Bosses at an historic hotel in Shropshire are calling for donations of old walking equipment so unprepared guests can still enjoy the county’s beautiful walks.

Anyone with spare or unused walking boots, umbrellas, anoraks or any other walking equipment is being asked to drop them off at The Buckatree Hall Hotel at the foot of the Wrekin.

They will hold a trunk of equipment for visitors to use and will ask them to donate money to charity each time they do.

General manager Wayne Jenson said: “We have plenty of guests who don’t realise we are so near one of the UK’s best walking attractions.

“Or they have simply come as part of a longer holiday and are unprepared to go exploring.

“We want to be able to help these people explore the beauty of The Wrekin and other Shropshire walks, but also help a worthwhile cause.
“As we launch the project we will be asking those who use the equipment to give a small donation to Lawley Primary School’s bid to become a solar powered school.

“As a nearby school trying to help the environment we think it is a great cause which will enable our visitors to enjoy the environment.”
Carol Mcquiggin, headteacher at the school in Arleston Lane, said this project was a huge boost for their fundraising campaign.

She said: “We are dedicated to making a difference to our surroundings and we are so pleased that staff at The Buckatree Hall Hotel have recognised that this is a worthwhile cause.
“We are one of only 20 schools nationally that has been selected to take part in the Solar School project and we need to raise £18,344 by December.

“So far we have raised almost £2,000 so this extra fundraising from The Buckatree will definitely help.

“Our year six pupils spend five days on and around the Wrekin studying for the John Muir award each year so it is great to have this official link.

“We want to become a self-sustainable school with a reduced carbon footprint. The energy generated will also raise funds for our school, which we can use to buy resources.”

Mr Jenson has put the first pair of walking boots into the trunk himself and hopes people will search through cupboards, boxes and under beds to see if they have anything which could be donated to help raising money.

He added: “This will be an ongoing thing, the trunk will be pride of place in our reception and hopefully it will make a difference to visitors and Lawley Primary School.

“It may even be able to help fund other projects at the school or other worthwhile causes as the years go on.

“People who stay here will be able to walk out of the hotel and up the Ercall or the Wrekin and see so much more of Shropshire than they otherwise would have.

“We will need a variety of clothes in different sizes so I encourage anyone to donate anything they can.”

The hotel, which pioneered the #whythatwalk campaign on Twitter during English Tourism Week last month, aims to make the most of it’s idyllic location.

After winning the tourism award at the Shropshire Business Awards last year, bosses have been even more determined to increase the profile of Shropshire on the tourism map.

To donate equipment visit the hotel at the foot of The Wrekin or to find out more visit the websitewww.buckatreehallhotel.com, email  sales@buckatreehallhotel.com, call (01952) 641821, search for Buckatree Hall Hotel on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @buckatreehall.

For more infomration about the Solar School project or to donate directly visit www.solarschools.org.uk/lawleyprimary.