Apley Castle

Hi everyone!
This week you have a break from me (YIPPEEE! I hear you all say!) as I missed Apley Castle due to a delightful few days spent up in Yorkshire but it looks like I missed a great day.

I'm both grateful and amazed at the number of pics that came through from fellow members (around 50!) of the event so it's taken a while to filter them and select just a few for the blog (as always there's a slide show where you can see a few more). Thanks go to Lis, Les and Nigel for all pics in the post and the web album. Well done guys & gals (who was it who used to say that?)

No howler this week!
I've been inundated with emails and verbal assaults from people bemoaning the fact that there was no howler last week. Dozens of people demanded to know where it had gone (well Lis sort of mentioned it in passing!). It will be back! In the New Year.

New post from a blogger virgin
I'm also indebted to a member of the team for kindly doing the write-up of the day at Apley, so without further ado I'll hand you over to the always effervescent, the very colourful and the amazingly ebullient...

Lis:-

"Thanks Paul. Let's see if I can get to grips with this thing then...now, where's me pencil and more importantly me rubber?"

Apley Castle Woods
A beautiful mixed woodland on the outskirts of Wellington, once owned by the famous Charleton family.


Did you know that the Charlton family and Apley Castle were linked with the Royal Courts of England and Powys for over 800 years and is of great historical importance?


Apley Castle was also home to two grand houses with the same name. The first was a 14th century fortified manor and the second; a grand Georgian mansion built 450 years later on a site close by. Both properties belonged to generations of the illustrious Charlton family.

The original castle was built in the early to mid 14th century on the site close to Apley woods. When the building of the Georgian mansion was complete, which was also known as Apley Castle, during the 1790s, the original castle was converted into a stable block. Following the demolition of the second castle in the 1950s, the stable block fell into a state of ruin but can still be seen today.

In the late 1990s the grade II listed building was rescued and sympathetically restored, containing eight dwellings, many including original mid 14th century features.

The woodland as it stands today is in much need of care and management as it has been in decline since the advent of building development in recent years in the surrounding area of Parkland.

The Friends of Apley Castle Park together with Shropshire Wild Life Trust and other like minded individuals are dedicated to carrying out a programme to maintain and enhance the healthy growth of this parkland; thus ensuring the environs, atmosphere, flora & fauna together with the entire ambiance of the area for generations to come..............

WREKIN FOREST VOLUNTEERS "Friday Foray" to Apley Castle Woods 12th December 2008:

The day started with Pete picking up the motley crew as usual and together with a few other members of the Wrekin Forest Volunteers ( who had made their own way to Apley Woods), we joined up with the Friends of Apley Castle Woods and other nature loving enthusiasts.

The programme for the day? To clear the Laurel that was invading the deciduous woodland... and a mammoth task it seemed. But as usual we made our assault on the offending vegetation, armed with loppers, saws and loads of enthusiasm.

Very soon you could finely see the "wood for the Trees" LOL. The Laurel that we had pruned away was collected and ceremoniously burnt on one of our now familiar Bonfires.

At break time we all got our sarnies and flasks out, only to find that Pete had provided hot jacket spuds ( courtesy of the bonfire) Lurpack butter and grated cheese... yummy!

But that wasn't all.....the Friends of Apley Castle Woods set up a trestle table which was quickly laid out with mugs of hot drinks and an even hotter home made chilli & rice .a definite FEAST!

Tummy full and suitably warmed we continued our task, the bonfire crackling away fiercely. All too soon it was 3pm and time to pack up and make our way home; but not before the Friends of Apley Castle Woods has yet again provided nourishment for all the weary volunteers. This time it was hot drinks and chocolate biscuits. A fantastic end to a really great day.

Click the Collage below for more pics

Catch you all soon and thanks Lis for a great post, some of the pics and all the captions!
I know where to come when I need another rest!

Have a great Titmouse y'all and a Happy Roe Deer!