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Any of you who have subscribed to this newsletter understand
the importance that exposure to our natural environment plays in our lives either
for health, leisure or relaxation purposes.
A recently released report by Natural England – Monitoring of Engagement
with the Natural Environment (MENE) highlights the significance access
to the countryside has to a massive percentage of the population. The main findings were that adults in England made
1.3 billion visits to the natural environment for health and exercise reason
between 2013 and 2014 and there has been a significant increase in the
proportion of people that made a visit to the great outdoors in “the previous
week” from 34% in 2009/2010 to 45% in 2013/2015. The report also reveals what economic benefit
our visits to outdoor spaces can bring to an area, in a 5 year period the
report found that £17 Billion was spent as a result of visits to the
countryside…that’s a lot of cake! To
read the full report click MENE Report.
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In a bid to get more people involved with volunteering in
the great outdoors, new branding has been developed for the range of volunteer
opportunities within Outdoor Partnerships. It is hope that a new, fresh look
will encourage new people to join in and get active.
The family of brands come together under the ‘Shropshire’s
Great Outdoors’ banner, which will be the title of a new website currently
under development. The website will replace the Shropshire Walking and Riding
websites, pick up leisure cycling from Travel Shropshire and encourage people
to get out and about in the parks, countryside sites and play areas. It will
also have a section on outdoor volunteering and the aspiration is to bring
together the wide range of opportunities across the county for outdoor
volunteering with a number of different organisations. The website is due to be
completed by the end of June 2015.
These developments are in response to the Volunteer
Development Plan, which has been written following consultation with volunteers
in the autumn.
The weekend Shropshire Hills Shuttle buses motor
back into operation on Saturday 2 May, running every weekend and Bank Holiday
Monday until 4 October. As the name
suggests, the Long Mynd & Stiperstones Shuttle travels from Church Stretton
over the hills to Minsterley and Pontesbury, while Castle Connect links Ludlow
with Knighton, Clun and Bishop’s Castle.
Around 7,000 people travelled on the buses in 2014. The Shuttles are popular with walkers, but are also used for shopping trips, sight-seeing, visiting friends, enjoying pub lunches and as scenic tours. The Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership manages the Shuttle buses and funders include Shropshire Council, National Trust and Natural England. |
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 Emily
Harrison has recently joined Shropshire Outdoor Partnerships as Rights of Way
Officer (Legal Orders & Enforcement), covering mainly the Oswestry and
North Shropshire areas. As part of the
Mapping & Enforcement Team, Emily’s role includes ensuring that the
Definitive Map of Rights of Way is kept up to date and dealing with amendments
to the Definitive Map, as well as carrying out work to protect and enforce the
County’s Rights of Way network ensuring that routes are open and available. Before joining
Shropshire Council, Emily worked in the heritage and tourism sectors; most
recently at Shropshire Tourism and previously for the National Trust. Emily is a keen walker and as someone born
and bred in Shropshire you’ll often find her out enjoying the Shropshire
countryside in her spare time. If you
have a Rights of Way issue you need to discuss she can be contacted
on 01743 255007 or email Emily Harrison.
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This spring we will welcome
a new member of staff to the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership team. The Clun Catchment Officer post is a new part-time
role to lead on the four year River Clun Recovery Project which starts in
April. £360,000 has been secured from the
WREN Biodiversity Action Fund, Woodland Trust and Severn Rivers Trust to improve
freshwater, riparian and small woodland habitats throughout the Clun catchment. Working with landowners in the catchment, the
project will fund practical work to help return the River Clun Special Area of
Conservation (SAC) to favourable condition. The project will also improve,
repair or create areas of existing good river habitat (Recovery Sites) to
provide an in-catchment refuge for critically endangered freshwater pearl
mussels. For more information click on River Clun Recovery Project
Supported by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, Countryside
For All is a free, two day, event which will be held on 30th &
31st March 2015 at Pontesbury Congregational Church. Involving a mixture of workshops, training and
practical exercises at target heritage sites, the event will be of interest to
users of the local Rights of Way network, as well as those who are interested
in local heritage and would like to see improved access to it. The event aims
to provide a greater understanding of different countryside users and their needs; highlight good practice examples of accessible countryside facilities and services and develop ideas on how they might be applied locally; consult partners, plan and prioritise access improvements at target heritage sites.
If you'd like to find out more or are interested in taking part in the course please
contact Joe Penfold at Stiperstones and Corndon Landscape Partnership Scheme to
apply.
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 If you enjoy walking, hiking, trekking or like to find out about a new village or town, or an area you've often wondered about, walking festivals are excellent ways to see the different parts of the country with local guides. These events and festivals are often organised by local people who know the walks and the areas very well and more often than not are non-profit events, meaning the walks are either free or only a small amount of money. You can opt to attend one walk or the full festival or spend a few nights in a B&B and make a great walking holiday out of it and there really will be a walk for everyone.
This year the Shropshire Hills walking festivals and events begin in May with Bishop's Castle and Clun and Ironbridge kicking off proceedings. Why not go along and check them out for yourself and support your local walking festival or visit pastures new? Here is the full list of walking festivals in Shropshire, click the links to find out more about each one.
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A series of charitiy walks are scheduled across the County between now April and September to raise money and awareness for a number of extremely good causes. Places are limited on some of these walks and entrance fees apply so please click on the links below to find out more.
Sat 25th April 2015. Severn Stride
(Severn Hospice) -
Starting at the hospice site in Shrewsbury and finishing at Telford the 17 mile
route will take in some of the most scenic sights that Shropshire has to offer.
 Sat 13th June 2015. Midnight Walk
Telford (Severn Hospice) - The
Midnight Walk has returned to be a women only event where you will start a 7km
circular route at the stroke of midnight. The route this year is brand new and
will explore Wellington, Hadley and Leegomery, but as always you do not need to
worry about where you are going as it is a led walk.
Sat 11th July 2015. Midnight Walk
Shrewsbury (Severn Hospice) -
The Midnight Walk has returned to be a women only event where you will start a
7km circular route at the stroke of midnight. The route this year is brand new
and will explore the surrounding area of Shrewsbury, but as always you do not
need to worry about where you are going as it is a led walk.
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Sat 9th May 2015. Bishops Castle
Round and About Walk (Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research) This beautiful 23 mile circular walk rambles
over the rolling Shropshire hills from Bishops Castle via Offa’s Dyke and the
Shropshire Way to Clun, for a welcome vegetarian hot lunch. It then returns
through the Walcot Estate, Bury Ditches and Oakley Mynd. For the less intrepid,
or those wanting to explore Bishops Castle before or after a shorter walk (10
or 13 miles) transport is provided to and from Clun. |
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Sat 6th June 2015. The Social Network
(Lingen Davies Cancer Fund) -
Join one of the 3 organised events from Princess Royal Hospital to Royal
Shrewsbury Hospital:
18 mile Walk – The old
faithful. Road and path route which appeals to many
18
mile Run – Road and cycle/walk path route for the more energetic
fundraiser
34 mile Cycle Fun Ride – Tarmac roads and cycle paths only, taking in
Ironbridge, Atcham and along the Severn
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If you are looking for something slightly more challenging why not enter one of the 4 Challenge Walks being held across the County. A challenge walk is an organised walking event with a set route and checkpoints on the way round. These are usually at least 25 miles but some offer shorter versions too. Most Challenge Walks have route descriptions to help you find your way. You will find regular checkpoints normally every 5 miles or so where you will be given refreshments and a chance to rest if you need it. Events differ so check what is on offer.
Sat 16th May 2015. Clun Valley
Challenge Walk
Sat 18th July 2015. Wenlock Olympian
Walk
Sat 15th Aug 2015. Bishops Castle
Challenge Walk
3rd & 4th October 2015. The Longmynd Hike
Easter Trail and Egg Hunt
It’s all happening at the Severn Valley Country Park over the next few
months! We’re celebrating Easter with a variety of events for children during the
school holidays. Our self-led trail where the children help Olaf find the Snow
Queen, will be available everyday (28th March-12th April,
Maps £2 each). On 1st April, story time at Severn Valley returns as our
rangers take the children on a journey around our woodlands to reveal the
exciting story of the Snow Queen.
We are bringing Easter egg hunting up-to-date with geocache egg hunts on
3rd April and 10th April. The handheld geocache unit will
guide teams around the park looking for the treasure chests full of special
eggs. Then on Wednesday 8th April, we will be celebrating spring by
making grass heads and a collage to decorate Ethelfleda’s Well.
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Medieval Weapons
On 9th April, we welcome back Tudor
and Medieval re-enactor, Kevin
Goodman for a fascinating look at the weapons and techniques the
Medieval Bowman would use in battle. Kevin will be bringing along an extensive
part of his collection of arrow heads and bows. (Adults £4, Child £2).
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Guided Walks
Our ranger James continues his series
of guided walks around the Severn Valley and beyond. On 15th April he will be
exploring Kinlet Hall and New England, then on 7th May, the Bluebells of
Dudmaston Estate will be the goal of the walk and finally on 10th June, Bowhill
Dingle and Pool Hall will be the main destination. The walks vary from between
6 and 12 miles in length, so they will certainly give you a good work out!
Half Term
May ends with the half term holiday which
will also be filled with children’s events. On 27th May we will be asking
for help to build a wildlife hotel in our woodland and on 29th, we will be
leading a scavenger hunt around the park.
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Outdoor Theatre
We know that summer is upon us when
the outdoor theatre productions begin at the park. On June 19th, we are pleased
to be welcoming Hotbuckle
Productions with a performance of Jane Austen’s ‘Persuasion’.
Hotbuckle are a company local to Shrewsbury and as part of their national tours
regularly perform at the Theatre Severn. (Tickets Adults £12 Concessions £10
Child £6).
Unless otherwise stated, prices for
childrens events are £3.50 per child (adults free). Under 8s must be
accompanied by an adult. For the guided walks Adults £3.50, Children £2.00. For
more information click on SVCP or to book please call 01746 781192.
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The Mapping & Enforcement Team are responsible for ensuring the Definitive Map - the legal record of Public Rights of Way - is up to date and accurate. Any changes to this map can only be made by a legal order which can result in a public inquiry being help if objections are recieved.
Pontesbury
As a result of an application by local people an order was made in August 2013 to add four unrecorded public footpaths to the map in the vicinity of Pontesford and Earl's Hill. Two of these paths were subsequently confirmed and are now recorded on the definitive map. These are;
- a path up the western flank of Earl's Hill known locally as the Craft
- an extension of the above, up to the summit of Earl's Hill and south towards Habberley
Objections were made to the addition of two further paths;
- from the car park, over lower camp, then up through forestry, following a line of larches to a stile at the edge of the woodland.
- a path known locally as The Bulldozer Track, from the car park and along a forestry track around the western side of the hill.
A public inquiry was held in November 2014 but was subsequently adjourned, the inquiry is now to recommence on the 28th & 29th of April 2015 at Pontesbury Public Hall, starting at 10am. An independent Inspector will hear the evidence from supporters and objectors and will issue a decision on the matter at a later date.
To help improve our services we undertake an annual outdoor recreation user satisfaction survey. We'd like to hear from you, even if you don't use Shropshire Council's Rights of Way, parks, play areas or countryside sites.
The survey should only take about 10 minutes of your time, depending on how much detail you give when answering the questions. The online survey is live until the 16th of March so please fill it in if you have a few moments.
If you would like to contact us about any of the ariticles in the newsletter then please send us an email or phone on (01743) 255066.
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