Opening up the Attingham Estate

Visitors walking along an accessible path — Fun for everyone on multi-use outdoor paths | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

We have identified an area of the estate that we plan to open up to to provide more access to the outdoors for walking, cycling and other outdoor activities. This identified outdoor activity area will be in a separate part of the estate to the current area visitors access.

The Attingham Estate

Annual visitor figures reached over 540,000 in 2019 and are projected to reach over 1 million by 2030. The estate is a ‘green lung’ between the towns of Telford and Shrewsbury.

The wider estate is around 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) in size and includes woodland, parkland, tenanted farms and farmland, and properties. Like all great country estates Attingham’s land has always played a vital role in providing food for the table, fuel for the fire, and income for the estate. Now more than ever it has a vital role in providing access to green spaces for the communities of Shropshire.

A growing need for green space

The need for accessible green space has never been greater. Despite the rural nature of much of the county of Shropshire, very little is publicly accessible land for people to be active in, and to connect with nature.

By working together with tenants, partners and local communities we’re planning to open up more of the estate to provide opportunities to explore Attingham in new ways. We're also working very closely with our farm tenants to ensure their farms are sustainable for the future.

Outdoors walking group | © National Trust Images/ Trevor Ray Hart

'84 per cent of people in Shropshire do not have adequate access to green spaces.'

Accessible Green Space Standards, Natural England.

Conservation and accessibility

The National Trust protects and cares for places so people and nature can thrive. Nature, history and beauty are for everyone, we look after the places in our care to ensure that everyone can benefit.

The area identified for the new site is currently designated as mainly ‘brownfield’ land, which has previously had a commercial or industrial purpose. It is also a historically interesting landscape for visitors to see and explore, being on the edge of Wroxeter and with a history from the iron age to the present day.

Almost all of the land identified is flat, suitable for the creation of multi-use trails.

Conservation and sustainability are at the forefront of our plans to open up more access to the Attingham Estate, creating more green space ‘for public benefit’ in line with the wishes of Thomas, 8th Lord Berwick who left the Estate to the National Trust in 1947.

Woodland spaces | © National Trust/ Jayne Gough

Our work will be environmentally sustainable, using renewable energy and materials when developments are undertaken, and working towards ‘net zero carbon’.

As our plans progress we’ll update this page with more information. If you’d like to get in touch with us about our plans please email attingham@nationaltrust.org.uk

Project Timeline

2022

Consultation Survey

Early planning began for opening up access to this part of the estate. We started to share and consult on our plans with estate tenants, local communities, parish councils and the local authority through Shrewsbury Town Council.

A survey to gather feedback on nature, culture and activities was completed in July/August 2022. Thank you to all those who submitted feedback.

We continued to meet with community groups in Shrewsbury and Telford to run workshops and get to know what people would like to see at the new site. This is part of our mission to ensure the site is accessible, inclusive and exciting for local audiences.