 Since its launch our new Shropshire's Great Outdoor website has proved incredibly popular with 11,000 users in a single month over the Summer. We are incredibly proud of this website and believe it to be the number one resource for outdoor recreation in Shropshire. We ask that where you can and where apporpriate could you include a link to http://www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/ to help us promote outdoor recreation and encourage people to explore Shropshire's Great Outdoors.
Thank you to all who took the time to fill out our Annual Users Survey of our service. This survey helps us to deliver a better service to everyone who loves using our Rights of Way network, Parks and Sites and Greenspaces.
Summary
491 people responded to the Annual Survey in 2015/16. They were mostly over 55, white British and lived in Shropshire. Slightly more women than men replied. When these results are compared, where possible, with results from previous years the following trends can be seen:
- There is increased usage of Parks and Sites and walking routes in Parks and Sites
- Walking is still the main activity
- People increasingly use Rights of Way and Parks and Site for improving health and exercise, experiencing nature and the peace and quiet
- People get an increased sense of mental and physical wellbeing from using these services
- Overgrown vegetation is the main problem with using the outdoors
- Issues with ploughing and cropping and dog mess are growing
- Circular walks continue to be the most popular way of enjoying the outdoors, and use of them is growing
- 77% of respondent are out using the services at least once per week and 78% use them for more than two hours
- 26% of respondents walk daily
- Over 60% of people are walking with friends or in groups
- Most of those walking in groups are involved in a local walking group or Walking for Health
- Ill health is the main reason for reduced activity levels, although 83% said they weren’t suffering from and long-standing disease or disability
- Around 50% of people are satisfied with their Rights of Way, although this figure appears to be falling
- Over 60% are still satisfied with the parks and sites in their area
- Almost everyone feels better for taking some exercise and enjoyed it
- Printed leaflets and guidebooks are still the most popular way of finding out what’s available and this shows no sign of reducing
- Whilst there is an increase in people wanting to get involved in volunteering, the majority do not want to become involved
There were many comments, with a good number thanking the team for all their hard work. The primary concern was cuts to funding and the ability for these services to be maintained in the current financial climate. To see the full results and trend analysis of the survey follow this link
In March over 120 letters were sent to landowners and farmers
on identified on the Council’s database, on whose land there had been recorded
cropping or ploughing issue in the last few years.
The majority of
complaints applied to land in the North Shropshire/Oswestry area 61%. In contrast 20% applied to South Shropshire
and Bridgnorth (North and East) and 18% in Shrewsbury and Atcham and Bridgnorth
(South). These initial letters prompted
a number of responses from landowners who informed us that the paths would be
cleared, or there were landownership changes or errors in original reporting,
etc.
Inspections were then carried out at most of the outstanding
locations, with the Ramblers assisting with this task in the North Shropshire/Oswestry
area.
The results of the inspections were:
- 21% routes had been cleared and reinstated
- 18% were not cropped in the current season
- 11% were partially reinstated, whether by use by
walkers or inadequate action by the landowner
- Of the identified cropped paths 45% had not been
cleared.
Further action was taken in May by sending a further letter
to those who had failed to fulfil their obligations. They were informed that action would be taken
if they did not clear the crop. This
prompted a number of positive responses from landowners which was particularly
helpful in developing contacts which could be useful in the future.
Officers then undertook further inspections of the remaining
issues to which earlier correspondence had resulted in no response. This resulted in six legal notices being
served which to date has resulted in immediate action by five
The results will be fully evaluated later in the year but
the officers are pleased with the result and now have worthwhile statistics on
which to base future campaigns.
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During August 2016 Shropshire Outdoor Partnerships completed
their first John Muir Award scheme. The John Muir Award is an environmental
award scheme for people of all backgrounds – groups, families and individuals.
It’s non-competitive, inclusive and accessible and is designed to encourage people
to connect with, enjoy, and care for wild places.
Pictures show the students utilising the skills they have
learned, navigating around the Long Mynd by map & compass and GPS whilst
looking at the geology, fauna and flora of this amazing place.
The John Muir award encourages people to DISCOVER and
EXPLORE a wild place and help to CONSERVE it by taking practical action and
personal responsibility to improve it. The students can also be seen carrying
out practical work on a Bridleway in Minton Batch improving access onto the
Long Mynd for walkers and riders.
More information about the John Muir Award can be found at John Muir Trust or email Mick Dunn
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 Bishops Castle Community College
Outdoor Partnerships has recently extended its volunteering
offer and partnership working to younger people through Bishop's Castle
Community College’s enrichment programme.
Back in March 2016 the College approached Outdoor Partnerships to see if we
could offer a series of work days on Rights of Way maintenance for their
students. The scheme planned to put
something back into the local Community whilst also improving part of the ROW
network and to achieve this the local residents at the Wintles, a pioneering
“green” village in Bishops Castle, were approached for ideas. The Wintles development has a community greenspace consisting of an orchard, woodland and
allotments and is crisscrossed by a number of footpaths. One of the well-used routes next to the
allotments had become difficult to use particularly in wet weather so it was
here that we decided we could make an improvement with the students help. The plan was to create a raised stone path
which could be used all year. The materials and stone were delivered to the
site before the first work day, however,
a difficulty with the project was that the stone had to be stored on the other
side of the site some 200m away and wheelbarrowed to the path.
The first workday was on the Friday 15th of April
and brought with it April showers but, undeterred, the students took to the
task with great enthusiasm and continued this throughout the following seven
sessions. By the end of the last session
70m of new path had been completed and throughout the project praise and
appreciation had been given by the Wintles residents and users of the site. As a thank you and to recognise the students
achievement a small gathering of residents, parents and school representatives
were invited along for cake and a presentation.
Shropshire Wild Teams and Bishop's Castle P3 have since spent two sessions completing the path ready for the winter. Special thanks should be given to Glynn Roberts of the local P3 group and Steve Hale and Andrew Wood from the Wintles for their continued support and hard work throughout this project.
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 Shrewsbury School
Pupils
in Third Form at Shrewsbury School were invloved in improving a section of
footpath in the Radbrook area. The path was very overgrown and needed a more
suitable base for its frequent use.
We
set to work clearing the vegetation from the edges so they could see what we
were working with. A couple of the Maintenance Team sped up the proccess by mowing
up and down the path. This meant it was all systems go, shovelling, barrowing
and raking the first layer of stone, to form a solid base.
The
weather was not kind…it pretty much rained all day everyday for three days we
were there. However, refusing to admit defeat (and the occasional trip to the
sweet shop), we ploughed on.
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 The second and third days had the added bonus of showing the pupils what the previous pupils had achieved. This was helpful as it made it easier to show what was required, and gave them an insentive to better the previous days work. After all, everything is a competition when your that age!
Over the course of three days, the full length of path had been dressed with base stone and over half of it had been top-dressed (due to the weather). Even so, this is much more than we thought could be achieved.
A big thank you to the pupils of Third Form for their hard work and positive moral.
Already, there are talks about building bridges with the School – literally! We look forward to future projects with them!
Tom Llewellyn - Outdoor Partnerships Maintenance Officer
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 The official unveiling of the World War One interpretation board took place on Monday 13th June in the Abbey Foregate car park, Shrewsbury, which was framed and installed by the Rights of Way Maintenance Team.
As part of the World War One commemorations, Keith Pybus and Jim Stabler had the idea for the information board as not many people are aware of the prisoner of war camp that was once there.
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Keith
put the wording and images for the board together and arranged for Colonel
Michael Evans TD DL wearing the uniform of
Honorary Colonel, the Shropshire Yeomanry Squadron of The Royal Yeomanry and Lt
Colonel Falk Oberdorf from the German contingent of the Allied Rapid
Reaction Corps, Imjin Barracks, Innsworth, Gloucestershire to unveil it. The veil itself showed how much effort had
gone into the planning as it was a poppy design which everyone agreed was most
appropriate.
"The
Shropshire World War One Anniversaries Group unveiled an unusual memorial of the First
World War. Not more than a hundred yards from the Association’s Wilfred Owen Memorial
‘Symmetry’ is the site of a German Prisoner of War camp. Today this is part of the large
Abbey Foregate car park, whilst in 1914 it had recently housed the Midland
Railway Wagon and Carriage Works. The redundant buildings were initially put to
use housing German civilians stranded in this Country by the tides of
war." - Keith Pybus
Severn Valley Country Park
Severn Valley Country Park has again been awarded the
Green Flag Award for the 13th year in a row.. 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.
Severn Valley Country Park boasts a
teashop and visitor centre, natural play area, way-marked walking and cycling routes
and an orienteering trail. Staff work hard to put on events and this summer has
seen monthly guided walks, a visit from a touring theatre company and a range
of children’s events. An active and growing volunteer group help to maintain
the park. They have applied for funding to restore the wetland area and improve
access to the wetland for visitors and school groups.
Councillor Stuart West, Portfolio Holder
for Leisure and Culture 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
Councillor 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 Councillor
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.”
 The Mere
The Mere at Ellesmere will
be flying the Green Flag again this year, the 3rd year in a row
after being named amongst 1,476 parks, cemeteries, universities, shopping
centres and community gardens that have met the high standard needed to receive
the Award.
Managed by Shropshire
Council, The Mere at Ellesmere is a beautiful lake with gardens, woodland walks
and historic parkland. The Mere-side promenade, gardens and Boathouse
restaurant and visitor centre have recently been restored to their former
glory, and Cremorne Gardens offers a fantastic new adventure play area, formal
flower beds, specimen trees, lawns and seating, and a circular garden walk.
The park provides a number
of themed walks which encourage the exploration of the Park, provides
interpretation of its heritage and makes links with Ellesmere town, the
Llangollen Canal and surrounding countryside.
People can enjoy the
gardens and walks, watch the herons nesting on Moscow Island, visit the
Boathouse, enjoy an ice-cream or hot drink on the Mere-side promenade, take a
boat trip on the Mere and much more.
Councillor Gwilym Butler,
Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and leisure, said:
“I would like to thank all
the dedicated staff and volunteers at The Mere for their hard work in
maintaining such a wonderful park. This is a great example of how Shropshire
Council can work alongside volunteers and local communities to enable them to
make a real difference to their local area.”
Ann Hartley, Shropshire
Councillor for Ellesmere, said:
“This is wonderful news.
The Mere has so much to offer and is a great day out for all the family, so I’m
delighted that it has been awarded a Green Flag. I especially want to say a huge thank you to
our volunteers who have given up their time to help maintain and improve the
park. Without their help – be it one day a year, an hour a month or a regular
weekly session – the Green Flag award would not have been possible, so this is
a celebration of their efforts.”
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