Dear Subscriber

Sixty years ago the hills, rolling farmland, woods and river valleys of our varied and special landscape was one of the first areas to be designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  

60 years on, how is one of England's finest landscapes fairing?  

Let us know your views by filling in our online survey.  The information gathered will feed into the review of the AONB Management Plan.  This sets out priorities to build support for the landscape over the next five years. 

 https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/YJGY7FS The survey is open until the end of May 2018.

Celebrating 60 years

You are warmly invited to join us at

The Shropshire Hills Hay Meadow Festival, Saturday 7th July. Take a look at the poster below and follow the link for timetable of activities http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/enjoying-the-shropshire-hills/shropshire-hills-hay-meadow-festival-7th-july/.  

Grant for capacity building

We recently secured a ‘Resilient Heritage’ grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund of £38,100 over two years.  This is to develop collaborative working, especially on income generation, between the Shropshire Hills AONB Trust and AONB Partnership. Activities will include preparation of Business Plans, training and development for staff and volunteers, and a programme of income-generation activities including a public appeal, business engagement, a legacy scheme and trading.  Also included is project development through new staffing capacity, supported by enhanced communication and public engagement.  The project will help the two organisations to build capacity to conserve and enhance the AONB into the future.  Working together we will be better able to meet the challenges faced by our special landscape, and this will help us deliver long term benefits for people who live and work in the AONB, and those who visit it.

Natural choice for a visit

At the end of April we were pleased to host a visit by Andrea Ledward, Director of Natural Environment at Defra, looking particularly at issues and our work around upland commons and river catchments.  The Shropshire Hills demonstrates some of the real challenges our natural environment faces, but also some of the solutions.  Our ongoing work with partners will contribute to delivery of many areas of Defra’s 25 Year Environment Plan.

Shuttle Buses return to the hills

Our Shuttle Buses made a welcome return to the hills over the bank holiday weekend.  Passenger feedback from the first weekend gave Boulton's, our new bus operator, ten out of ten - "on time, comfortable, and very good and friendly drivers".  The service is a special one, funded by ourselves, National Trust and Shropshire Council.  The buses provide easy access into the hills, reduce cars in the narrow lanes and help to prevent parking problems at popular walking spots.  New this year is our Shuttle Supporter's Scheme, which is helping, alongside fares and funding, to keep the service in operation.  Become a Supporter for £10, details are in the timetable leaflet or follow the link to our website http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/enjoying-the-shropshire-hills/shuttles/ We look forward to a successful season and welcoming you on board the buses soon!

£21,500 distributed between 16 local conservation projects

This year, the Shropshire Hills AONB Trust, has  given grants to 16 local projects through the AONB Conservation Fund.  Over the years, this grant pot, has funded so many super projects, and for many, it's been the kick start they needed to get going. As funding from the Jean Jackson Charitable Trust comes to an end, the AONB Trust is looking at other options to replace this.  The subscriptions from 'Friends' go towards the AONB Conservation Fund.  Our volunteer recruiters have been out and about at local shows encouraging people to support the Shropshire Hills and sign up to Friends of the Shropshire Hills AONB.

Creating woodland corridors along the Clun

Coming into leaf along the banks of the River Clun are over 1,900 newly planted trees and shrubs, adding to the almost 5,800 already planted throughout the catchment.  In time they will develop into diverse riverside woodlands, and help to improve riverbank stability, reduce soil erosion and intercept run-off.  Overhanging shade from trees and shrubs helps maintain a more constant water temperature, to benefit many aquatic plants, insects and fish.  Recently, our volunteers have been back to some of the trees planted last winter to check their health – pulling away the grasses and weeds, and re-staking where necessary.  We are in the final year of the 4-year River Clun Recovery Project to improve water quality.  To date, over 9.5 km of riverbank have been improved, with approximately £60,000 spent on infrastructure such as fencing, field gates, solar pump kits and drinking troughs, and a further £20,000 spent on improving track surfaces, gateways and watercourse crossings. 

Conservation Board proposal shelved

Our two Councils and the Partnership made in November 2016 a formal proposal to Defra to create a Conservation Board for the Shropshire Hills AONB, and resubmitted this in August 2017 after Ministerial guidance was issued.  In March we met Lord Gardiner, Defra Minister, and learned that since a national review of National Parks and AONBs has been included in Defra’s recent 25 Year Environment Plan, there will be no move to create a Conservation Board ahead of that review.  The review is to look at coverage of designations, delivery mechanisms and financing, and the Minister described an ‘upward trajectory’, seeking to improve benefits from the designated areas rather than curtail them.  This may come up with new or amended structures for AONBs.  The AONB Partnership had looked at other potential models for an independent structure, but since these are untested among AONBs in England and Wales, the Partnership has decided not to pursue these further.  Until the national review is completed, the Partnership will therefore remain within the current model of hosting by Shropshire Council, and seek to optimise this arrangement for the benefit of the AONB.

Caering for Caradoc

Shropshire Hills AONB Trust is raising money to repair the erosion on Caer Caradoc, one of Shropshire’s most iconic Iron Age hillforts, near Church Stretton.   The hillfort is linked by legend to Caradoc, the warrior prince of the Britons, who rebelled against the Roman invasion in the 1st century AD. The hillfort stands at the heart of the AONB and is popular with visitors from near and far.  With the help of local people and visitors, Caering for Caradoc will repair the damage to the ramparts so the hillfort can be enjoyed by generations to come.

Shropshire Hills AONB is one of 46 AONBs in the UK. The AONB Partnership is hosted by Shropshire Council and funded also by Defra, Telford & Wrekin Council and project funders.

Why not join Friends of the Shropshire Hills to get involved.

 Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership, Unit 9 Drovers House, 
The Auction Yard, CRAVEN ARMS, SY7 9BZ
01743 254740
www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk
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