Wyre Forest

11:55am Thursday 10th April 2008

FRIENDSHIP CENTRE - At the recent meeting, members were given a talk by Ken Durnell about the history of the Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway, which ran from 1898 to 1929.

The next meeting on Thursday, April 17 at 10am at Lickhill Community Centre, Memorial Park, Stourport, will include a talk on orchids by Alison Caldwell.

The AGM will be held on May 15. Further details from Doreen on 01299 401081.

WORCESTERSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST - Twenty members visited the Moors Pool at Upton Warren on March 9 and were met by voluntary warden Arthur Jacobs. He helped many in the group to identify the range of wildfowl present, including oyster catcher which had flown in from the nearby Flashes Pool to escape the activities of the monthly working party.

This Sunday there will be a walk around Shrawley Woods with John and Beryl Jackson. Please meet at 10am at the car park of the Rose and Crown Inn Shrawley on B4196 Stourport to Holt Heath road. Optional refreshments will be available at the inn afterwards. Everyone welcome.

For further details of the group's activities contact Richard Cory, chairman, on 01299 822748.

SEVERN SIDE RAMBLERS - A walk of about eight miles duration around Bredon Hill has been organised for Sunday.

Ramblers are asked to meet at the Memorial Park Gates, Park Avenue, Stourport, at 9am prompt. Transport can be arranged. New walkers will be made welcome.

For further details call John on 01562 631448 between 6pm and 7pm.

RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION - The group will be having a five mile walk around Ludlow on Saturday. Meet at 11am in Castle Square by the gates to the castle. Take a packed lunch. All welcome. Telephone Peter on 01299 405166 for more information.

NATIONAL TRUST- The centre's AGM was held at Baxter College, Kidderminster, chaired by David Brown, president. He paid tribute to the amount of work undertaken by officers and committee members.

Chairman, Chris Fonteyn, presented his 19th annual report. In his review of 2007, he recalled the awful weather which badly affected a number of NT properties. He noted with regret that Vic Powell was standing down from the committee.

Treasurer, Alan Beaumont, presented the financial report. During the year ending December 31, 2007, a total of £4,787 had been donated to various properties and projects.

Denise Carson was co-opted the committee and Peter Archer was elected. The officers and other committee members were duly re-elected.

Several Trust staff members addressed the meeting. They were Tony Berry, regional marking and supporter development manager; Nick Smith from Dudmaston Hall, Marcus Halliwell from Hanbury Hall and Michael Smith from Croome Park.

Eric Greenwood gave an illustrated presentation on the attractions to be visited by members in coming months.

The speaker at the centre's March meeting, held at Baxter College, Kidderminster, was Jeremy Milln, the NT's archaeologist for the West Midlands region.

He gave a talk on the restoration of walled gardens at Tatton Park and Shugborough. The NT has more than 100 walled gardens, most with glasshouses, but now only about 12 are in working order. Mr Milln referred to the research and conservation work carried out at Tatton Park and Shugborough. The walled garden at Shugborough dates back to 1698, but had virtually disappeared by 1805. Today, polytunnels are the modern equivalent of glasshouses.

The projects at Tatton Park and Shugborough are ambitious, but important. For the restoration work, they must obtain the glass from a firm in Birmingham.

Details of the activities of this group of NT members is available from the centre's secretary, Marjorie Fernihough, on 01562 883460.