News & Updates

Regular readers of Rural Review will recall that from time to time reports come in from Barkers Green of interesting moths attracted to a mercury vapour lamp. Sadly this will be the last time of reporting appearances of these nocturnal creatures. Each year something...

Wem Rural Parish Council’s friendly Community Drop-In sessions are still taking place at Edstaston Village Hall—but now on a new regular day! New Date: First Monday of every monthWhere: Edstaston Village HallTime: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon To make things even more...

The UK is in the process of switching from the traditional analogue landline telephone network (known as the Public Switched Telephone Network or PSTN) to a new digital service. This national switchover is planned to be completed by the end of 2025. While many people...

Wem Rural Parish Council is currently carrying out a Business Audit Survey to gain a better understanding of the range, needs, and challenges of local businesses across the parish – and we’d love to hear from you. Whether you work from home, own a small business, or...

Wem Rural Parish Council was pleased to take part in the Big Green Day on Saturday 7th June, hosted by Wem Area Climate Action (WACA) on Jubilee Square. It was a fun, hands-on day filled with environmental education, community spirit, and plenty of muddy fingers!...

Wem Rural Parish Council is delighted to announce the allocation of £4,987 in community grants to a variety of local groups and projects in 2025. These grants support initiatives that enhance community facilities, promote wellbeing, and maintain cherished local...

Helen Morgan warned that poor public transport links are holding back the economy and “driving deep and fundamental inequality” as she urged the Labour government to “transform opportunities” for people in rural areas. The North Shropshire MP was speaking during a...

Helen Morgan MP is urging people with telecare devices and those in signal blackspot to contact their landline provider ahead of the analogue network being shut down. The North Shropshire MP is the Chair of a cross-party group of Parliamentarians which has been...

Wem Rural Parish Council is proud to support The Big Green Day on Saturday 7th June, a free and family-friendly event celebrating nature, creativity, and community action on the environment. Running from 10am to 1pm in Jubilee Square, Wem, this special event is being...

Organised by Wem Area Climate Action (WACA) Wem Rural Parish Council is pleased to support a fantastic local event organised by Wem Area Climate Action (WACA) – a friendly, hands-on opportunity to repair, reuse and reduce waste. Got something broken? Don’t bin it –...

Wem Rural Parish Council was delighted to support a fantastic International Women’s Day celebration, bringing together over 35 women-led businesses, inspiring talks, creative workshops, and a full day of activities. The event highlighted the incredible talent,...

Spring is the perfect time to give our local area a fresh start, and we’re inviting everyone to join us for a community clean-up event! This is your chance to roll up your sleeves, make a difference, and spend quality time with neighbours while sprucing up our streets...

Shropshire residents are being encouraged to consider making a difference and stand to become a parish councillor in their local community as nominations open for this year’s parish elections on 1st May. Councillor Ray Wickson (Chairman of the Shropshire Association...

Women remain underrepresented at all levels of political decision-making. Following the 2024 election, women made up 40% of MPs—the highest proportion ever. At a local level, Wem Rural Parish Council has 4 women out of 11 councillors (36%). While this is above the...

Wem Rural Parish Council is committed to supporting local community groups, including financial assistance where possible. Each year, the Council invites applications for its Community Grants Scheme, with deadlines published in the Rural Review. At the January Parish...

As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, we want to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of encouraging women to participate in local democracy. With local elections approaching in May, this is a crucial time to ensure women’s voices are heard and...

Following the success of the first Wem Rural Parish Council Community Drop-In in January, we’re delighted to invite residents to the next session at Edstaston Village Hall. These friendly gatherings, held on the third Wednesday of every month, offer a warm and...

Spring is the perfect time for a fresh start, and what better way to give our local area a little love than by taking part in the Great British Spring Clean? We’re calling on volunteers to roll up their sleeves and help keep Wem looking its best. Date: Saturday 5th...

Wem Rural Parish Council is pleased to announce that we have recently donated 100 snap bands to Newtown Primary School to help ensure the safety of the children during the darker months. These snap bands, which are brightly reflective, will help make the children more...

Wem Rural Parish Council is excited to announce a fabulous addition to our International Women’s Day celebrations: a free Burlesque basics workshop led by the talented BellaTrix Burlesque. Join us for this empowering session, designed to help you embrace your...

Are you passionate about your community and want to help shape its future? The upcoming local elections on 1 May 2025 offer a fantastic opportunity for you to make a real difference as a Parish Councillor for Wem Rural Parish. Parish Councillors come in all shapes and...

We are delighted to announce that the incredible Sian Brennan-Todd will be returnng for International Women’s Day, where she will not only share her inspiring thoughts on empowerment but also host the event! Sian Brennan-Todd will be kicking off our International...

January saw the first of Wem Rural Parish Council’s monthly community drop-ins at Edstaston Village Hall. These sessions, held on the third Monday of every month, provide a welcoming space for residents to connect, access support, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and...

Preparations have started for International Women’s Day 2025, taking place on Saturday, 8 March to celebrate the achievements of local women in our community.   If you’re a woman running a business and would like to take part, we’d love to have you join us! You...

Wem Rural Parish Council is delighted to announce monthly community drop-ins at Edstaston Village Hall. Held on the first Monday of every month from 10 am to 12 noon, these events aim to bring residents together while providing access to vital support services. Why It...

As winter approaches, it's the perfect time to start getting your home and garden ready for the colder months. Whether it's ensuring your home stays warm, preparing your garden to support wildlife, or managing local flooding risks, there are many simple steps you can...

Wem Rural Parish Council is offering a free First Aid and CPR Course in partnership with St John's Ambulance on Tuesday, 26th November 2024, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Edstaston Village Hall. This invaluable course will teach participants essential life-saving skills,...

Wem Town Council and Wem Rural Parish Council have teamed up to host a special Christmas Business Networking Event, offering local businesses the perfect opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen relationships in a festive atmosphere. The event will take...

Hundreds of people flocked to Wem Town Hall on Friday 11th October 2024 for the highly anticipated Health and Wellbeing Fair, where they had the opportunity to meet with various organisations and community groups dedicated to improving health and wellbeing. The event...

Wem Rural Parish Council is excited to announce the return of International Women’s Day, following the success of last year’s event, which was North Shropshire’s first and only celebration of this global initiative. Last year’s event brought together local women for a...

Most of us seem to be experiencing the glorious British weather at the moment. Did you know? Vehicle stopping distances are at least double in wet weather. There is a lot of surface water currently on the roads, reduce your speed and keep your distance from the...

The Autumn issue of the Rural Review is now available to read online here. The 8 page newsletter has been delivered to every household in the parish and includes latest information on telephone poles, the recent business event, who is responsible for pathways, events...

Are you worried about your memory? Supporting someone with a dementia diagnosis? Have questions? Talk to a trained Dementia Link Worker to get free advice and information. Find out more about local dementia support services in Shropshire. Every 4th Tuesday of the...

Householders wanting to have their garden waste bins emptied after 1 October [2024] can subscribe to Shropshire Council’s garden waste service. A 12-month subscription costs £56 per bin and will cover the period 1 October to 30 September. Garden waste collections will...

Readers of Rural Review may recall in earlier editions, there have been reports of some interesting moths that have been attracted to a light trap in Barkers Green – Small Eggar, Clifden Nonpareil, and Cinnabar. However, this year’s weather hasn’t been good for moth...

The churchyard is award-winning, and there is a new burial ground donated for community use. The churchyard is regularly maintained, and a £400 grant from the Wem Rural Parish Council, received earlier in 2024, was gratefully accepted to support this upkeep. The...

Speed limits are often treated as targets rather than guidelines, especially on rural roads where the speed limit might be as high as 60mph. However, just because a road allows for higher speeds doesn’t mean that drivers should always aim to reach them—especially when...

The Chapel Lane Junction to B5063 Junction in Northwood is scheduled to be closed on 13th September. This is to renew a defective pole and cabling activities on behalf of Openreach. The notice permit is BC418LBWF5FN26W-01, for the road closure on CHAPEL LANE JUNCTION...

Well at least age six, according to Miri of Barkers Green. She has already appeared on Midlands Today and Radio Shropshire, her mission is to “stop people littering”. She was originally inspired by a children’s programme ‘Octonauts’ about a team of underwater...

Multevo Ltd, on behalf of Shropshire Council, are planning to return to the B5065 Soulton Road, Wem to complete outstanding works that were previously missed due to unforeseen circumstances. These works will be completed with a Road Closure in place for one evening on...

There are still places available at clubs, particularly those in the south of the county and some in Shrewsbury. HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) really want to fill all the places available and help ensure some of our most vulnerable children and young people in...

Councillor Britton, who successfully participates in the speed watch campaign, along with Councillor Morgan, a resident of Tilley, recently visited the Tilley Raven to share with local residents how the speed watch program works to help combat speeding in the village....

The Clerk at Wem Rural Parish Council recently had the pleasure of visiting the local Men in Sheds group in Whitchurch and witnessed a fantastic community initiative dedicated to reducing loneliness and promoting well-being. A Warm Welcome The motto of Men in Sheds is...

Wem Rural Parish Council is working with West Mercia Police to help prevent crime and are making several information sheets for you to download. You can download these Information Sheets here. Please do share them with your neighbours, family and friends to help keep...

Residents in Shropshire were asked to submit their views on garden waste and household recycling centres. consultation earlier this year. Shropshire Council received 18,000 responses and on the17th July it was agreed by the Cabinet to introduce an annual charge of £56...

Community pharmacies are offering more services and trying to help take the pressure off GP services. These include ‘Pharmacy First’ which provides consultation services and the supply of appropriate medicines for 7 common conditions including earache, sore throat,...

On 29th June, a  touching service was held at St Peter and St Paul Church, drawing attendees from both Wem and Wem Rural. The event was a moving tribute to the deep and enduring connections between the military and North Shropshire, a region with a long history of...

One of the most important jobs on the calendar for parish smallholders and farmers was making hay. The Art of drying long meadow grass when the time was right at the end of June or start of July when goodness was hopefully just right in the grass and weather was on...

The Annual Shropshire Great Outdoors Survey gathers information about how people access the great outdoors in Shropshire. The survey is led by The Shropshire Outdoor Partnerships Service; the part of Shropshire Council that maintains and develops recreational access,...

The proposed bridge works which will require the closure of Thistleford Bridge which carries a “C classified” road over the River Roden The work is proposed to start on the 1st July 2024 for 2 days. The works will involve repairs to the upstream parapet and approach...

The Shropshire Carers Support Team has put together a summer wellness guide (attached) so you have information at your fingertips. Download and / or print off the guide for advice on how to keep safe and well during the summer – includes handy links to various...

The Great Big Green week is the UK’s biggest ever celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature and communities are invited to take part. Wem Rural Parish Council in partnership with Wem Town Council and Wem Area Climate Action are...

We would like to make you aware of upcoming / planned surface dressing works on the B5476 This site has been identified via a combination of local engineering judgment and asset management data as needing essential maintenance. The site forms part of a countywide...

WhatsApp group chat members are being warned they could be targeted by criminals, as Action Fraud reveals it has received 636 reports from victims of the messaging app this year. The fraud often begins when a member of the group receives a WhatsApp audio call from the...

West Mercia Police are sadly beginning to receive calls of dogs left locked in vehicles.  With the weather getting warmer please think about leaving your beloved pet at home. Many people think it's ok to leave their dog in the car if they're parked in the shade or the...

Wem Rural Parish Council presented a cheque to the North Salop Wheelers Community Bus at their Volunteers Event in order to help deliver much-needed transport in and around the parish. The event was at the Grocutt Heritage Centre in Prees where refreshments were...

Shropshire Fostering celebrates Foster Care Fortnight 2024 To celebrate Foster Care Fortnight (13 to 26 May 2024), Shropshire Fostering is holding a series of events across the county to encourage more people to consider fostering. Foster Care Fortnight is the UK's...

Several Parish Councillors attended Wem Youth Club this evening to present a cheque to talk to young people about their priorities for the parish. The council agreed to donate money to help them buy new sports equipment. We then spent the evening talking about their...

Many thanks to everyone that responded to the fundraising campaign on Spacehive to fund the printing of walking guides and waymarkers. The £1,634  needed was raised by local residents, Shrophshire Council and Wem Rural Parish Council. Wem Rural Parish Council are...

Wem Rural Parish Council in partnership with Wem Area Climate Action (WACA) Forum, Wem Town Council and Save our Shropshire, are hosting a Climate Conversation. The event will take place at Jubiliee Square in Wem on Saturday 15th June from 10am-12noon. There will be a...