Go West in the Teme Valley

Go West specialises in creating new and exciting ways of sharing local history and heritage. With funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund local volunteers have researched and created a series of interconnected activities for visitors to the Teme Valley countryside. They include:

A Food and Heritage Car Trail from Worcester to Tenbury Wells.

The trail comes with an accompanying audio so its it's like having your own personal guide to take you to view points and stopping places and give you the lo down on some of the hidden secrets of this, little known, area. (A special version for coaches is available on request) The journey is a just over 30 miles long, it can be completed in a day but it may be better to divide the trail into sections and build in some walking, a visit to a farm shop and lunch in a pub.

The story starts in Worcester, outside the Cathedral and overlooking the River Severn. It's a good idea, especially if you intend to join the trail somewhere other than Worcester, to listen to the introduction and the first few tracks before setting off. Then when you are ready put the CD into your car sound system and follow the instructions. You be taken to ancient churches in tiny villages and hamlets; they mostly date from Norman times and have changed little over the centuries. Inside the churches in Cotheridge, Broadwas on Teme, Martley, Shelsley Walsh, Stockton-on-Teme and Lindridge you will see a blue audio listening post, switch on (it's free but donations are always welcome) and listen to the story of the church and its parish over the centuries. Each parish has continued its story outside in the surrounding countryside with a short circular heritage walk.

The six Parish Heritage Walks are from one to five miles in length and they start at the church, each one has its own audio commentary. En route families can be Heritage Detectives and attempt one of the all age Heritage Quests - if successful they can join the growing Fellowship of Arthur's Teme Valley Heritage Knights.

Information about these activities and others is available on the project web site www.temevalley.org.uk. Maps, quest sheets and general information can be downloaded free of charge. Audio CDs are all £7 each and available from local Tourist Information Centres or by Mail Order (£8), details on the web site. Heritage Quests, based on local history can be adapted for schools and other groups of children Years 5-7 please contact: gowestinfo@uwclub.net for details.