Shropshire Hills AONB, Newsletter

Shropshire Council sent this bulletin at 16-03-2016 02:00 PM GMT

Spring 2016

Memories of the landscape captured in cases

Year six pupils from Newcastle Primary School have been meeting with older members of the community to share thoughts and memories of life in the Clun Forest. Led by Shropshire Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), this pilot project has been a fantastic way for the children to learn about their local landscape. Stories of children evacuated to the village during WW2 and photographs of past village life have enthused the children about their local area. From these shared experiences, two handling ‘cases’ have been created. One will be used by local schools. The second, a ‘community case’, can be borrowed by local care homes, community groups and others caring for elderly people. It contains objects that might stir past memories and help as conversation starters with older people. Follow the link for more information about the project and how to borrow the handling cases http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/2016/03/08/younger-and-older-people-share-what-they-have-learned-together-about-the-local-landscape/

Shropshire Hills AONB Conservation Fund

14 local projects have applied for a grant from the Shropshire Hills AONB Conservation Fund in 2016-17. With £23,000 available in this second year of the Fund, competition is quite high. The Conservation Fund Panel will consider all the applications on 17 March before grants are awarded. A small group of trustees have come together over the last year to develop the Conservation Fund into a charitable structure, which will be able to raise money more effectively. Much work has been done behind the scenes on a constitution and structure. The formal application to the Charity Commission for registration has just been submitted. Follow the link to take a look at projects supported by the Fund last year http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Projects-supported-2015-16.pdf

Coppicing continues in the Clun Catchment.

A number of diseased and vulnerable alders, close to power lines, have been coppiced near Aston on Clun. Working closely with Western Power, we were able to avoid disruption to resident’s electricity supply. Linesmen were able to isolate the section of high voltage power line to prevent the electric supply from being cut. This length of the River Clun has now been fenced and is being planted with trees to create a riverside buffer zone. This helps to stabilise the river banks, improving habitats and reducing sediments reaching the river to aid water quality. Coppicing, fencing, tree planting and creating alternative water supply for livestock can be funded up to 100% through our River Clun Recovery Project. For more information and free advice contact Project Officer, Alison Jones, on 07990086014 or email alison.m.jones@shropshire.gov.uk. http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/aonb-partnership/rivers/

Drains, ditches and dots

Thank you to everyone who has been in touch about pinpointing drainage outfalls in the Clun Catchment. We now have lots of dots on the map! We are just about to complete the survey for the Kemp and Lower Clun. The data is being shared with other agencies to help understand what is entering our rivers and where, and how this contributes to local flooding and sedimentation issues.

Tree planting, join us if you can

We will be planting trees in the Clun Catchment over the next couple of weeks. We have the help of some volunteers but would greatly appreciate more, so join us if you can. No experience is necessary, training and tools provided. Please contact Alison Jones for more information and directions on 07990086014 or email alison.m.jones@shropshire.gov.uk.

Friday 18th March
Wednesday 23rd March
Thursday 24th March
We have also reserved 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th April.

Shuttle Buses 2016

Please support the Shuttle Bus and take a trip out this season. They start on 30 April, running every weekend and Bank Holiday Mondays until 2 October. The Long Mynd & Stiperstones Shuttle remains popular with locals and visitors alike, enabling them to explore and experience some of the best bits of the AONB. Each year the service carries over 4,000 passengers, reducing the number of cars travelling over the Long Mynd and on the narrow lanes around the Stiperstones. Last year’s passenger questionnaire showed that walking and sightseeing were why most people use the service. All 60+ respondents said they would recommend the bus to friends and family. However, funding for the Shuttle Buses remains vital as, with most rural bus services, there is always a shortfall between passenger income and running costs. Working with our partners, the National Trust and Shropshire Council, we will be looking for new sources of funding to secure the future of the service.

Follow the link for timetable, routes, walks and passenger feedback http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/enjoying-the-shropshire-hills/shuttles/

Rights of Way Guide for Landowners and Farmers

Hot off the press - a new publication ‘Public Rights of Way - Guide for Landowners and Farmers’ has been produced by Shropshire Council. This gives straightforward advice to landowners and farmers on their responsibilities regarding Rights of Way. It covers common issues and queries about the legislation and can be downloaded by following this link http://www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/public-rights-of…/. Printed copies are available from Shona Butter, 01743 255662 or email shona.butter@shropshire.gov.uk.

School children complete wild places award

The children at Bucknell Primary School have successfully completed their John Muir Award. They celebrated with friends and family at their ‘sharing’ event last month. Subject to funding, plans are under way to help more children and teachers learn about the AONB through the John Muir Award. This involves discovering and exploring a ‘wild place’, doing something active to conserve it, and then sharing the experience with others. Kinlet Primary School have chosen Catherton Common near Clee Hill as their wild place to visit, and St Georges, Shrewsbury, will be going to the Stiperstones. The John Muir Award can be done by groups and individuals of any age. For further information see https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/john-muir-award, or contact Cath Landles on 01743 254742 or cath.landles@shropshire.gov.uk.

Community concern for Curlews

Over 40 people gathered recently in Minsterley Parish Hall to hear about the plight of local curlews. The presentation focussed on the results of last year’s Curlew Nest Monitoring Project carried out by the Stiperstones & Corndon Hill Country Landscape Partnership Scheme. 12 nests were closely monitored in the Scheme area. Unfortunately, while a number of chicks were hatched, all were predated before fledging from these nests. With the professional assistance of field ornithologist Tony Cross, the Landscape Partnership Scheme will monitor nests again this spring and nest protection measures will be introduced. Details of this project, ways you can help and advice leaflets are available from http://www.stiperstonesandcorndon.co.uk/ground-nesting-birds-recovery-project/#waystohelp

Sustainable Business Network enjoys green and red Woods

Edward and the team at the Plough Inn Wistanstow welcomed us for our meeting on February 18th. It was an excellent turnout, thank you to everyone who came. We talked about future events, membership renewal, waste and recycling and the upcoming leaflet Swap Shop event. After the meeting we had a behind the scenes tour of the Wood's Brewery, a long-time supporter of the Business Scheme. Sustainability has been at the heart of their brewing ethos since they began. Waste products from the brewing process are used as compost. The Brewery has also taken many steps to save energy. In addition Wood's have sponsored many local events through making bespoke beers. We tried the latest brew called ‘Red Wood’. I think we all would recommend it!

http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/enjoying-the-shropshire-hills/buy-local-be-sustainable/

New telephone numbers

Our new office is now fully functioning with broadband, and so we have new telephone numbers. The office main number is 01743 254740. Follow the link for direct dial numbers for members of the team http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/contacts/. (These are 01743 codes because our phones now work through the Council’s broadband system, but we are still in Craven Arms!).

The Literature and Landscape of Mary Webb's Shropshire

This is the title of an exhibition at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery (until 5 June). It celebrates the centenary of the publication of Mary Webb’s first novel ‘The Golden Arrow’. Mary lived in Pontesbury during much of WW1. Local legend of a Golden Arrow, said to be buried on Pontesford Hill, inspired her first book. She went on to write extensively about her beloved Shropshire landscape, immortalising local customs and the Shropshire dialect. To run alongside the exhibition, the Mary Webb Society has organised a series of centenary events. These include family craft days and a talk by Gladys Mary Coles, Society president, writer and leading expert on Mary Webb (18 March). Landscape photographer Gordon Dickins also explores Mary Webb’s Shropshire with an illustrated talk on 31 March. Full details of these events and more at http://www.marywebbsociety.co.uk/events/

Exploring Shropshire's great outdoors this Easter...

Take a look at this excellent new website for some outdoor inspiration. Top Spring experiences like 'call of a cuckoo', and downloadable leaflets on walks, cycling and horse riding routes make it easy to decide what to do and where to go. An interactive map shows all the Rights of Way across the county, promoted routes, country parks, countryside heritage sites and play areas. http://www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/

The website is managed by Shropshire Outdoor Partnerships team at Shropshire Council.

Easter events and activities

Egg hunts, science with a bang and woodland trails are just some of the family activities happening in the AONB this Easter. Follow the link for details http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/enjoying-the-shropshire-hills/events/

You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @ShropHillsAONB

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