The current team is: chair Dag Saunders; secretary Naomi Wrighton; treasurer Malcolm Skelton; publication secretary Anne Suffolk; champion organiser Pam Hill; minutes secretary Yvonne Chetwood; committee Katrina Baker ,Tink Brasenell
Contact email: info@telfordt5050miletrail.org.uk
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The original team was: de facto chair Dag Saunders; de facto secretary and treasurer Naomi Wrighton; de facto publication secretary Anne Suffolk; Eve Clevenger; Jim Cox; Paula Doherty; and Pam Hill.
We formed the Friends of the Telford T50 50 Mile Trail in 2019 with the above team, minus Eve, but with both Chas Kay as treasurer and Jean Escott added to the committee.
Jim sadly died in 2020. At the 2020 AGM Jean resigned, but Paul Kalinauckas and Malcolm Skelton joined the committee.
At the 2021 AGM Paula resigned.
Other past committeemembers include Nadine Evans, Helen King and Tim Riggot​
ABOUT US :
The Friends of the T50 50 Mile Trail committee
About the original team
The Telford T50 50 Mile Trail is a 50 mile circular route around Telford created to celebrate Telford's 50th anniversary. This green trail was developed by a consortium containing volunteer members of Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival , Marches Long Distance Walking Association, Telford and East Shropshire Ramblers, Telford Harriers, Walking for Health- Telford and Wrekin and Wellington Walkers are Welcome.
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Why a new trail?
We believe that what was so special about the building of Telford New Town was that the development plan ensured a green network of hedgerows, canals, meadows, and other open spaces were retained, together with old heritage sites such as ruined blast furnaces. It also allowed for old industrial sites and slag heaps to be reclaimed by nature. This was so that wildlife and people could live together in close harmony, and part of the nation's historic industrial heritage could be preserved for future generations. It was a vision and achievement that won international recognition, pioneering the way forward for others to follow in Telford's footsteps; we feel this important legacy should be especially celebrated on the Town's 50th anniversary.
Linking communities and green spaces
It is possible to use this green network of footpaths to walk from one part of Telford to all others. These beautiful open spaces have long been known to local walkers and walking groups but this is a precious resource that belongs to everyone to enjoy. The route passes through most of the significant open spaces in Telford. Starting and finishing in the Telford Town Park , it is bounded by Coalport in the South, The Wrekin in the West, and Lilleshall Hill in the North and East.
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You can read, download and print a leaflet about the T50 50 Mile Trail here.
It has succeeded in ways that we did not envisaged at the start and we are proud of our achievement and of the money raised for good causes by our users.
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The Telford Coronation Walks
In 2023 we applied for, and received, another grant , this time from the King's Coronation Celebration Fund, to establish 23 (for 2023) short circular walks all over Telford. Full details of the walks can be found here. For this project we went beyond our core team to use other local expertise, all of our helpers were volunteers,
We are very grateful to our original sponsors. The Telford T50 Legacy Fund enabled the Trail to be supported with an Information Board in The Town Park and with other resources including this website. EnviroGrant run by Veolia working in partnership with Telford and Wrekin Council's Pride in Our Community Programme, paid for the Trail to be waymarked. As above, we waymarked the Telford Coronation Walks, thanks to the King's Coronation Celebration Fund, we also used a grant from Telford and Wrekin Council's Green Spaces are Go fund to provide 2 kissing gates to replace stiles and to introduce people to our routes. We are now financially self supporting , including maintaining and developing the website and publicity materials (which are entirely designed and managed by our volunteers) , due to the sale of our guide books- again an entirely voluntary effort. We are now able to give back to the community by funding, or part funding, kissing gates at strategic points on the trail and on the Telford Coronation Walks. In providing these gates, and in developing our routes, we are very appreciative of the support from Telford and Wrekin Council, in particular from the Public Rights of Way officers.
