Hello All and welcome to the Autumn edition of Shropshire Council's Outdoor Partnership newsletter where you can find out the latest news of what's happening in Shropshire's Great Outdoors.
It is a fact that local government is changing across the
whole Country. A planned response has been under consideration for some time with fundamental questions being asked
about what public services should look like in the future.
The inevitability is that local government will have to stop and/or
reduce delivering some services, particularly those services that are not
social care and waste collection. The
authority is planning a “Big Conversation” where members of the public will be
asked about what services they value. This will be carried out through a series of public meetings and
online surveys to gauge people’s feelings. Information on how you can get
involved and make your views count will be made available when the
consultations take place. Please take this opportunity to think about the
services which are important to you and the wider Shropshire community and get involved.
Shropshire has over 5,500km of Public Rights of Way (PROW)
these are defined as routes over which the public have the right to pass and
re-pass and they fall into four categories known as Footpaths, Bridleways,
Restricted Byways and Byways Open to all Traffic (BOAT). All are protected by law under the provisions
of the Highways Act 1980 (predominantly) and other relevant legislation. Both landowners/occupiers of land crossed by
PROWs and the Council have responsibilities to keep these routes open and
accessible to the public but how exactly are these duties distributed?
Landowners/Occupiers of land crossed
by PROW are responsible for:
Unlawful Obstructions –
These are anything which substantially prevent the public from any free access
over the whole of the route and it is the responsibility of the
landowner/occupier to avoid putting obstructions on or across the route. Examples of obstructions are; permanent or
temporary fences, walls, hedgerows, padlocked gates or barbed wire. This also includes vegetation which
encroaches onto the route from the sides or above. Obstructing a PROW is a
criminal offence. The Council has a
duty to ensure that routes are free of any obstruction. If it is not removed the Council can remove
the obstruction and recover the costs from the landowner.
Ploughing and
Cropping – Landowners/ occupiers must ensure that field edge PROWs,
Restricted Byways and BOATs are not ploughed.
Footpaths and bridleways which cross fields can, however, be ploughed
but must be reinstated and clearly apparent on the ground with a surface which is
reasonably convenient for public usage, not obstructed by crops and has the minimum
defined width which applies to each
different category of PROW or to the width within the Definitive Statement.
Structures for Access
– Where there is furniture such as stiles and gates these must be
maintained by the landowner/occupier so they are safe and easy to use.
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The Council is responsible for:
The Definitive Map
and Statement - This is the legal record of PROW in Shropshire and the Council has a duty to ensure the map is kept up to date and
accurate.
Surface of a PROW – In
the main the Council is responsible for ensuring that the surface of a PROW is
in a suitable condition for the status of route. It is an offence to interfere with the
surface to the detriment of the user, authorisation from the Council is required by landowners/occupiers if any alteration to the surface is to be made..
Vegetation, which is not considered a crop, and grows from
the surface of the PROW is also the responsibility of the Council and should be
cleared if it is impeding the ease of use for the public.
Bridges - Footpaths
or bridleways which pass over bridges are generally the responsibility of the
Council to maintain, although there
are some exceptions where bridges cross canals or railways or where they are
privately maintained by reasons of tenure.
Fingerposting/signposting
- Where a footpath, bridleway or byway leaves a metalled (tarmac) road the
Council has a duty to erect and maintain signposts.
Enforcement - In
order to ensure that the PROW network is open and available the Council has various powers of enforcement. This is normally carried out after previous
attempts to resolve matters through negotiation with the landowner have been unsuccessful. The Council exercise these powers under
the Highways Act 1980 or by prosecution in the Magistrates Court. The
most common enforcement actions are to remove obstructions and to ensure routes
are reinstated after being ploughed or cropped.
For more information on Rights of Way Law click here
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Shropshire’s
beautiful countryside is one of its greatest assets and trees, woodlands, and
hedgerows make a significant contribution to this. Equally trees can add
character and beauty to the built environment, enhancing rural villages and
larger towns alike. Shropshire Council
recognises the many and diverse benefits of trees and woodlands and encourages
their appropriate planting and sustainable management. Our Community Tree Scheme is one way in which we support tree planting in Shropshire. It enables parish tree wardens, schools, environmentaland community groups, Parish and Town Councils, farmers and landowners to apply for native trees and shrubs free of charge. In fact the scheme is open to anyone who wants to plant trees in a location where they will be readily visible to the public and enhance the landscape and character of the area.
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How does it work? It couldn’t be
simpler. You ask us for the trees you want using the online form or by post if preferred. The scheme operates on a first come first served basis and when our allocation of trees has
been reached we will close the scheme; so early applications stand a better
chance. We will inform all successful applicants and confirm when they can pick
their trees up from their chosen collection point. (One of 5 locations around
the County—more details on the application form).
What is included? The trees that
we supply are usually small bare-rooted transplants, between 20 and 90cm tall. Rabbit
spirals and bamboo canes can also be included to help protect against damage from rabbits and
field voles, which could otherwise eat the foliage and gnaw the stems of the young trees.
How many trees can I have? Due to the
popularity of the scheme, there is a maximum number of 100 trees per applicant. Although it is a
'tree' scheme, you can also apply for very short lengths of native countryside
hedging (for 'gapping up' or linking hedges and other habitats). There is a
maximum of 60 hedgerow transplants per applicant. Applications must also include at least
one tree to grow on as a ‘standard’ within the planted hedgerow.
For further information on the scheme and how to apply click here.
The summer months are the
team’s busiest for annual vegetation cutting, alongside all of our volunteers
who help us out with this vital and extensive task. The team have cleared
over 30 kilometres of priority paths which need either mowing, strimming or overhead and side
clearance. Some need all of the above! Thanks must also go out to our
volunteers who have cleared many more Kilometres of path. We have trained over 20 volunteers to use a
brushcutter so far this year.
We do lots of other work besides
the need to clear vegetation at this time of year, making improvements and
repairs all over the County. In addition to the stile replacement
programme that we reported on in previous issues in Eardington Parish, the team
have also replaced 21 stiles with gates in neighbouring Chelmarsh Parish plus two
bridges and waymarking. This is in support of the local Walking for
Health Group and to support the local economy. The friendlier the network
is to visitors, the more they will come and spend money in the local
businesses. It is hoped to link the improvements in Eardington and Chelmarsh
with the new Nature Reserve in Eardington, the Severn Way and promote new
walking opportunities in the area.
Another big task completed recently was the repair and clearance of the popular Byway at 5 Turnings in
Clun. Both 4x4 and agricultural use, alongside some drainage issues, meant
that this route was becoming difficult for all users. With the assistance
of the local landowners and a contractor as well as the team who cleared all of
the overgrowth, the lane is now better drained, surfaced and open and available
for all to use. This work was completed in time for the Clun Valley
Challenge walk which passes along the byway.
As autumn approaches the
pressure on vegetation clearance will reduce and the team will look to other
work such as furniture replacement, surfacing and all of the other tasks that
need doing.
Richard Knight – Rights of Way
Team Leader – Sept 2015
The Stiperstones and Corndon Landscape Partnership
Project approached the team about improving old stiles and
difficult paths ready for two new circular walks they will soon be promoting.
One of these routes is 6.6 miles starting at Wentnor,
across to
Linley Beeches and Linley Hill returning from here through Gravenor to Wentnor.
The route links various businesses such
as the two pubs at Wentnor, a camp site, and the bed and breakfast at Norbury. It provides a walk through a stunning part of
the Shropshire Hills including a notable ancient Yew tree at Norbury church and
the distinctive line of the Linley Beeches stretching high up Linley Hill. Access has been made easier along the route
with 7 old stiles being replaced with kissing gates, 3 new stiles, 6 stile
repairs, 4 fingerposts, extra waymarking and a
sleeper bridge are included in the recent work. Special thanks to Bishops Castle P3,
Shrewsbury Ramblers P3 and the Shropshire Wild team for carrying out large
parts of the work.
The second circular walk of 7.5 miles links Stiperstones
village in a large loop with the villages and hamlets of Bentlawnt, Hope and
Hopesgate, two Pubs, two village shops and two impressive Nature Reserves. The impressive
hills at Bromlow Callow and the Stiperstones are a short way further for the
energetic to explore if they wish. Just
like the first walk there are many impressive views and landscapes visited. On
this route 5 old stiles have been changed for kissing gates, with many other
improvements to waymarking , drainage and existing gates and stiles. The
Pontesbury P3 group and Shropshire Wild Team have been indispensable with their
assistance.
It has been fantastic that many landowners along the way
have seen the benefit the walks could bring to the local area and agreed to the
improvements, some are looking to let cottages and provide other accommodation
to visitors. Leaflets and more
information on the walks will be available from the Stiperstones and Corndon
Landscape Partnership Project soon.
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Visitors to the Mere in Ellesmere are delighted with our new
attraction, the Bee Metropolis, which stands near 12 foot tall, set within wild
flower meadows. Adjacent to this is a carved arm chair which was made from the same tree
stump as the bee metropolis and carved by Outdoor Partnership’s Tom
Llewellyn.
The wood for this living sculpture came from the felling of
three beech trees in this area of the Mere and the desire to see the wood
recycled as a home for solitary bees and other deadwood species. Contractors built the ‘hive’ of wood and volunteers drilled hundreds
of holes for the bees to use.
The idea for the bee came when Trudy Graham from the
Ellesmere Sculpture Initiative.
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Local artist Caroline Lowe constructed the bee sculpture with a friend in Pant who welded the frame to resemble a solitary bee called a Wool carder bee.
The whole structure, set within a circular cleft oak fence
is as striking as we hoped but will look even better next year when the
wildflower meadows will be much more extensive thanks to Wendy and her Mere
Volunteers. A colourful interpretation panel will spread the message about bee
conservation and hopefully inspire others to plant nectar rich wildflowers in
their gardens.
To top it off we recently heard that we are one of several
national winners of a Defra initiative known as Bees Needs for our efforts to
help bees around The Mere at Ellesmere.
Shaun Burkey - Greenspace Officer
To keep up with the latest news from The Mere visit their Facebook Page.
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The Craven Arms Walking for Health group has recently been revitalised with the help of the Discovery Centre, the vibrant community facitlity in the heart of Craven Arms which offers easy walking routes and a cuppa in the cafe at the end of the walks.
A significant promotional push was carried out prior to the relaunch walk in July, including a taster walk at a Diabetes awareness day, posters in local facilities,
contact made with local churches, articles in ‘Community e- newsletter’ and
the’ forty-niner’, fliers distributed to local housing in immediate area and 100 fliers distributed via local
newspaper,
The walks are led by Helen d’Albert and Carys Palmer (a volunteer walk leader from the Clun group) and are held every Wednesday at 10:30 from the Discovery Centre. The group now has 11 walkers registered on the books and on the 19th August there were 11 of us on the walk, including a mum and her two young children. All seem keen and enjoy the social aspect as much as stretching their legs!
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Through starting up the group, closer links have been forged
with the Discovery Centre who are very supportive of the project. They have
been advertising the walks on their Facebook page, as well as on table top
stands in the café. Grow Cook Learn are working hard to
develop the centre as a walking hub; we have been sharing information and ideas
and fostering relations to help both parties.
If you are
interested in joining the walk or training as a walk leader please email Helen
d’Albert or phone on 01743 255059.
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Severn
Valley Country Park has maintained its place
amongst the top parks in the UK for a record-breaking 12th
consecutive year.
The park has once again been awarded the
Green Flag Award. The national award, handed out by environmental charity Keep
Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the
country. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to visitors that the space
boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has
excellent facilities.
The Green Flag Awards are judged by an army
of more than 700 green-space experts, who volunteer their time to visit
applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including
horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.
Councillor Steve Charmley, Portfolio
Holder for Business, ip&e, Culture and Commissioning said, “This Award
recognises and highlights the fact that people in Shropshire are benefitting
from a green space of the very highest quality. I would urge as many people as
possible to take advantage of such a local asset, both for its natural beauty
and for the benefits to individual health.”
Councillor Tina Woodward (Local member
for Alveley and Claverley) said, “"I am delighted that Severn Valley
Country Park has been awarded the Green Flag again this year. It is a real
credit to the small Team of Shropshire Council staff and volunteers who
dedicate a lot of their time in maintaining and improving the site, year on
year."
Councillor Dave Tremellen (Local member
for Highley) said, “The heritage and natural beauty of this part of Shropshire
is a big draw for tourists as well as being a fantastic asset for local people.
Severn Valley Country Park is a wonderful gateway into this wider landscape and
deserves national recognition through the Green Flag Award Scheme.”
Well done to everyone at Severn Valley Country Park.
To keep up with the latest news and events visit the SVCP Facebook page.
One of the top nature writers in the UK is leading two
free workshops at Rectory Wood and Field in Church Stretton. Paul Evans has
been called the John Clare of his generation. He has been writing his seasonal
wildlife diary from Wenlock Edge for the Guardian newspaper for around 20
years, is a renowned radio broadcaster, and a ‘professional wanderer of woods’.
The first of the workshops was held in August and the second will be held on
Saturday 17th October (10am-3pm). The aim is to encourage participants to
describe the special qualities of Rectory Wood and Field through creative
writing.
The workshops form part of The ‘Creating a Vision for
Rectory Wood and Field’ project funded through the Shropshire Hills AONB Conservation
Fund. The project is being co-ordinated by Outdoor Partnerships and Church
Stretton Town Council as part of the current transfer of management to the Town
Council. As well as the creative writing workshops, the project includes guided
walks and wildlife surveys. The aim of the project is to engage local people
with helping to decide on the future management priorities for the site and
gather wildlife records to help inform a new management plan.
Rectory Wood and Field has a fascinating history. The
original layout of the woodland is said to have been influenced by Lancelot
‘Capability’ Brown. The Brownian influence can still be felt with a gothic
folly, a tumbling stream and ancient trees. It is an important gateway from the
town to the wild expanse of the Long Mynd and was once voted the least
stressful place in the UK in a poll in the Independent newspaper!
To book a place on the October workshop, please
contact Church Stretton Town Council on 01694 722113.
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Rescuing Rocks is a project in the Stiperstones
& Corndon Hill Country Landscape Partnership Scheme to manage rare and
valuable habitats at six disused quarry and mine sites. These include four of
the Council’s countryside sites; Nills Quarry, Poles Coppice, the Bog and
Snailbeach Mine. This summer a series of public events at these sites have
introduced people to the world of moths; identification, trapping and
recording. Many of the species recorded were ‘firsts’ for each site. Over 100 species were recorded at both Nills
and Poles Coppice. Notables included the
large number of lobster moths (moving north, almost certainly in response to
climate change) and at Nills Quarry, micro moth Pseudotelphusa scalella is a nationally scarce
species and Stenolechia gemmella has only been recorded in Shropshire once
before. The evening events proved popular and the moth species lists recorded
at each site can be seen by clicking this link.
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Another of the Scheme’s projects is focused on
conserving and enhancing the species-rich grasslands. Valuable remnants still survive locally, ranging from wet flushes
associated with springs emanating from the hills through to traditional hay
meadows. Working with local meadow
owners, the project has helped to set up the Marches Meadow Group. Through networking and training events,
members share their experiences and knowledge about wildflower meadows,
hay-making, grazing, local contractors and small machinery. The recent purchase of the small tractor and hay
making machinery will enable meadow owners to better manage and restore
their grassland. For more information
about this project please follow the link
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The Bog Mine (managed by Outdoor Partnerships) is one of
the top sites in the midlands for a rare butterfly. The site is an old lead
mine and the vegetation amongst the ruined buildings is stunted and sparse,
perfect for the grayling. The grayling is a true master of disguise. When
basking on the gravelly substrate with their wings closed, they are perfectly
camouflaged. As a defence mechanism they can flick the forewing out of the way
to reveal the eye spot. Throughout July and into August the grayling can be
seen in good numbers at the Bog and this summer local members of Butterfly
Conservation paid a visit to the site to witness the spectacle.
Through the 'Rescuing Rocks and Overgrown Relics'
project that is being co-ordinated by the Stiperstones and Corndon Hill
Landscape Partnership Scheme, the unique habitat at the Bog Mine is being
managed to further enhance the site for this rare and wonderful butterfly.
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Friends of the Shropshire Hills AONB enjoyed a day out in the Clun
uplands, finding out about some of the local projects supported by their
membership subscriptions through the AONB’s Conservation Fund, and the work of
the AONB Partnership and partners in this area. The Clun uplands are perhaps less well known than
some parts of the AONB, but are a wonderful tranquil landscape with many
interesting places. The tour took Friends to The Turbury, Brynwawr Farm and
Rhos Fiddle. Natural Environment Officer, Mike Kelly, highlighted the
plight of the freshwater pearl mussel and how
the new project in the Clun Catchment is helping to improve conditions
for this critically endangered animal. Representatives from the
Clun Forest History Project, Land Life and Livelihoods, Brynmawr Farm and the
Upper Clun Community Wildlife Group explained what they have achieved with
support from the Shropshire Hills AONB Conservation Fund. The Meadow
Pipits and Mountain Pansies, along with highland cattle and skylarks made for a
memorable end to the tour with a walk across Rhos Fiddle Nature Reserve.
One
Friend attending said “Thank you for all the
thought and work that went into creating a wonderful day for us. The different
venues and varied contributions from colleagues and Community Groups made it a
very interesting experience and I feel privileged to have been able to join you
all.”
Friends of the Shropshire Hills AONB continues to grow, with 17
new memberships (joint and individual) this summer. We hope to encourage
more people to join through our series of autumn walks with our volunteer walks
leaders, helping people to explore more of the AONB.
For more information about Friends of SHAONB
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For more information on other events being held in the Shropshire Hill AONB click on the events link.
Saturday 10th October, start between 9am to 10.30am
Entry fee £13
Dust off your walking boots for this year’s 13-mile ramble in South Shropshire’s beautiful countryside. Starting in Bishop’s Castle, the well-marked circular route has some stunning views of the surrounding area. There are checkpoints along the way and a chance to rest weary limbs at Mainstone village hall, where members of the bowling club will serve hot drinks and homemade cakes. The walk takes in the bowling green overlooking the town, before finishing at the Castle Hotel for soup and a bread roll.
All profits go towards maintenance of the historic octagonal bowling green site, including the 18th century octagonal summerhouse.
For more information and entry forms email russetramble@gmail.com or telephone 01588 638284.
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The 3rd Severn Valley Trail Race will be taking place on
Sunday 27th September at 11am. The 5km route takes in the wonderful scenery of
Severn Valley Country Park in Alveley near Bridgnorth and has 2 steep climbs
and some fantastic single track running through woodland and riverside. It is
traffic-free and multi-terrain so a great introduction for people wanting to
try their first race. If you are a seasoned runner, why not try and beat the
race record of 19.23 minutes?
The event is kindly sponsored by Hobsons Beer and Wenlock
Spring Water. Prizes for the winners in each age category. Entry fee is £7 in
advance or £8 on the day. Call the park on 01746 781192 for more information or
to get an entry form.
Severn Valley Country Park is a 126 acre country park with a
large car park, visitor centre and teashop, children’s play area and way-marked
walking and cycling routes. It is a great place to bring the family with plenty
of space for spectators.
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