Volunteers have been busy installing wooden barriers on top of The Wrekin to repair damage to Shropshire’s most heavily visited ancient monument.

The earthwork ramparts of the 2,500-year-old hillfort have been eaten away by countless walkers and mountain bikers.

And a three-year action plan has now begun to prevent the historic remains becoming a victim of their own popularity.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Raby Estate, which owns and cares for the hillfort, are working in partnership under a management plan approved by English Heritage.

Pete Lambert, the trust’s Wrekin Forest Project manager, said: “Over the past week a combined workforce from the Raby Estate woodland team and Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s Wrekin Forest Volunteers installed wooden barriers to direct visitors to the hillfort away from badly eroded areas to help them recover.

Healthy

“The best way to conserve the earthworks is to keep a healthy grassy covering.

“Later this year the group will be repairing gulley erosion on the ramparts and re-seeding with the characteristic heather, bilberry and hill grasses found on the summit of The Wrekin. The hillfort is a scheduled ancient monument.”

People keen to join the work can contact Mr Lambert on (01743) 284285.

Meanwhile, the planning inquiry into UK Coal’s bid to extract 900,000 tonnes of coal from Huntington Lane near the foot of The Wrekin resumes on Wednesday at Grays Hotel in Telford Town Centre.

UK Coal witnesses will be giving evidence for the rest of the week on issues including ecology, cultural heritage, transport, hydrology and air quality.

Public objectors, including local residents and retired GP and clean air campaigner Dr Dick van Steenis, will have their say on May 19, with a further public session on May 21.

Telford & Wrekin Council, which is leading the opposition, is due to call its main evidence on noise issues on May 20.

UK Coal says a mine would create 92 jobs, boost the local economy, provide a low-sulphur fuel for Ironbridge Power Station and help meet growing demand in Britain for home-produced coal instead of Russian imports.

It says it has a successful record of restoring mine sites and claims Huntington Lane, much of which is derelict, would be substantially improved after the three-year mining programme.

It disputes objectors’ claims that dust, noise and lorries would cause disruption and a health risk to people living nearby.

Telford & Wrekin Council claims that a mine would cause years of misery for residents and harm precious countryside, including part of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It says footpaths would have to be diverted, taking walkers right next to the mining crater, which would be visible from the top of The Wrekin.

By Peter Johnson