Glow Rides for Green Spaces Are Go, each with a different theme. On Wednesday 1 November the theme was Halloween, on Thursday 30 November the theme was Be Bright, Be Seen, and finally, on Tuesday 19 December riders were encouraged to dress up in Christmas jumpers and decorate their bikes with tinsel and lights. There were two sessions on each date, one session for family and novice riders, and one for advanced riders.

Visit the Telford Travel Facebook for more information about what they do in the borough.

The Friends of Dawley Park organised free “walk and talk” activity sessions, run by AFC Telford’s trained instructors, that took place on Mondays throughout July, August and September at Dawley Park. The activity programme started with light warming up exercises, moving on to walking and wheeling circuits around the park, leading to the use of soft ball exercises, hand weights and use of the multi gym, before finishing with some stretching exercises. Each Monday there were two sessions, one for anyone aged 50+ and one that was disability-friendly for people of any age.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from the beginning of June to the end of September a qualified coach led free 45 minute sessions using the outdoor gym on Donnington Recreation Ground TF2 8HT. These sessions were open to all ages, and under 18s could also take part with parental supervision.

Shropshire European Organisation held a series of events at Apley Woods. Supported by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust the group explored the woodlands, joined in family activities to learn more about nature and then shared a traditional evening gathering around a fire with Eastern European food and singing. These events were held on 16 July, 16 September, 1 October and 21 October 2023.

The Friends of Hollinswood & Randlay Valley created a series of walking trails, bench to bench walks, walking groups and other events and activities in Randlay Valley for Green Spaces Are Go. These walks were then explored in a series of events starting on 30 August and finishing on 27 December 2023.

On the second Saturday of every month the Friends of Holmer Lake and Madebrook invited residents to join them in light conservation work to improve the nature reserve for people and wildlife.
Visit the Friends of Holmer Lake and Madebrook Facebook page to find more information on their continued work in the nature reserve.

Two walking events took place, on Saturday 21 October and Saturday 9 December 2023, to celebrate the installation of two new kissing gates on the T50 that will open up access to the beautiful Lilleshall Hill Local Nature Reserve.  Participants could try out Nordic Walking (a pole walking technique to harness the power of the upper body to turn walking into a workout – poles were provided!)

And then on Saturday 30 December 2023 a gentle walk was held in Lilleshall to blow away the Christmas cobwebs and to celebrate a project creating twenty-three new waymarked routes throughout Telford and Wrekin, thanks to the Coronation Events fund. Participants could choose between a short walk of just over two miles or a longer one, as they preferred.

Telford & Wrekin Council’s Environment and Neighbourhood Team organised some events to help people get to know their local green spaces.

On Tuesday 12 December 2023 there was a short guided historical walk around Apley Local Nature Reserve; on Thursday 14 December 2023 there was a gentle stroll and bird-watching experience in Dothill Local Nature Reserve; on Tuesday 19 December 2023 there was a guided bench to bench walk around the Cockshutt Local Nature Reserve; and finally, on Thursday 28 December 2023 there was a family stroll around Apley Wood with tree identification activities.

On 9, 16, 23 and 30 August 2023 Bowbrook Archers ran archery have-a-go sessions at Telford Town Park. All equipment and coaching was provided during these sessions for all ages and abilities.

Lawley Partnership Board have installed new interpretation boards and noticeboards in and around Lawley to keep residents and visitors informed of the walks, wildlife, events and activities in the area, to encourage everyone to get active out and about the local area.

The local History Trail was also revamped with Lawley and Overdale Parish Council, and now includes Newdale, Lawley Common and Dawley Bank.

And new walking routes were plotted, including new seating areas for regular rest stops along the way for those who need them. Each walk has its own route map on signage boards with information on resting sites, history and wildlife. QR codes on waymarkers are also located along walks which give online access to the routes, additional information and images.

To celebrate all this work Lawley and Overdale Parish Council held a series of History Trail walks on Saturday 14 October, Tuesday 14 November and Wednesday 13 December 2023, and Lawley Men’s Walking Group also held a series of five walks between October and December 2023.

Visit the Lawley & Overdale Parish Council website for more details about the History Trail.

On Thursday 26 October 2023 Newport Town Council arranged for a guided walk, led by Newport Shropshire Community Walking Group, to launch a new funded series of “Walks from The Guildhall” maps. There are long and short walks to suit people of all abilities, and that take in some of the fabulous green spaces in the Newport area.

All the new walking maps are downloadable via http://www.newportshropshire-tc.gov.uk/local-information/walks-from-the-guildhall-maps/ as well as available for collection from the Guildhall and the café next door.

Oakengates Town Council hosted free adult fitness classes at the Outdoor Gym in Hartshill Park every Saturday from June to November 2023. Fitness instructor Tess led these fun and engaging sports session utilising the outdoor gym equipment available in the park.

From August to November 2023 Shropshire Youth Support Trust offered Parkour sessions tailored to 16-24 year olds in Telford Town Park, during which participants learned to navigate through urban landscapes and natural surroundings, mastering movements like running, jumping, climbing, and acrobatics.

Parents Opening Doors is an independent Telford and Wrekin based charity for parents or carers who have a child or young person between the ages of 0 and 25 years with a disability or additional needs. For Green Spaces Are Go, PODs and Shropshire Wildlife Trust joined forces to provide some exciting woodland sessions at Lightmoor Nature Reserve on 7 October, 21 October, 1 November and 18 November 2023. These sessions encompassed everything from scavenger hunts and clay tile making,to bug hunting, den building and with campfire cooking.

The Green Spaces Are Go grant enabled Southall School to buy a range of International Orienteering Federation maps, markers and panels, specifically designed to the school grounds and the needs of the young people who attend it.

Orienteering courses will cover different curricular activities such as phonics and number control to help deliver learning across the whole curriculum, and will provide more opportunities for children and young people to take part in physical activity in an outdoor setting.

The Orienteering courses and maps can be used not only by pupils of Southall School, but also by Telford and Wrekin Summer Schools that work with children and young people with additional or special needs. This community asset can be used as a case study for other groups who may wish to create such a resource in their local area. To find out more email rob.davies@southallschool.com or call Rob at Southall School on 01952 387600.

In Telford Town Park on 25 June, 9 July, 20 August, 10 September and 8 October 2023 Tai Chi sessions were held. Each session involved an hour of gentle exercises, incorporating Tai Chi, Qigong and meditation with music.

Open to those registered with the Autism Hub aged 16 and over, Telford & Wrekin CVS hosted a free ten week programme of accessible activities for adults with autism. These activities included football, walking, boxercise, yoga, Tai Chi, tennis and mindful movement.

Telford Cyclones Junior Football Club were able to run three new teams for 2023, as part of the Green Spaces Are Go project: a team for under 9s, one for under 8s and a mini cyclones team for 3-4 year olds.

During July and August 2023 Telford & Wrekin Council’s library service delivered story toddle sessions for under 5s to several locations for Green Spaces Are Go. There were also similar nature-themed sessions for those aged 4 – 11.

Telford & Wrekin Libraries and Telford Town Park created a brand new bench to bench walk around the Town Park. Starting from the bench on the Terrace of Southwater One, the walk moves from bench to bench with plenty of opportunity to rest and enjoy the scenery. Each bench has a QR code attached that links to a specially commissioned rhyme about Tommy and Tilly, written and performed by Sal Tonge. 

The walk was launched during half term and to celebrate Sal performed her rhyme live on six led walks across 2 and 3 November 2023. 

From June to December 2023 veterans from all branches of the armed forces, key workers, and their families were invited to enjoy walking sessions through the scenic paths of Telford Town Park and Dothill Park. These sessions were an opportunity to enjoy local, tranquil landscapes and be part of a group providing mutual assistance and support with information about support services.

Children and families were invited to join the Shropshire Wildlife Trust during the 2023 summer holidays, in a variety of locations around the borough for a series of events to explore nature and be active. Sessions took place in Cockshutt Meadow in Wrockwardine Wood, Albion Hill and Red Hill Ecology Park in St Georges, Jubilee Woods in Dawley Bank, and Little Dawley Nature Reserve.