Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Councils together with the AONB Partnership have made a formal request to Defra to create a Conservation Board for the Shropshire Hills AONB.

A Conservation Board is a fully independent body with a statutory basis, which would hold its own funds and employ the AONB team. The Board would have appointees from the local authorities, Parish Councils and individuals. 

This structure has many advantages, including being:
• A stronger, more independent voice solely for the AONB
• Able to take effective action balancing local and national priorities
• Better able to involve and engage local people and businesses
• Able to raise funding and manage itself more efficiently
• Higher profile, more resilient and cheaper to run

The need for this change is mainly due to ongoing structural changes in local government and growing pressures on the natural environment and funding availability.  There is a need for more cost efficient, self-sustaining and locally empowered services.

The proposal for a Conservation Board has been developed over this year by local AONB partners, and in October received full support of both Councils at Cabinet level, but the decision to go ahead rests with Defra.

The AONB Partnership is keen to receive views and comments on this proposal from any interested party.  Please email shropshirehillsaonb@shropshire.gov.uk to tell us what you think.  For further information please see leaflet or contact phil.holden@shropshire.gov.uk

Our Annual Review for 2015-16 has just been published and can be found at http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/publications/reports/.

James Williamson, Chair of the AONB Partnership introduces the review:

“This is the first annual review with me as Chair of the Shropshire Hills AONB and I take great pride in reading what an amazing range of successes the team have achieved in the year.  None of these things would have been possible without the incredibly dedicated team based in Craven Arms and Chirbury.

For those that have lived or worked or got recreation in the Shropshire Hills for much of their lives it is possibly all too easy to overlook the wonderful and varied landscape but I urge you all to stop and look and be thankful – I have lived here for only 6 years having moved up from the South East and a day never passes when my wife and I don’t comment on how lucky we are!”

On a clear day, our neighbouring AONB, the Malvern Hills can be seen from Clee Hill Common.  It’s a tremendous view, and one that’s just got even better.  Overhead electricity lines that run along the common, and associated infrastructure have been put underground this autumn.  It’s part of an ongoing £2.3 million initiative by Western Power Distribution to enhance protected landscapes.  Clee Hill Common is the largest of 8 sites in the Shropshire Hills AONB which have been transformed by this scheme to date.  Last year, overhead wires at Rhos Fiddle (Crossways) and Norbury were removed.  Undergrounding has also taken place at Abdon Burf, Picklescott, Bucknell and Woolaston.

Our success at delivering the John Muir Award to school children and teachers in the AONB has been recognised nationally by the John Muir Trust.  In the last five years we have worked with seven schools, and 224 pupils and teachers have gained the Award.  Based on our activities in the Shropshire Hills, resources are being developed to help other AONBs deliver the Award across the UK.  Cath Landles also recently helped with a JMA leader training event held at Wilderhope Manor.

Named after the pioneer of the National Parks movement, the Award helps participants to discover and explore a wild place, to do something to conserve it, and to share their experience.  This autumn, working with Shropshire Wildlife Trust,  we have been doing Award activities with Kinlet Primary School and St George’s Primary Schoool in Shrewsbury.  Their chosen wild places to explore in the AONB are Catherton Common and the Stiperstones.

“The outdoor learning that we have undertaken with the AONB over the past seven years has been invaluable. It develops children’s understanding of their local environment and the wider landscape of Britain. Being outdoors develops confidence and often engages children who may not otherwise participate fully in school.  In December 2014, we were judged to be an outstanding school by Ofsted and much of their judgement reflected the extra-curricular activities which we provided, in conjunction with the AONB and the JMA.”   Head teacher

The John Muir Award can be done by any group or individual of any age.  For more information see https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/john-muir-award.

Our Conservation Fund Grant Panel recently visited two of ten projects which are receiving funding this year.  One project at Stanway Coppice near Wenlock Edge is working to improve woodland habitat for dormice.  These endearing small mammals are particular in their needs, and like hazel coppice and thick hedges.  New tree and shrub planting will help to create corridors for their movement, and renewed coppicing is improving the conditions within the woods on this family farm.  Dormice are known to be present, but on the day were being shy, so the Panel only saw wood mice and shrews inhabiting their nest boxes!

The Panel also visited Lawley East Wildlife Site on Blackhurst Farm, where gorse cutting and grazing by Highland cattle is really improving an important mosaic area of rough grassland with wet and scrub areas.  Follow the link here to read about all of the projects receiving funding this year http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/UPDATED-2016-17-Conservation-Fund-projects-summary.pdf

Church Stretton, at the heart of the AONB, is a natural draw for walkers with the Long Mynd and Stretton Hills on the doorstep.  This summer, with continued support from the AONB Partnership, the annual Walking Festival attracted over 450 visitors to the town. Volunteers take it in their stride to plan, organise and lead the Festival walks. This dedication keeps Church Stretton as a top walking destination.  Thanks to volunteers the town was also the first in the West Midlands to be officially designated a ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town.  If you would like to get involved with helping to promote walking in Church Stretton please contact James Russell at the Outdoor Depot, Sandford Avenue, Church Stretton or see the Walking Festival website at www.churchstrettonwalkingfestival.co.uk.