With our new branding the look of the service may be changing but our priorities remain the same; to improve people’s health and wellbeing and to support local communities to get active outdoors through the management and development of recreational access in Shropshire. The Outdoor Partnerships Team works to maintain and improve the Rights of Way network, Countryside sites, greenspaces and play area of Shropshire.  Below are some of our acheivements over the last 12 months which illustrate the breadth of our activity.

 Rights of Way

• 738 individual improvements made on the network.
• 111 gates replacing stiles to improve accessibility.  These were focused where Walking for health groups needed them and in particular parishes such as Eardington where the change in one location has made a real difference to local availability of easy walking routes.
• Increase in the extent of path surfacing with “in-house” skills and equipment.  An upskilled team is now delivering this type of work at a much lower cost than using contractors.
• Offa’s Dyke National Trail Improvements and 75% funded by Natural England.
• Works successfully completed for the opening of the new 56 mile linear Humphrey Kynaston Way promoted bridleway.

Parish Paths Partnerships

• Group numbers have increased to 62 active groups from 57 at the end of 2013/14, all volunteers are helping Shropshire Council to maintain their local ROW network
• Recorded hours of activity have increased from 6,393 to 6,788, valued at £52,607.
• New groups have been developed in: Clee St Margaret, Llanfair Waterdine, Tong, Stoke-upon-Tern, Bicton, Hopton Castle, Uffington.

Safeguarding the site

In 2013 Shropshire Council signed a 99 year lease to take on the land from Lafarge Aggregates with a view to creating the new reserve.  Led by staff from the Outdoor Partnerships and Natural Environment Teams, the first stage in was to form a community group to help manage the site and through guided walks and public meetings Friends of Eardington Nature Reserve (FENR) was formed and a management plan was then agreed upon.

Funding

A successful grant application to the SITA Fund brought in £20,000 worth of funding and this this money was used to fence off grassland areas to allow grazing, to install a sand martin bank and woodland management work to create glades. Nestboxes were also put up around the site.

One of the projects for the Stiperstones and Corndon Hill Landscape Partnership Project has been delivered by the Rights of Way Maintenance Team. The project was to create improved access to the historic mine workings at Cothercott near Church Pulverbatch. The project involved the creation of a parking area suitable for all and access to the top of the workings for all abilities. The team carried out this work which gives great new access to this interesting area with the help of the local landowner who agreed to the parking area and a new permissive footpath link to the existing rights of way network. This enables people to get to the top of this fascinating area for the first time and also enjoy the fantastic views. The new link also enables walkers to avoid some nasty corners in the road if walking further afield. This work forms part of the team’s new approach to doing commercial work to create income for ROW maintenence outside of their usual path maintenance work.

On 5 July 2011 an application was submitted to Shropshire Council to record a number of well used footpaths, on Earl’s Hill and Pontesford Hill, as Public Rights of Way.  The application was prompted by the sale of the lease on Pontesford Hill by the Forestry Commission.  The land came on the open market in 2010 and the applicants were concerned that access to the paths might be restricted under new ownership.

The application was supported by over fifty evidence of use statements and letters submitted by some of the many users of the route.  They indicated a period of use from the 1940’s to the present day.

Two of the paths affected land which is in freehold ownership of Shropshire Wildlife Trust.  Although there were initially objections to the addition of those particular paths the objections were subsequently withdrawn so the Council was able to confirm the addition of these paths.  The new leaseholder of Pontesford Hill objected to the addition of the two remaining paths, one over Lower Fort and along the line of iconic larches described by Mary Webb, and the other a forestry path known locally as the ‘Bulldozer Track’.

Due to objections having been made the matter had to be determined by an independent Planning Inspector.  An inquiry was held in November 2014, where many people attended to recount their usage of the routes.  This was subsequently adjourned after 3 days and was due to reconvene in April 2015.

The objector and leaseholder of Pontesford Hill had made it apparent at the Inquiry of his intentions to sell the leasehold.

In December 2014 the Friends of Pontesford Hill launched a campaign to raise funds to purchase the leasehold of Pontesford Hill and the sale was completed days before the planned reopening of the inquiry.  The Shropshire Wildlife Trust had agreed to dedicate the disputed paths as Public Rights of Way once they had the legal power to do so. The Council prepared the documents and obtained the required signature within hours of the sale being completed.

After being informed of the sale and path dedications, the Planning Inspectorate consulted all interested parties and concluded that the sensible course of action was to close the inquiry since the paths were already recorded on the Definitive Map. The routes are now protected for future generations to use and enjoy.

For more information about the Community purchase of the Hill click here.

Working with Shropshire Wildlife Trust, the AONB Partnership is helping local primary school children and teachers to take up the John Muir Award challenge. The Award encourages connection with and enjoyment and care for the natural environment. Rushbury School is the latest to take up the challenge. They have chosen Wenlock Edge, the Millichope Estate and Rushbury village as their ‘wild places’ and bases for outdoor activities. Over the coming months the children will explore and learn more about these sites, and develop a sense of place, confidence and capacity to care for them. Norbury Primary School is one of five other schools to have taken part in the Award. Head Teacher, Les Ball, sums up the experience “The children have been inspired by the enthusiasm which Cath brings to help to develop their understanding, respect and love of our beautiful landscape.” For more information please contact Cath Landles, Community Officer on 01588 674084.