Here we are on a cold day in early Janurary 2009 its 09.30am on a cold freezing foggy morning with a top temp of -4c we start the walk from the avenue opposite Benthall Hall for a walk of around 1 mile mostly flat walking keeping left we follow the lane pass the graveyard towards Benthall edge farm under the horse chestnut tree and pass the front door of the farm you start a gentle rise through the open countryside over looking Benthall edge in the lane you'll find many wild flowers as well as the birds and animals. You also get some very nice sunsets seen here while over looking the edge, the flowers found here include orchids, primrose, Daisy, Herb Robert and many other.
While there is butterflies to look out for during the spring and summer months ranging from the Tortoiseshells,Peacocks and Speckled wood to the rarer painted lady, fritillary and Holly Blues.
There is also a chance to see wild deer here as there a small herd running the woods although i have only seen them 4 times this year...
After the rise you walk down hill a little until you come to a fork in the lane it doesn't matter which way you go as the lane will meet up later on anyway but if you go to the right like i did today its takes you pass the woods keepers cottage you walk up his driveway, while hes happy to let you and other walkers do so, he does ask that dogs are put back on the lead as there is often a high chance the deer will be around here somewhere a small price to pay. Now you start to get in the woods which is mainly full with Oak, Birch, Ash and Beech following the path left you top over looking Buildwas Power station with its 4 cooling towers and the view over the Steven valley below. Following the way marker ( Shropshire way) you walk for around 500-1000 yards before meeting a gate across the path hopping over here you walk along keeping the old canal on your right hand side until you come out on to the pathway leading towards Broseley Wood The fields on your left are wild flower meadows and are left all summer for the flowers that grow there the farmer then cuts the hay and let horses use it until November when he stops them useing it and let the fields and the grasses start growing again, the hedges on both sides are full of flowers and ferns and many birds and animals finds their homes there.
After a sort time the lane come to a kissing gate, here you turn right and pass though the gate to walk across open farmland toward Benthall Hall and back towards your car the fields are sown with wheat mostly during the spring, here you may find and see buzzards and kestrel as well as owls hunting for mice and voles along the hedgerows. Near the Hall you pass the avenue of trees, here there are 33 horse chestnut trees as well as oak and yew a place where as kids we did spent many a Saturday afternoon getting our conkers under the watchful eye of the owner of the Hall, you are now nearly back at the start, staying on the path you now pass in front of Benthall Hall itseft, This is a beautiful Hall build in the 1700s its how been taken over by the national trust who looks after it, but its still the home of James and Sally Benthall and the little church ( St Barthlowmews) next door build for the locals again in the 1700s.
And now we are back at the start, the walk is both enjoyable and exercise for me and is just one of a number of walks through theses woods which i hope you will take with me again.
While there is butterflies to look out for during the spring and summer months ranging from the Tortoiseshells,Peacocks and Speckled wood to the rarer painted lady, fritillary and Holly Blues.
There is also a chance to see wild deer here as there a small herd running the woods although i have only seen them 4 times this year...
After the rise you walk down hill a little until you come to a fork in the lane it doesn't matter which way you go as the lane will meet up later on anyway but if you go to the right like i did today its takes you pass the woods keepers cottage you walk up his driveway, while hes happy to let you and other walkers do so, he does ask that dogs are put back on the lead as there is often a high chance the deer will be around here somewhere a small price to pay. Now you start to get in the woods which is mainly full with Oak, Birch, Ash and Beech following the path left you top over looking Buildwas Power station with its 4 cooling towers and the view over the Steven valley below. Following the way marker ( Shropshire way) you walk for around 500-1000 yards before meeting a gate across the path hopping over here you walk along keeping the old canal on your right hand side until you come out on to the pathway leading towards Broseley Wood The fields on your left are wild flower meadows and are left all summer for the flowers that grow there the farmer then cuts the hay and let horses use it until November when he stops them useing it and let the fields and the grasses start growing again, the hedges on both sides are full of flowers and ferns and many birds and animals finds their homes there.
After a sort time the lane come to a kissing gate, here you turn right and pass though the gate to walk across open farmland toward Benthall Hall and back towards your car the fields are sown with wheat mostly during the spring, here you may find and see buzzards and kestrel as well as owls hunting for mice and voles along the hedgerows. Near the Hall you pass the avenue of trees, here there are 33 horse chestnut trees as well as oak and yew a place where as kids we did spent many a Saturday afternoon getting our conkers under the watchful eye of the owner of the Hall, you are now nearly back at the start, staying on the path you now pass in front of Benthall Hall itseft, This is a beautiful Hall build in the 1700s its how been taken over by the national trust who looks after it, but its still the home of James and Sally Benthall and the little church ( St Barthlowmews) next door build for the locals again in the 1700s.
And now we are back at the start, the walk is both enjoyable and exercise for me and is just one of a number of walks through theses woods which i hope you will take with me again.
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