Heritage Open Day for Shrewsbury Flaxmill.

LRS project, Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings is moving closer to completion with an open day.

Yesterday, the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings Instagram page posted an image. The site is almost completely clear of scaffolding, with all of the rubble removed.

Visitors will be able to explore the Maltings at the heritage open day next month.

An exhibition in the Dye House will be part of this year’s New Wave programme for Heritage Open Days 2021.

There will also be an interactive mystery trail uncovering the lost pubs of the Mill area.

Heritage Open Days (HODs) is England’s largest festival of history and culture, with thousands of volunteers across the country organising events every September.

New Wave is a training programme which takes a small cohort of participants through a structured programme focused on working with young adults.

The open day will be held on Saturday, September 18. Visit heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting for more information.

Wildlife Habitats

The Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings is also encouraging new and existing species of wildlife to thrive after creating wildlife habitats around the site.

Over 30 new trees have been planted by Historic England, as part of the landscaping for the Railway Triangle, as well as shrubs along the boundary between the houses and the path that borders the Flaxmill Maltings.

Nick Hill, National Conservation Projects Manager, Historic England said: “We were delighted to receive funding from Shropshire Wildlife Trust via its EU funded Freshwater First Programme to create wildlife habitats around the Flaxmill Maltings site.

“Now more than ever we need to create spaces where wildlife can thrive. The trees will form a green backdrop to an improved pedestrian and cycle path and provide a habitat for birds and insects, including bees and butterflies.”

Bat House

An additional, timber-clad building has been created for the Flaxmill Maltings bats to move into and roost in. The bat house has two habitats; one simulates an attic and the other has cellar-like conditions to make the bats feel at home.

There are four roosting bat species on site: the rare Lesser Horseshoe, the Common Pipistrelle, the Soprano Pipistrelle and the Brown Long-eared bat.

There will also be a landscaped green corridor for tenants and visitors to enjoy once the site is open. The green space will be approximately 10 metres wide and around 220 metres long, running alongside the former Shrewsbury and Newport Canal.

 Nick Hill, National Conservation Projects Manager, Historic England said:

“We were delighted to receive funding from Shropshire Wildlife Trust via its EU funded Freshwater First Programme to create wildlife habitats around the Flaxmill Maltings site.

“Now more than ever we need to create spaces where wildlife can thrive. The trees will form a green backdrop to an improved pedestrian and cycle path and provide a habitat for birds and insects, including bees and butterflies.”