The Wrekin has been a local and tourist location for many decades and offers fabulous views, walks and exercise.
If you are planning an event on the Wrekin and would like to use the Halfway House as a base or you know there will be a large number of people wanting to stop to get refreshments or to sit down can you please contact us.
OUR OWN FUTURE EVENTS IN 2020
Over February half term we will be running five events which are detailed below:
Sunday 16th Molly’s Pop Up Kitchen cancelled due to Storm Dennis forecast
Molly will now run her Vegetarian Catering
Pop Up Kitchen on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February
11am-3pm on both days
Molly (our vegetarian food supplier) will be serving up vegetarian & vegan delights. Try her Lightly Spiced Bean Burger, Wraps, Nachos and more. Gluten-free options also available. Help us decide which of her food to stock!
Monday 17th February – Drop in Painting of Rocks and Geology session
From Midday – 3pm
This will be jointly run by Caroline Freeman (Rock Painting) and Andrew Jenkinson (Geology). Children will have the opportunity to paint a rock to take home. Adults can see rock specimens and ask questions about why the Wrekin is so special to geologists and if it was really once a volcano. Caroline is a local resident and regular Wrekin walker. Andrew belongs to the Shropshire Geological Society and believes the SJ60 10km square in which the Wrekin sits is the most varied in the world.
Do drop in and paint or learn more…….
Supported through the AONB Conservation Fund,
by the Shropshire Hills AONB Trust
Tuesday 18th February – Drop in Feed the Birds session
Midday – 3pm
Diane Monether Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s Feed the Birds Project Officer will be joining us. Children will be able to make bird feeders to take home and learn to identify the birds on our feeders. Adults will be able to talk to Diane about the Feed the Birds Project. This project involves training volunteers to visit people who are experiencing social isolation, to install and refill bird food containers and chat about garden wildlife.
Come and learn more…..
Thursday 20th February – Drop in Story Telling sessions
At 1 to 1.30pm then 2 to 2.30pm
We are fortunate to have story-teller Suzanne Tumnus joining us to run two sessions. She will bring alive the story of “The Wrekin Giant” and will also tell other Shropshire tales including St Milburga. Children will have the opportunity to draw their own giant or do some colouring in. Please do join us.
Supported through the AONB Conservation Fund,
by the Shropshire Hills AONB Trust
Saturday and Sunday 22nd and 22rd February
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training
Drop in from 11am-3.30pm on both days
Telford First Responders are kindly offering these two drop-in sessions. Only 1 in 10 people who go into Cardiac Arrest out of hospital survive but early CPR and defibrillation can increase this figure dramatically. The ‘Chain of Survival’ image below shows how the public can now deliver 3 out of the 4 stages up on the Wrekin should the need arise as we now have our own defibrillator (kindly funded by some of our supporters).
So take advantage of this opportunity over this weekend as you never know when you might need it……
2019 Past Events
On Saturday 7th December Richard Thomason ran a Christmas Willow Workshop for us. This was very popular with positive feedback from all the participants.
On Sunday 1st December we held a Christmas lights switch on event – special food and drink were available and a number of the people were present who have helped to make the Halfway House what it is now. The Wellington Mayor Anthony Lowe officiated and we had our very own Father Christmas present for the first time. Our tree (which we obtained from the local Raby Estate who were kind enough to deliver it to us) looked fantastic.
On Saturday 30th November a Children’s bird activity drop in session was run by the Halfway House team
Children had a chance to come and make their own bird feeder to hang in their garden, complete a bird focused treasure hunt and identify some of the birds we regularly see in our garden such as our regular robin visitors
Thursday 31st October – A Children’s Halloween activity session was run by the Halfway house Team. This was very successful and we plan to run more similar events in the future (see above).
Tuesday 29th October – Children’s Woodland Art Session was hosted by The Art Lady – The Wrekin is a great place for looking at all sorts of trees, which provide great inspiration for art. The autumn is a great time to focus on the leaves on the ground. The session was a great success and we are hoping to run similar events with the Art Lady in the future
Saturday 19th October – Halloween broomstick Willow Workshop was led by Richard Thomason where participants enjoyed making mini witches besom brooms. We aim to repeat this next year.
6th August – A drop in learning about pollinators session took place in the garden of the Halfway House with David Green together with a craft activity for children led by Amy Joy. During this event many pollinating insects were recorded in the garden including 14 hoverflies, 7 bees, 8 butterflies and 3 moths. A species list of what has been planted in the new part of the garden behind the information board is now available at the kiosk.
Supported through the AONB Conservation Fund, by the Shropshire Hills AONB Trust
July 14th – the Moth breakfast at the Halfway house followed by a walk to identify butterflies and moths on the Wrekin was led by Mike Williams from the West Midlands Branch of Butterfly Conservation. If you are interested in helping with any future moth trapping sessions at the Halfway House please let Jenny know. jenny@halfwayhouseonthewrekin.com
Supported through the AONB Conservation Fund, by the Shropshire Hills AONB Trust
July 6th – A willow craft session making flowers, fish and snails was led by Richard Thomason from Small Woods and enjoyed by all.
Supported through the AONB Conservation Fund, by the Shropshire Hills AONB Trust
On Sunday 17 February the Halfway House ran an information session on Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s ‘Feed the Birds’ project. This is a ground-breaking approach to helping people who are lonely and/or socially isolated to get closer to nature by feeding the birds in their garden with the help of a volunteer. This session was led by one of the project’s long term volunteers, Jenny Petch, who provided general advice about feeding birds and how you can become involved with this project in the Telford area.
CJ Wildlife has been sponsoring bird feeders at the Halfway House for the past 12 months. These can be seen at the back of the house and are proving to be very popular with local birds.
2018 Events on the Wrekin
Wrekin Relay Challenge
Photos courtesy of the Wrekin Relay Challenge Team
Halloween Activities at the Halfway House
Christmas willow workshop at the Halfway House
Participants were able to weave their own willow Christmas trees, reindeer, stars and wreaths at this workshop led by willow crafter Richard Thomason.
