Reset and Connect with Nature

Reset and reconnect with family and friends and what better way than with the greatest healer of all… nature.

Telford is a wonderful area with hidden gems all around us and some 17 Local Nature Reserves cover an area of more than 550ha – that’s triple the minimum recommended standard set by Natural England. 

Nature reserves are ecological havens and vital spaces for conservation as well as wonderful places to connect with wildlife, take part in unique events and immerse yourself in nature.

Here are some ideas of things to do whilst visiting one of Telford’s 17 Local Nature Reserves: 

1. Apley Woods: There is a tree trail, wooden sculptures and a very unusual stone sculpture hidden in the woods.

2. Dawley Pools and Pit Mounds: Wander around the pools where woodlands and waterways have reclaimed old pit mounds left over from the area’s mining days.

3. Dothill: A peaceful retreat from everyday life and includes wetlands, pools, historic canal sections, woodlands, grasslands and streams. Don’t miss the 50-tree trail.

4. Granville Country Park: Nature has reclaimed the area after centuries of industrial activity which finally ceased when Granville, the last deep mine in the county, closed in 1979.

5. Ketley Paddock Mound: A haven for children to play in and for wildlife to thrive. You might be lucky enough to see pond life including smooth newts and toads, as well as tawny owls and hedgehogs.

6. Lightmoor: A 60-acre site home to some of the best woodland, pools, and secluded meadows in the borough.

7. Lilleshall Hill: Offers spectacular views of Shropshire after a climb to the summit. You can also walk around the nearby ruins of Lilleshall Abbey for free.

8. Limekiln Woods: Explore around 60 acres of woodland at the foot of the Wrekin Hills.

9. Lodge Field: A favourite spot for local photographers, poets and creative people with views across the Ironbridge Gorge and nearby woodlands.

10. The Madebrook Pools and Stirchley Dingle: Run through the heart of Stirchley and lead  walkers south to Holmer Lake. The perfect destination for a quick boost of nature with ponds, woodlands, and open grasslands.

11. Madeley Pit Mounds: A unique collection of five sites of distinctive wooded pit mounds which are  linked historically and archaeologically.

12. Randlay Valley: Over 100 acres of meadow and ancient woodland linking Telford to Nedge Hill and the wider countryside – an oasis of calm.

13. If you are looking for an adrenaline hit then Rough Park’s BMX track is ideal and safe for use by less- experienced riders, but also demanding enough for more competitive ones.

14. Telford Town Park: An award- winning park and local nature reserve at the heart of Telford.

15. The Beeches: Offers stunning views towards the Severn Valley.  A series of footpaths cross the site, linking it to the adjacent Lodge Field and a larger green corridor that runs along the Ironbridge Gorge northern plateau.

16. The Cockshutt: A large and impressive green space rising above Oakengates, Wrockwardine Wood and St Georges.

17. Little sister to the famous Wrekin it may be, The Ercall has its own grandeur. Ancient oak woodland, spectacular views and more than 500 million years of history can be enjoyed here in 66 hectares of space at The Ercall and St Laurence’s Hill.