The Rea Brook and its valley run east and south from the centre of Shrewsbury town, this corridor of countryside can be accessed from many places along its route including Sutton Farm, Meole Brace, the Shirehall, and Shrewsbury Abbey.
A map showing parks and countryside sites can be found via the link on this page.
Rea Brook Valley Circular Walk
There is a circular walk leaflet available to download on this page which guides you through this tranquil corridor starting at Abbey Foregate.
Rea Brook Valley with its status as a Local Nature Reserve has gained national recognition of its importance as a haven for wildlife and a place for people to enjoy.
The valley is a green corridor from the open countryside right into the heart of Shrewsbury town. Its landscape has been shaped over centuries and is managed to conserve its wealth of wildlife, and provide opportunities for quiet recreation.
The embankments and tunnels of the disused Severn Railway Line are still visible in the Valley. Woodland has developed on the steep sides of the embankments and the railway is now a cycle track.
The Parks and countryside sites team aims to maintain and enhance the landscape and wildlife value of the Valley. This can be done by bringing the ancient meadows into traditional grassland management regimes, conserving existing wetland habitats such as the old mill leat system and creating new meadow, wetland and woodland habitats in areas currently of low wildlife interest.