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Turnpike Field Anniversary

31st August 2020 @ 6:06am – by Steve Elliott
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Turnpike Field -- 2 Years On!!


Two years ago, on the 31st of August 2018, Audlem acquired ownership of this 11.5-acre parcel of land adjacent to Green Lane, the Shropshire Union Canal and Shropshire Street.

Very commendably, the Parish Council -- initially chaired by Heather Jones and later by Geoff Seddon -- had much earlier seen this unique opportunity for the village to secure a wonderful asset. After multiple meetings and lots of discussion, a public survey was held and a majority of the community who voted, supported the purchase and so the successful bid was then put together.

As well as ensuring that there would be no unwanted development, it was also intended that the field should offer a variety of recreational uses for villagers and visitors, e.g. wildflower and conservation areas, seating, picnic areas, walking etc.
Some of these plans have now already progressed with the addition of several picnic benches, the digging of 2 ponds as well as the creation of a number of mown pedestrian pathways around the field.
Already it is proving to be very popular with walkers -- with and without dogs! The bottom field, with its quite rare floating bog, has a long established public right of way from the stile at Lock 11 of the Shropshire Union Canal. over to Green Lane adjacent to Grey's Bridge. It can also be easily accessed though a new pedestrian gate installed close to the canal bridge on Shropshire Street.

Numerous articles have been written about its wonderful wildlife.

One additional major reason for the approval of its purchase, was to use a small part of the field nearest to the village, to provide some long needed additional visitor car parking, in the form of a 'green' car park -- something that is currently in the planning stage.

For more information about Turnpike Field, visit it's website here

Steve Elliott

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