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Dropping Well Farm

1,437 bytes added, 14:22, 18 April 2022
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'''Droppingwells Farm''' or '''Dropping Well Farm''' lies south of the railway between [[Bewdley Tunnel]] and [[Bewdley]] on the former [[Kidderminster Loop Line]]. It is situated opposite [[Devil's Spittleful (Rifle Range) Bridge | The Devil's Spittleful]]a short way east of the area now known as "[[Safari Park|Safari Park curve]]". The farm field next to the line is operated commonly used by J & W.E. Willets Ltdphotographers and was formerly home to a small private airstrip.
Dropping Well Farm is operated by J & W.E. Willets Ltd.<ref>[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07324074 J & W.E. Willets Ltd. On Companies House]</ref> The farm is also sometimes referred to as '''Droppingwells Farm''', while old Ordnance Survey maps also showed the name as "Droppingwell Farm".
 
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Loop Line map.jpg | 1903 OS Map of the Loop Line including 'Droppingwell Farm'
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==Worcestershire Wildlife Trust==
In 2020 95 acres at Dropping Well Farm were purchased by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation through their Land Purchase Fund on behalf of the '''Worcestershire Wildlife Trust''' (WWT), with the intention to restore heathland and connect with The Devil's Spittleful and Blackstone Farm Fields nature reserves and Wyre Forest District Council's Rifle Range and Burlish Top nature reserves.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-54619198 'Plans to create 'largest heathland habitat' in Worcestershire, BBC, 21 October 2020] (Retrieved 22 October 2020)</ref>
Bewdley_International_Airport_20150725.jpg | The runway at Bewdley International Airport in 2015
Bewdley_International_Airport_20210417.jpg|The same view in April 2021
Bewdley_International_Airport_20160514.jpg| The hangars seen from the railway in 2016
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Dropping Well Farm may be accessed via the B4195 out of Bewdley towards the A456. A right turn immediately after the pedestrian crossing, before the roundabout leads to the small car park of the Blackstone Picnic Site. Once parked, cross the road and follow the lane in the Kidderminster direction (sign posted as a cycle way). After passing below the underbridge of the old [[Stourport Branch]], follow the track to the left. When a fork is reached, bear left towards the [[Devil's Spittleful (Rifle Range) Bridge]] (there is no longer any public access from the track to the right which leads to the 'hangars' and the farm itself). Just before the bridge is a large gate and small pedestrian gate on the right. An area about 30 yards wide adjacent to the line is still accessible. Another gate next to the signal allows access to the top of the field for 'long distance' views of the line. The walk from the car park to the top of the field takes around 20 minutes.
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Dropping_Well_Farm_20220413.jpg|New fencing and access gate (2022). Rifle Range Bridge is to the left.
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For those preferring to reach the top of the field from Gould Avenue and the Burlish Top Nature Reserve, access is still possible via another small pedestrian gate in the new fence, although the path leading down to it is not maintained and {{As of|2022|04|lc="y"}} is obstructed by a fallen tree.
Lat. & Long. coordinates; 52.367587, -2.282182 [https://goo.gl/maps/ZXRiRjEQWt92 View location on Google Maps] <br>
Ordnance Survey Grid Reference; SO 806744 [https://binged.it/2BSRfTS View location on an OS map]
 
===Gallery===
Photos taken at Dropping Well Farm:
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GNR_1744_20120325.jpg|GNR 1744 (2012 Spring Gala)
60019_20120325.jpg | 60019 Bittern (2012 Spring Gala)
92214_20141213.jpg | 92214 (2014 Santa services)
34027_20161204.jpg | 34027 Taw Valley (2016 Santa services)
7714_20170326.jpg |7714 (2017 Footplate Experience)
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==See also==
*[[From The Window]]
==References==
*[https://www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk/heathland-hero Worcestershire Wildlife Trust: Dropping Well Farm]
*[https://www.airports4xp.info/airports/XEG3DW Airports4xp website]
*[https://www.ukairfieldguide.net/airfields/Bewdley Airfield Guide] [[Category:Featured articles]]
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