This large hill in the centre of

Oswestry Oswestry ( ; ) is a market town, civil parish and historic railway town in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483 and A495 roads. The town was the administrative headquarters of the Borough of ...

is a area consisting of acid grassland and naturally regenerated areas of woodland and scrub.

Location and surroundings

The site occupies the majority of a knoll which offers views across Oswestry town and the wider Shropshire countryside. For that reason during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

anti-aircraft guns and lookout posts were established on the summit. Along the southern edge of the site there can be found a section of

Wat's Dyke Wat's Dyke ( cy, Clawdd Wat) is a linear earthwork running through the northern Welsh Marches from Basingwerk Abbey on the River Dee estuary, passing east of Oswestry and on to Maesbury in Shropshire, England. It runs generally parallel to ...

, an earth bank structure dating back to the Dark Ages. On the North side, it was surrounded by a vast desolate area of old railway sidings of the

Cambrian Railways The Cambrian Railways owned of track over a large area of mid Wales. The system was an amalgamation of a number of railways that were incorporated in 1864, 1865 and 1904. The Cambrian connected with two larger railways with connections to the ...

' Oswestry Branch Line (closed many years ago) and a huge Victorian engineering works, that has now been converted into a new Health Centre. On the rare occasions when snow falls in the town, it provides the local populace with superb sledging opportunities.

Recent history

Local legend had it that the land was donated to "the

children A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger ...

of Oswestry" by a long-forgotten landlord and as a result of its disputed ownership has proved very difficult to redevelop, despite occupying valuable land just outside the town centre. The site was compulsorily purchased in 2005 by Oswestry Borough Council to ensure it could be managed for wildlife and the quiet recreation of Oswestry residents and visitors alike. Shelf Bank was not left to the children of Oswestry, it was only through the intervention of

Shropshire County Council Shropshire County Council was the county council of the non-metropolitan county of Shropshire in England. History The Council came into its powers under the Local Government Act 1888 on 1 April 1889 and was known as Salop County Council from for ...

staff that the previous owner of the site was finally found and the land purchased for the people of Oswestry. Shelf Bank is now managed by

Shropshire Council Shropshire Council is the local authority of Shropshire (district), Shropshire, in England, comprising the ceremonial county of Shropshire except Telford and Wrekin. It is a Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority, having the powers ...

who succeeded in having it designated a Local nature Reserve in May 2014. A local group, 'The Friends of Shelf Bank' has also been founded and a management plan implemented ensuring this jewel of Oswestry's Green Network is enjoyed for its flourishing biodiversity, its heritage and views for generations to come.

External links

Facebook - Friends of Shelf Bank, Oswestry. * https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Shelf-Bank-Oswestry/557824880939878?fref=ts Shropshire Council Newsroom * https://shropshire.gov.uk/news/2014/05/shelf-bank-becomes-oswestry%E2%80%99s-first-local-nature-reserve/ Hills of Shropshire {{Shropshire-geo-stub