Anthea Bond and Helen Mansell have very kindly, and at short notice, arranged another walk for us all: 

Tuesday, 27 July 2021, 10.00am   NSNTA Walk:  Two waterways of Stoke-on-Trent The recent walks arranged by Richard Adams have been very popular with NSNTA walkers.  Normally we do not have events during July and August but, as we have spent many months at home in lockdown, it has been decided to arrange more walks, even before the next newsletter. 

The walk on 1 June took a route along the Caldon canal, then at Etruria crossed to the Trent and Mersey canal.  Near Stoke station, we took a path to the River Trent passing through the nature reserve where work has been done to improve the river for wildlife.  A heron basking in the sun flew away as soon as it saw us arrive.  The walk ended at Hanley Park Pavilion.

The next walk will also be along waterways.  We start close to the Hanford roundabout, where the A500 crosses the A34.  Turning south along the A34, pass the Esso garage, then immediately turn left up Church Lane.  Roadside parking is available in the first turning on the left, Clermont Avenue, and we shall meet on the corner of Clermont Avenue and Church Lane, near Hanford Manor Care Home, ST4 4QD. Please be there for a 10.00am start.

We shall begin by walking up the steep Church Lane to Primrose Hill and the Hanford Hills. Planning permission has been granted for 500 new homes on these fields. 

A rough path down to the Trent and Mersey Canal crosses the flood plain which has already been built on, the boardwalk should keep us out of the mud.  We walk north for a couple of miles along the canal, passing old pottery buildings and the incinerator.  At the bridge for Stoke, we cross the A500 and pause at Stoke Minster to see the grave of Josiah Wedgwood, 1730-1795.  He was the instigator of the Trent and Mersey Canal in 1777 for the safe transport of his ceramics. 

Leaving the town, we shall walk along to the River Trent, a little south of where we walked on 1 June.

We shall be able to see more of the work being done to improve the riverbanks, making them more varied and suitable as habitats for wildlife.  Funding for these works, £3.6 million, is from the European Regional Development Fund in a project known as SUNRISE, Stoke and Urban Newcastle Rediscovering Its Secret Environment.  More details are on www.erdf-sunrise.co.uk

Onwards then along the river path to the Hanford Roundabout, where the river goes under the A34, we pass the Esso garage which sells coffee and snacks.  We shall walk back up Church Lane to our starting point on the corner of Clermont Avenue.  Further along Clermont Avenue is a grassy bank where we could sit with picnics. 

The buses 21, 22 and 101 pass our meeting point, all run half-hourly.  The walk will last at least 2 hours. It is about six miles, and there are no stiles. Donations to the Association are again voluntary. 

Please register your interest by email to: antheabond@hotmail.com or contact Helen Mansell on 07866 352927.