Friends Of The Maypole

04/06/2026

Bewdley Carnival’s raffle is live! 👏🏻Entries close 27th June 2026 16.45. There’s fabulous prizes on offer & it’s very easy to enter!

🎉 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 — 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗭𝗘 𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗥𝗔𝗙𝗙𝗟𝗘! 🎉

🏰 We’re thrilled to announce that a 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗩𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 has just been added to our raffle prize lineup! 100 thank you’s to Hartlebury Castle for their support!

🦒 Don’t forget our incredible prizes already up for grabs:

🥇 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 — Win a night at a 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝗟𝗼𝗱𝗴𝗲!

🦁 Get up close with White Lions or Hippos!
🎡 Plus more amazing prizes too!

🎟 Tickets are on sale NOW — don’t miss your chance to win!

👉 Enter here: www.bewdleycarnival.co.uk/raffle

⭐ Every ticket supports Bewdley Carnival’s 𝟭𝟬𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 celebrations — Fireworks on 26th June & Carnival Day on 27th June 2026! ⭐

2026 proudly sponsored by Light Ideas West Midlands Safari Park Wyre Forest District Council

🎪 Bewdley Carnival 1926–2026 🎪

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📋 𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗦 & 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦
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✅ Entrants must be aged 16 or over
⏰ Entries close 27th June 2026 at 16:45
💳 Card payments available online only at www.bewdleycarnival.co.uk/raffle
🎪 Cash & card payments accepted at the Bewdley Carnival tent on the day
🎰 This raffle is operated under UK Small Society Lottery regulations

26/05/2026

A whole year since our campaign was highlighted by ITV’s Central News and we are progressing steadily with almost 1,300 followers! Please continue to share FOTM are extremely grateful for any support provided 🥰

Catch us on ITV Central News at 6pm TONIGHT!

14/05/2026

A year ago we posted our very first post and what an incredible year it has been.

So much has been achieved with more to come, but none of this would have been possible without YOU, everyone of you who have supported and continue to support us in securing The Maypole for the community.

We know quiet times are tough, but things are still moving forward, your patience and support is never taken for granted, so thank you 😍

Community Call - Please share and follow this page!

You may be aware that Maypole Hill has been put up for sale, we are a small group of locals who want to raise funds to buy the Maypole, then establish a charity and hold it in trust for the people of Bewdley, keeping this fantastic piece of nature in the heart of our community forever, with no chance of anyone building on it.

We have been in touch with the landowner and expected a bit more time before it went to market, however, here we are.

There are few lots for sale but the lot containing the Maypole Piece (Lot 1 in the link below) is £300,000; stamp duty land tax will be an additional £4,500 and there will be legal fees.

This sounds a lot but it is achievable, if 1000 people gave £350, or 3,500 people gave £100 we could do this.

In fact any donations would get us close to the target.

We will be looking to crowdfund this, but we need to meet as a committee to plan this, doing it this way means that if we are unsuccessful funds are returned to any donors and donations are protected.

We are also working out some basic logistics, but trust us we will be working flat out to ensure we have the best chance to secure this important piece of land.

All updates will be shared through this page so please share it as much as you can - the more people supporting this, the better chance we have.

We understand that there is a lot of local passion for the Maypole, that many believe it should have been left to the people of Bewdley, however we have looked into this and the easiest and most effective way of securing the land is to buy it and make it into a Charitable Trust.

We ask, whilst we get things sorted, that all queries, offers of help and other comments are sent to our email:

[email protected]

We simply don’t have the number of people at this stage to respond on Facebook to what we imagine is going to be a very hot topic, but we can dedicate time to answering emails.

Thank you for reading and let’s get the Maypole to where it should be, the heart of the community.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E147&radius=0.25&displayPropertyType=land_development&rent.x=Sale&search=For+Sale

12/05/2026

A great opportunity to see some spectacular views of Bewdley and towards The Maypole.

Save the date!
Bank holiday Monday, 25th May, 2026.
Come and see the bells and climb to the top of the tower* to enjoy views over Bewdley 🤩 (*weather permitting).

10/05/2026

Just 30 minutes to email 👍

If you live in or love Bewdley, this is the final opportunity to share your views on how the town’s historic character should be protected and managed in future.

Your feedback on the Conservation Area Character Appraisal can help shape:
1️⃣ What features matter most to local people
2️⃣ How change is approached
3️⃣ How Bewdley keeps its character as it evolves

🕔 Consultation closes at 5pm today (Sunday 10 May)
👉 Take part here: https://orlo.uk/otZi2

Find out more about the appraisal and why it matters 👇
https://orlo.uk/F6BRr

09/05/2026

🌿Friends of the Maypole supporters 🌿
Deadline 5pm Sunday 10th May!!!!

Wyre Forest District Council has now published the draft Bewdley Conservation Area Character Appraisal, and we are very pleased to see Maypole Piece recognised within the document as an important part of Bewdley’s historic landscape and setting.

The draft appraisal refers to Maypole Piece in sections:
* 4.1(a)
* 4.3
* 4.8(c)
* 4.16(c)
* 4.17(n)

The consultation is an opportunity for local people to submit positive and constructive comments supporting:
* The recognition of Maypole Piece within the appraisal
* The inclusion of the whole of Maypole Piece within the Conservation Area boundary
* The addition to section 4.7 of the historic footpath linking Kidderminster Road and Stourport Road, including the folly bridge from Major Webb’s Spring Grove Estate and views towards the Severn Valley Railway bridge

Possible points supporters may wish to mention include:
* The importance of Maypole Piece as a green gateway into Bewdley
* Its contribution to the town’s historic setting and character
* The value of preserving important open views and landscapes
* The historical significance of the footpath and surrounding heritage features
* The importance of considering the whole of Maypole Piece as one connected historic landscape

If you choose to comment, please keep responses polite, balanced and focused on the heritage and environmental importance of the area. Friends of the Maypole remains committed to working positively with all parties and continuing constructive dialogue about the future of the land.

Every thoughtful submission helps demonstrate how much this special place means to the community 💚

️➡️➡️➡️ https://www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/planning-and-buildings/conservation-areas-and-listed-buildings/what-is-a-conservation-area/conservation-areas-in-wyre-forest/bewdley-2026/

This appraisal concerns the Bewdley Conservation Area, located in the town of Bewdley, Worcestershire. The Conservation Area was first designated in 1968 and subsequently reviewed in 1976. It extends across approximately 42.8 hectares (105.7 acres) and includes the town centre, adjoining residential...

30/04/2026

Let’s Create a Green & Blue Block at Bewdley Carnival!
The Bewdley Carnival 100th procession is one of the most family oriented and visible events in our local
calendar—a celebration of community, creativity, and shared identity. This year, Wyre Forest Green
Alliance has a wonderful opportunity to make a vibrant, positive statement by coming together as a “Blue
and Green Block” within the parade.
Building on What’s Already Happening
We already know that several groups will be taking part in the river-themed (blue) section of the procession
through the amazing efforts of C.A.R.P. That’s fantastic—and it gives us a natural starting point.
The idea is simple:
Those already involved in river and water themes form the “Blue” part
Others—local groups, campaigners, and individuals—join behind as a “Green” wave
Together, we create a flowing, eye-catching block celebrating nature, climate awareness, biodiversity, and
our local environment. As a representative of Friends of the Maypole the community driven local group
trying to save a environmentally and historically important piece of land I will be there, ideally dressed as a
bee - bizarrely an ambition of mine!
A Walking Float – Simple, Inclusive, Effective
Rather than a traditional vehicle float, this would be a walking float—easy to organise and open to
everyone.
Participants could:
Dress in green or blue outfits
Come as trees, rivers, wildlife, flowers, pollinators, or ecosystems
Carry banners or signs representing their group or cause
Use simple props—fabric, leaves, recycled materials—to create a shared visual impact
This approach keeps things:
Low-cost
Accessible
Creative and fun
A Chance to Showcase Our Local Groups
This is also a brilliant opportunity for member organisations to:
Raise awareness of their work
Attract new volunteers and supporters
Show solidarity across environmental efforts
Each group can bring a banner, but the overall effect will be strongest if we move together as a unified
“Green and Blue” presence
Why It Matters
At a time when environmental issues can feel overwhelming, this is a chance to:
Share a hopeful, positive message
Celebrate the beauty of our local natural world
Show that many voices in Wyre Forest care deeply about nature and climate
And importantly—it will look fantastic.
Get Involved
Whether you’re part of an organisation or just an individual who cares, you’re warmly invited to join.
You could:
Walk with us
Help organise
Bring friends and family
Get creative with costumes or props
Let’s make this a colourful, joyful expression of environmental action in our community.
Together, We Make an Impact
By coming together in a Green and Blue Block, we can turn a fun community event into something more—a
visible celebration of nature and a shared commitment to protecting it and hopefully attract new members to
all our causes!
Let’s make it happen.
If you are up for it, please contact Sarah Frost on [email protected] or 07958 704409

25/04/2026

Nobody knows Bewdley better than the people who call it home. That's exactly why we want to hear from you.

We've drafted a Conservation Area Character Appraisal — a document that shapes how the town's historic environment is protected and planned for in the years ahead.

Your views could influence what gets preserved, what changes, and how Bewdley grows while staying true to itself. Have your say by 5pm Sunday, 10 May 2026: 👉 https://orlo.uk/VK30g

Read more: https://orlo.uk/n30xw

25/04/2026

However you spend the weekend we hope that you manage to enjoy the sunshine and countryside we are blessed with!
Please continue to share our group as we endeavour to bring the Maypole back into our community.

16/04/2026

Lots of fruit trees growing on the Maypole, I imagine from discarded apple cores! Lots of blossom means lots of bees and we need bees 🐝