Shropshire Wildlife Trust is inviting people to take part in a signed walk exploring the beautiful border country of the Oswestry hills between seven nature reserves in the area on Sunday April 29.

This is the area that first inspired the Trust to start the Seven Wonders walks, the first three of which took place in 2010 - 2012, before transferring to the Shropshire Hills and the Meres and Mosses landscape, around Ellesmere.

One of the reasons for returning to the Oswestry hills is to celebrate the work of the five-year butterfly project funded by WREN. Most of the nature reserves you will walk through or between today have been designated because of the outstanding diversity of wild plants that flourish on these limestone hills and this in turn, makes them very good for butterflies.

Scarce ones such as pearl-bordered fritillary, small pearl-bordered fritillary, grizzled skipper, dingy skipper and white-letter hairstreak are found here, along with many other commoner species. The Trust is working hard to improve their habitat, with considerable assistance from local volunteers and also from a flock of hardy sheep, which eat the scrubby vegetation that so quickly takes over the flower-rich grassland.

Nature needs space beyond nature reserves and the Trust has been working with more than twenty neighbouring landowners, keen to make their fields butterfly-friendly too.

Walkers can choose a route of seven or 14 miles or a guided two-mile walk. The signed routes are easy to follow with arrows to keep you on track and you can start at a time of your choosing, within the registration periods set out below.

The routes follow public rights of way across rolling farmland between woods, fen, fields and common land, enjoying spectacular views and scenery. Delicious home-made cakes and tea are included in the entry fee. A minibus will transport those walking the seven mile route back to the start. Dogs are welcome but need to be on leads to protect ground-nesting birds from disturbance.

There will be a special two-mile route guided walk led by Gareth Egarr, the Trust’s reserves officer, in a top butterfly area. Entrance fee is £10 for all walks. This is a fund-raising event and all profits will be spent on Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves in the local area.

n Start place and times:

All walks start from Trefonen Village Hall, which will open for registration at 8am.

• Walkers on the 14-mile route need to register between 8am - 10am.

• Walkers on the seven-mile route need to register between 8am - 11am.

• For the two-mile guided walk, register at 1.30pm in Trefonen. From here you will be taken by minibus to the start of the walk, returning afterwards for tea and cake. Advance booking for this route is essential as numbers are limited.