A mountainous effort by pupils to help buy Pontesford Hill
School staff and pupils have formed part of a community's latest effort to raise £265,000 to buy a hill.
About 800 students and staff from Mary Webb School, Pontesbury Primary School and Severndale at Mary Webb took part in a sponsored walk to help raise money to buy Pontesford Hill.
The schools are hoping to raise £10,000 to help reach the target of £265,000 which is needed to secure the purchase jointly with Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Friends of Pontesford Hill.
The walk took place around and over Pontesford and Earls Hill on Wednesday. Jane Halliday, from Mary Webb School, said: "The hill and surrounding area is well used by Mary Webb School in curriculum studies and during curriculum days, so it was felt that it was important for the school to help support the purchase. It is also well used by the local community and the general public have access to the whole area making it ideal for walking in the beautiful Shropshire Hills.
"As you can imagine, it is quite an organisational feat arranging 800 students to take part in the walk. It really is a whole community effort and a very proud day for all those who took part."
Shropshire Wildlife Trust has agreed to buy Pontesford Hill, at Pontesbury, from current owner Simon Hutchen for £265,000. The Friends of Pontesford Hill want help to raise the remaining £102,000 they need to seal the deal. The hill has been at the centre of a dispute over rights of way.
