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Bicton & Oxon WI hosts the SFWI 2024 Spring Ramble
Bicton & Oxon Walking Group
In 2021 Bicton & Oxon WI started monthly walks of various lengths and over various terrains under the leadership of member Kandis, a keen walker.
The walks are very popular and members of varying abilities are able to get involved as we alternate monthly between easy and more challenging walks. We also now have a speedwalking group in Quarry Park on different weekends in the month for the really keen.
In 2023 Kandis – now known as ‘Coach’ Kandis – became a member of Shropshire Federation’s Sports & Leisure team and suggested to the rest of us that we host the SFWI Spring Ramble in 2024, our centenary year. Of course we agreed, and there started several months of ideas, meetings, more meetings and more ideas. More importantly, routes around the village and surrounding area were mapped out and intrepid groups of walkers went exploring – through a very wet winter and spring. Paths became streams and very muddy tracks…...But there was some fun too!
The planning starts
Meanwhile, the troops were rallied to support the day. Many members volunteered to steward the walks, bake cakes and scones, make sandwiches and generally help on the day. Tanya created a wonderful logo for the walking group, and we had personalised tee-shirts made so we stood out!
We planned a long walk of around 8 miles and a shorter walk of around 4 miles [see the route maps in the gallery at the end of the article]. Our team of walkers started checking out the routes and terrain back in February, which was the fourth wettest February since 1871! To say it was muddy is an understatement – our walkers waded at times. Despite that they enjoyed their walks – and finding coffee at The Coppice was a bonus! Then again in March separate recces for the short and long walks with a few very muddy puddles to contend with. Finally, April came, and our ladies strode out again, this time coming home for the first time without wet feet!
A couple of days in advance, a few walkers re-checked the long route – now thankfully almost completely dried out – clearing brambles and hawthorn, and hanging green hearts in trees to mark the route.
The big day
The weather forecast for the day had been changing on an almost daily basis over the previous two weeks, but we woke up to a dry, sunny day. By midday the skies were clear, there was hardly any wind and it was neither too hot nor too cold – perfect walking weather, in fact! And it stayed like that for the rest of the day.
Originally, around 80 WI members from across the county signed up, but on the day we had 29 for the long walk, and 31 for the short walk. On registration, everyone had the chance of a hot drink and one of the 100 pieces of homemade flapjack. Then it was the final roll call, safety checks and off!
While the walkers set off, we were busy back at the village hall catering for a full afternoon tea for 100. Some made sandwiches, others set the tables with beautiful cloths, crockery, cake stands and flower arrangements. Cakes had been baked and were cut into portions, dozens of homemade scones were paired with jam and cream.
The walks covered many points of interest around our village, including the site of the original Bicton Church, now in ruins. The River Severn was thankfully not in flood as on previous walks!
On the long walk, we stopped for a 10-minute break on the meadows with views across the river to Berwick House – a Grade II listed Georgian-Victorian manor that has been in the same family for six generations. The long walk also passed a 550-year-old tree known as The Darwin Oak. 
More than 100,000 people have signed a petition to save it as it is one of nine large trees due to be felled to make way for Shrewsbury's North West Relief Road. This will provide a new road linking the northern and western parts of Shrewsbury, creating a complete ring road and including a new viaduct over the River Severn and its flood plain. It is a controversial scheme, but, 40 years after the first proposal was made, planning permission has now been granted with construction due to start in 2025.
The long walk actually ended up at 7.35 miles as when we got to the 5-mile point in Bicton Lane, ramblers could have gone straight back to the hall – but everyone agreed to continue on to the beautiful route down to the river. So, we all followed the lane for a little way, then another part of the Shropshire Way, before following a Motocross trail on private land*. This took us to a lovely view of the river and of a farmer ploughing backwards and forwards in the sunshine on the other side of the Severn while a swan swam serenly downstream.
Again, at the 6-mile point ramblers had the choice to carry on for 2 more miles or to turn around and walk back a mile to the Village Hall. This time we were all in agreement that we were more than ready for our cream tea so turned around sharpish and headed uphill, then ambled up the lane and back through the village for much needed sustenance!
On the short walk we could see the Isle estate and house in the distance. Set in a bow of the River Severn the house dates from 1450 and is currently run by Edward Tate and his family as a B&B. Several ramblers remembered the wonderful Federation visit there a couple of years ago. The walks finished in the village passing Holy Trinity Bicton church which is Grade-II listed with its clock which is dedicated as a War Memorial.
The walkers were led and followed by our members as stewards, and everyone enjoyed the views and the wildlife. At one point a very friendly sheep was keen to join the walk! Participants enjoyed talking to each other along the way and WI activities were compared and ideas swapped.
Back at the hall, a wonderful afternoon tea was waiting, served by our members. Plenty of time to relax, chat and enjoy home-baked goodies before heading home!
We all really enjoyed our recces together and will miss it – even the bramble wood and muddy lane – but we’ll continue with our monthly walks under the guidance of Coach Kandis!
*Thanks to Matt Egerton for permission to walk on his land on the long walk.
Extra pictures
We had so many great pictures from the day that we couldn't fit them all into the article above, so here they are:
The long walk with mile markers.
Map of the short walk
Registration before the walk
Have a cup of tea and one of our flapjacks before you start your walk!
This solitary sheep was determined to join us on our walks!
Queuing up to cross a style on the Short Walk
This lovely old oak tree - recently named the 'Darwin Oak' - will be felled, along with 36 other mature trees, if the North West Relief Road is built.
I wonder who put this swing up?
Kitchen helpers
Nearly ready for the walkers' return
Short Walk walkers' tea finished. Now let's get ready for the return of the Long Walk ramblers.
The ramblers from the Short Walk seated at tables in the Hall enjoying their post-walk afternoon tea.
The helpers got to have some delicious afternoon tea, too.
We were so pleased to have such wonderful feedback:
Bayston Hill WI – we were blessed with sunshine today for Bicton & Oxon WI ramble, which was followed by a delicious afternoon tea.
Pant WI – I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in today’s ramble.
We had a fabulous time and the organisation was impeccable - and the refreshments afterwards were the icing on the cake and very unexpected. It was our first time doing a ramble and I gather it was your first too - well done! Please pass thanks on to all involved. Best wishes with your 100 anniversary celebrations. PS how did you arrange such brilliant weather?
Lyneal cum Colemere WI – we enjoyed a wonderful walk this afternoon on the County Walk. Thank you to each and every one of you, these things are never done without everyone being involved. The tea was superb and quite the best that we have ever had after a walk and believe you us we have been on plenty. However you managed to organise the weather as well, Heaven only knows but thank you.
Harmer Hill WI – If this was the start of your centenary celebrations I want to be there for the end!!!It was a fabulous afternoon. You were all so pleasant and thoughtful. The walk was great and we were certainly blessed with beautiful weather. Thanks once again Bicton & Oxon WI. The afternoon tea rounded it off perfectly.
Pitchcroft & Church Aston WI – fabulous day for the Spring Ramble, 4 ladies from thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Wonderful afternoon tea. Congratulations and big thank you to the ladies of Bicton & Oxon WI for fantastic organisation - even the weather, power of the WI.
Personal messages:
– Thank you to Bicton and Oxon WI for organising the super walk and the weather today and providing a super afternoon tea waiting for us on our arrival back at the village hall. I’m sure there were a few anxious moments about conditions and weather but it all came good on the day.
– It was such a lovely day, thank you Bicton and Oxon WI you made us very welcome, all your hard work paid off, a super walk and delicious tea.