04/05/2026
The Quarry is, without question, the jewel in the crown of Shrewsbury, and one of the most important assets in the care of Shrewsbury Town Council.
Over recent months, through our routine management and reports, it has become clear that a number of elements within the park will require attention in the years ahead.
Some infrastructure is ageing and will need renovation, a number of trees are reaching the end of their natural life and will need careful replacement, and there are ongoing issues around riverbank erosion and the impact of flooding, particularly on facilities such as the splash park and public conveniences.
None of this is unexpected in a historic park of this scale and significance, but it does underline the need for proper long-term planning. I have always believed that challenges like this are best faced head on, rather than ignored, particularly where such an important public space is concerned.
Before committing any significant public money, we felt it was entirely right to begin by asking residents and regular users of The Quarry for their views. It is everyone’s park, but it is the Town Council’s responsibility to look after it properly, and its future should be shaped with the community.
I very much enjoy being the councillor for the Town Centre and representing a place where The Quarry is almost like the back garden, but it is important to recognise that this is a space used and valued by people from right across Shrewsbury and beyond.
We are very proud to carry forward the Percy Thrower tradition at the Town Council. In The Di**le, we still use plant clippings from his era, and that sense of care and continuity remains central to how we manage The Quarry today. At the same time, it is sensible to draw on specialist expertise where required.
To support this work, we are working with local firms, with Camlin’s alongside Berry’s and BCHN Architects. Together they bring experience in landscape, heritage, planning and arboriculture to help inform a new Conservation Management Plan. While we maintain The Quarry in-house to a high standard day to day, a park of this importance benefits from that additional technical input when planning for the future.
A good recent example of this approach is the restoration of the original Victorian gates. They now look excellent, but as listed structures it is not something we could have delivered without the right expertise alongside us, which Shuker led on.
We decided to theme this year’s Annual Town Meeting (which historically can pass without much notice) around the future of The Quarry. It was encouraging to see a busy Guildhall and to have a thoughtful discussion with residents on a range of issues.
This included questions such as where people spend their time in The Quarry, what they value most about it, how safe it feels, how it works for families, access and movement around the park, the balance between formal planting and a more natural character, how we respond to flooding, and the role of events and facilities going forward.
These are exactly the things we want to hear more about; what works well, what could be improved, and what people would like to see in the future.
A huge thank you to everyone who came along and contributed. There will be many more opportunities to take part over the coming months, and we will be out over the summer to speak with residents directly.
We are fortunate custodians of a remarkable place. This work is about taking the time now to plan properly, so that The Quarry can continue to be enjoyed, in the way people value it today, for many years to come.
