The Best Kept Village & Community Awards aims to develop and highlight a sense of pride amongst local people in Staffordshire . 70% of the judging marks come from the general community spirit amongst its residents, its general maintenance and appearance. This is judged from the entry form and supporting documents which are submitted, and from an in-person visit from the judging team. 30% of the total points available will be awarded for demonstrating inclusivity, year-round : events; clubs; and community cohesion.
Best Kept Village 2026:
LSWA Parish Council have entered the Best Kept Village competion for 2026. Recognising that communities find equal benefit in building community spirit as they do in improving the aesthetics and desirability of the villages, we are aware of the following groups or events:
- Hartley Quiz – A popular ĺocal quiz held every two weeks at the Hartley Arms
- Coach Quiz – A popular quiz held every week in the Coach and Horses
- Wheaton Aston Book Club – A monthly gathering of people who enjoy reading and discussing the topics that arise from the monthly chosen book
- Monday Club – A well attended club for older residents covering a range of activities
- St Mary’s CE First Academy – Beavers and Cubs
- Wheaton Aston Cheese Club – A very well attended meeting held once a month at the Hartley Arms , for people who enjoy Cheese or just a good social gathering, typically you can expect to see and taste between 18 and 35 cheeses each month
- Wheaton Aston Junior Football Club – Restarted just over a year ago by some local volunteers after an absence of 20 years for children of all ages and abilities, after some hard work we now have 4 teams with more planned for next year. Training is well attended with over 40 local children attending each Saturday morning, they also hold 3 Football camps per year where the training is run by Stoke City this regularly attracts over 45 children per session.
- Village Hall Exercise classes – classes held weekly in the village hall for all ages and experience.
- Wheaton Aston Dog Show – Held annually at the Sports and Social Club , this is a very popular event and is very well attended and fun for the whole family. It is run and manned by volunteers and all proceeds go to Birmingham Dogs home.
- Wheaton Aston Carnival – A great event for the whole village , organised by volunteers it has floats from local organisations, stalls , displays in the central ring and also music from various groups.
- Wheaton Aston Harvest Festival Charity Auction – Held annually at the Coach and Horses this ia another very popular event which raises money for local Charities usually in the region of £2,500 raised each year thanks to the generosity of local residents
- Wheaton Aston Scarecrow competition – Annual event organised by a local resident , very well supported and particularly loved by the local children
- Wheaton Aston Beer Festival – A bi- annual event organised and in support of the local PTA, held attended the Sports and Social Club featuring local beers and music from many local acts.
- Christmas Day Charity Fundraiser – Annual event organised by local volunteers who all dress up in Christmas themed costumes and collect money in the Hartley and Coach and Horses for local charities , very well supported by local residents.
- Wheaton Aston Golf Society – Very well supported society enjoyed by all ages and abilities , they hold monthly golf days at different local courses all organised by local volunteers
- Church activities – Various activities including coffee mornings taking place at the local church which take place on a weekly basis, all welcome.
- Open Mic Nights held at both local pubs including monthly at the Coach and Horses
- Badminton Club – Weekly Badminton club taking place at Wheaton Aston School
- Tavern Lane Studios – Multiple clubs held here including Knit and Natter, Photography Club , Metal detecting club and local art exhibitions.
- Wheaton Aston Cricket Club – A friendly, sociable and inclusive cricket club based in the Staffordshire village of Wheaton Aston.
The Parish Council logo shows the Snake’s Head fritillary flower, the only British native fritillary, Fritillaria meleagris (the Snake’s Head fritillary). This flower can be found at Mottey Meadows National Nature Reserve, one of the best examples in the UK of wildflower rich floodplain meadows. The reserve is made up of a series of alluvial flood meadows which have been managed as hay meadows for many centuries. The site is limited to permit holders only apart from guided walks.
Get involved in our Best Kept Village efforts! Wheaton Aston and Lapley are special places to be:
Wheaton Aston QR Code trail. Looking for something free to do in Wheaton Aston with primary school age children? Your adventure starts here:
Lapley BKV Community Spirit entry 2026
70 years of Lapleybkv community entry 2026
Stop 1: Church and Community Garden
There has been a church on the site of St Mary’s Church since at least the 14th Century. The original building (wooden) survived the Great Fire of 1777, which destroyed much of the village. The current stone church was built in 1857 and later extended in 1894. It features Victorian stained glass by the well-known designer Charles Eamer Kempe. The church is still active, hosting regular worship services, community activities like coffee mornings, youth and group events. Facilities include accessible building (ramps, hearing loop, toilets), used for community groups and gatherings.
Children’s Activity: Stained Glass Detective Activity
Your mission:
Look carefully at the stained-glass windows inside the church.
Can you find:
- A person wearing a crown?
- An animal or a bird?
- Bright colours like red, blue, and gold
Think about it:
- What story do you think the window is telling?
- How do the colours make you feel?
Bonus activity for at home:
Draw your favourite stained glass window or design your own!
Stop 2: Jubilee Allotments, Broadholes Lane
The Platinum Jubilee Allotments are a new community space created by the parish council.
- They were redeveloped on Broadholes Lane for local people to grow plants and food
- Opened around summer 2024, with plots for residents to use
- People can grow fruit, vegetables, and flowers on their own plots
- The site includes different plot sizes and raised beds and disabled access.
Children’s Activity:
Think about:
Which fruit or vegetable is your favourite?
Do you know how it grows?
Bonus activity:
Design your own mini garden:
- Draw 3 things you would plant
- Would you grow fruit, vegetables, or flowers?
Stop 3: Mottey Meadows Area.
Mottey Meadows (closed to the public unless via guided walks on permissive paths 1st June to 31st August each year) is a beautiful and ecologically important nature reserve located in Wheaton Aston in Staffordshire. This traditional wildflower meadow that has been carefully preserved. It’s managed to protect rare plants and wildlife that depend on this type of grassland habitat.
It’s especially well known for being one of the best remaining examples of unimproved floodplain meadow in the UK. Please do not pick flowers in this area, we need them to set seeds for next year!
Why it’s special
- Home to the rare snake’s-head fritillary (a distinctive purple-checkered wildflower)
- Rich mix of native wildflowers and grasses
- Supports many insects, especially bees, butterflies, and beetles
- Changes dramatically with the seasons — especially stunning in spring
Wildlife you might see during the open season:
- Butterflies fluttering between flowers
- Bees collecting nectar
- Birds feeding in the grass
- Small mammals hiding in the meadow
How it’s protected
- Managed by volunteer conservation groups to keep it as a traditional hay meadow
- Grass is usually cut only once a year to allow wildflowers to seed
- Protected because similar habitats have become very rare in the UK
Why people visit
- Peaceful walking and nature observation
- Photography, especially during spring bloom
- Learning about rare British wildflower habitats
- Enjoying a quiet, natural space close to the village
In simple terms
Mottey Meadows is like a living flower carpet that changes through the year, full of rare plants and buzzing wildlife — a small but very important piece of natural history that we are very proud of. It is unchanged over the past 70 years.
Children’s Activity: Your mission:
Use the footpath at the end of Fenton House Lane and Broadholes Lane, which will take you to Stop 4. Along the footpath, look closely at the plants, flowers, and wildlife. Please do not pick anything!
Can you find:
- A wildflower to look at (please keep it where it is, it needs to feed bees and set seeds for next year)
- A tall grass swaying in the wind
- Something buzzing or flying (like a bee or butterfly)
- A patch of different coloured flowers
- A plant you don’t recognise
Think about it:
- Why do you think wildflowers grow here instead of crops?
- How many different colours can you see?
- What insects might live in this place?
Bonus activity for later:
Draw your favourite part of a meadow.
This video on minibeasts from BBC Bitesize is useful: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/articles/zxr2ywx
Stop 4: A) St Marys CE First Academy
St Mary’s is the village primary school in Wheaton Aston. It’s a small Church of England school where children aged 3 to 9 learn, play, and grow together.
The school is known for:
- A friendly, close-knit community where everyone knows each other
- Learning based on Christian values like kindness, respect, and friendship
- A mix of classroom learning, creative activities, and outdoor play
- Being right at the heart of village life
Children there take part in lessons, sports, music, and special events throughout the year.
Children’s Activity:
Think about it:
- What do you think a school day might feel like there?
- Why is it important for children to learn together?
- What would your favourite lesson be?
Bonus activity:
Design your dream school:
- What subjects would you teach?
- What would the playground look like?
- What rules would make it a happy place?
STOP 4 B) Marston Road Play Area, Skate Park and Outdoor Gym
The Marston Road Recreation Ground is a fun outdoor space in Wheaton Aston where children, teenagers, and adults can play, exercise, and spend time outside. This area is in the process of being renovated. The parish council and local residents are working together to secure grant funding for new play equipment and a pump track in this space. Recently, the whole community took park in a consultation on the plans, and ideas are starting to come to fruition as an when funding allows.
It includes:
- A skate park for scooters, skateboards, and BMX bikes
- A dedicated dog walking area
- An outdoor gym with equipment for exercise and fitness
- Equipment for staying fitter longer, some of the equipment is designed to support councils and NHS in the area in encouraging people to be active for longer. Balance boards, stairs and a obstacle path can help improve fitness and rehabilitation in older adults, including the potential for use in physiotherapy.
- Open green space for running, games, and relaxing
- Some play equipment for older children. Funding is actively being sought to renovate this play area, and a variety of children and teenagers have offered their views on the equipment they would like to see in this space.
Children’s Activity:
Can you find or imagine:
- Someone riding a scooter, skateboard, or bike
- An exercise machine in the outdoor gym
- A space where you could play a ball game
Think about it:
- Why is it important to have places like this in a village?
- Which part of the park looks like the most fun?
- What rules help keep everyone safe while playing?
It’s a place where lots of different age groups can enjoy being active outdoors. Over the next few years this area will become a hub for outdoor recreation. A running track is planned, along with a pump track so children have an area to safely learn to ride a bike. We are an ambitious community!
Stop 5: Primrose Close Park: Under 10s Play Area
The Primrose Play Area is a small local play space in Wheaton Aston designed for younger children and families. It’s a friendly, open area where children can play outside, meet friends, and enjoy fresh air.
The play area typically includes:
- Equipment for climbing, sliding, and balancing
- Open space for running and games and goal posts
- Seating areas for families and carers to watch and relax
One really important feature is that it includes a PECS communication board (Picture Exchange Communication System), which helps children who may not use speech easily to communicate what they want to do, how they feel, or what they need. This makes the play area more inclusive and accessible for everyone.
Children’s Activity:
Can you spot or think about:
- A piece of play equipment you would like to try
- A place where you could sit and rest
- Something that helps children play safely
- The PECS communication board and how it might be used
- A game you could play with a friend
Think about it:
- Why is it important that everyone can communicate at the play area?
- How does the PECS board help children who don’t use words?
- What makes a play area fun for everyone?
Stop 6: Canal Bridge 18
The Canal Bridge No. 18 is one of the historic bridges that crosses the Shropshire Union Canal near Wheaton Aston.
This type of bridge is part of the canal system built in the 1800s to help boats travel through the countryside. Even today, the canal is still used for narrowboats, walking, cycling, and enjoying nature.
What makes it interesting
- It carries a road over the canal so boats can pass underneath
- It is part of the old industrial canal network that connected towns and cities
- You can often see narrowboats passing through the water below
- It sits in a peaceful, green area full of wildlife and towpath walks
What you might see nearby
- Ducks and swans on the water
- Boats slowly travelling along the canal
- Fish and insects in the water
- Walkers and cyclists on the towpath
Children’s Activity: Canal Bridge Explorer
Your mission:
Stay safe, listen to the adults with you and keep well away from the water’s edge.
Can you find or think about:
- A boat passing under the bridge
- The reflection of the bridge in the water
- Something natural living near the canal (plants, birds, insects)
- The materials the bridge is made from (brick, stone, metal)
- A safe place where people can watch the canal
Think about it:
- Why do bridges like this need to be strong?
- What do you think the canal was used for long ago?
Bonus activity for later:
Design your own canal bridge:
- Would it be high, low, or arched?
- What would go under it? Boats, animals, or something else?
- What pattern or design would you add to it?
Watch the video to learn what it might be like to travel on a narrowb oat.
BBC Bitesize Key Stage 1 Geography
Stop 7: Sports and Social Club
Wheaton Aston Sports & Social Club
The Wheaton Aston Sports & Social Club is a community club where people in the village come together to enjoy sport, social events, and activities.
It is an important local meeting place where different age groups can take part in games, events, and celebrations throughout the year.
What happens there
- Sports activities such as cricket, football, or local matches (depending on the season)
- Community events like quiz nights, celebrations, birthday parties and gatherings
- Social get-togethers where families and friends meet
- Outdoor space for sports and recreation
It’s not just about sport — it’s about bringing the community together.
Children’s Activity:
Can you find or imagine:
- A place where a sports match could be played
- Something people use to watch or cheer (like seating or a clubhouse)
- A game or activity happening indoors or outdoors
- A place where people might eat or drink after a game
- A team getting ready to play
Think about it:
- Why do people join clubs like this?
- What sports or games would you like to see or play there?
- How do clubs help people in a village become friends?
Bonus activity for later:
Design your own sports and social club:
- What sports would you include?
- What events would you hold?
- What would make it a fun place for everyone?
Refreshments Stop A:
The Hartley Arms,
Refreshments Stop B:
The Coach and Horses, Long Street, Wheaton Aston, United Kingdom, ST19 9NP