Shropshire Council sent this bulletin at 01-03-2019 04:34 PM GMT
Dear Subscriber
13,000 native trees planted in the Clun catchment
Now in its final month, the WREN funded River Clun Recovery Project finishes at the end of March. Working in partnership with the Woodland Trust and the Environment Agency, over the last 4 years many farm advice visits have been made.
Over £260,000 has been spent across 39 holdings, to fund improvements to farm infrastructure, reducing soil and nutrient losses from farmed land, and improving animal health through provision of clean water supplies.
Over 16.5 km of riverbank habitat will have been improved through bankside tree coppicing, live willow revetments, and fencing off riverbanks. The planting of over 13,000 native trees and shrubs will help improve bank stability, reduce soil erosion and intercept run-off. In time, they will develop into diverse woodlands, helping to maintain a more stable water temperature, with benefits to many aquatic plants, insects and fish.
Water supplies for livestock are assured with solar pump kits and new troughs. Improvements to farm tracks, gateways and watercourse crossings have helped to intercept or reduce soil erosion and runoff.
We are now making plans to continue this work in partnership with Woodland Trust, Environment Agency and other partners.
Julian Glover visits the Shropshire Hills
In January, we hosted a 2-day visit with Julian Glover. He is tasked with leading an independent review of designated landscapes, as part of the government’s 25 Year Plan for the Environment. Julian’s packed itinerary included site visits to look at conservation work, planning issues, visitor pressure and awareness raising activities. He also joined a series of meetings to hear the concerns around farming and land management, and possibilities to extend the AONB boundary or change the designation.
As with his visits to other AONB’s and National Parks, Julian was able to gain insight from people with a wide range of perspectives on the Shropshire Hills AONB. The Glover Review will not be making individual recommendations on designated landscapes, but is a broader look at the statutory purposes, how effectively they are being met and how they fit in the new 25 Year Plan for the Environment. Further details about the Review and the AONB Partnership’s response to it can be viewed at http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/2018/12/14/aonb-partnership-response-to-the-glover-review-of-designated-landscapes/
Travel the hills this summer on your quest for the finest cream tea in the land. The Great Shropshire Hills Cream Tea Trail will take you to some of the loveliest places to enjoy a treat worth putting your day on hold for. Each participating venue will be competing for the prestigious Great Shropshire Hills Cream Tea Award.
But what makes a Shropshire Hills Cream Tea? Well, it’s all down to the jam. You can have your strawberry or your raspberry (and there are some that do) – but we believe, to have a truly Shropshire-licious experience, it has to damson!
We know it’s controversial, but here’s why. The Shropshire Prune is a rare, local damson variety introduced to the area by the Romans. This small damson packs a big flavour, sought after by top chefs and home preservers, it has an instant hit on the palette and arguably tops other soft fruit preserves in the jam department. You can get strawberry and raspberry jam on your scone anywhere, but you can only get Shropshire damson jam here. Oh, don’t worry, all the tea rooms, cafés and attractions in the Trail serve other jams. But if you want to make it truly special – have your scone with Shropshire damson jam.
We are working with Shropshire Hills Tourism to promote local produce, support local businesses and celebrate the Shropshire Prune. The initiative is being backed by Shropshire Hills Tourism, Ludlow Farm and Slow Food Ludlow-Marches. The Trail will be launched at the 2019 Shropshire Hills Tourism Expo (details below). For more details go to www.shropshirecreamtea.co.uk.
Are you a tourism business in the Shropshire Hills? Join us at this year's Tourism Expo to find out more about sustainable tourism in the Shropshire Hills. Follow the link for details and how to bookhttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tourism-expo-tickets-53769042654
More to explore by Shuttle Bus this season
The Shropshire Hills Shuttle Buses will be back on the road soon, running May to September (weekends and Bank Holiday Mondays). This season we are including a lunch time and late afternoon stop at the Bottle & Glass, Picklescott. This follows a request and discussions with local businesses in and around the village. As well as supporting the local pub and tourism businesses, the extension opens up different walking opportunities north of the Long Mynd, through even quieter countryside. We hope it becomes a popular stop on the Long Mynd & Stiperstones route. The new timetable is on our website, we’re still running our Shuttle Supporters Scheme so join us if you can and look out for the timetable leaflet will be printed later this month. www.shropshirehillsshuttles.co.uk
Recording the signs of spring
Please help Shropshire Ornithological Society (SOS) by letting them know when and where (in Shropshire) you see your first swallow(s). They also want to find out more about local rookeries, which were last surveyed in 2008. Once the rooks stop building nests in late April/May, please note their location and number of nests. The new data will help to detect any population changes which may have taken place. Follow the links to report your sightings: www@lanius.org.uk/swallow or post to ‘Swallow SY7 8EW’ www@lanius.org.uk/rook or post to ‘Rookeries SY7 8EW’.
Curlew Country needs urgent help to continue its vital work
This small dynamic project works at landscape scale to deliver its trail blazing conservation work for UK lowland curlew recovery. It's the only UK project working on farmland (not reserve based), to fledge significant numbers of chicks (enough to start real recovery).
Curlew Country Research has demonstrated in four years that curlews can survive. In the longer term we need realistic agri-environment funding to support farmers with breeding curlews, coupled with predation control. This can only be achieved by working with policy makers and will take time.
Please give now: www.curlewcountry.org/curlewappeal or send a cheque payable to ‘Ground nesting birds Recovery Group’ and send it to Curlew Country, Rigmoreoak, Pennerley, Minsterley, Shropshire, SY5 0NE
The SW80K is a mass participation challenge run or walk through some of the finest parts of the Shropshire Hills, taking place over the weekend of April 6th & 7th 2019. The route is 80km (50 miles) in length and the aim is to complete the circuit in less than 24 hours. The route starts and finishes at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, and follows almost exclusively the Shropshire Way. Shorter routes also available including 3.5 km fun run aimed at families and people who are beginning to enjoy the delights of the countryside. Follow the link for lots more information including route description and how to sign up: http://www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk/page/102/shropshire-way-80k.htm
Formal approval in progress for AONB Management Plan, 2019-24
Thank you to all who commented on the new draft AONB Management Plan. The public consultation has ended, and the responses made have been broadly supportive. The Plan sets out how to best manage this nationally protected landscape over the next five years, and is divided into three main sections • Land management supporting natural beauty and landscape • Planning for a sustainable economy and communities • People enjoying and caring about the landscape
The next steps for the new Plan is formal approval by the two local authorities; Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council. The draft, including local area sections, is available to read on our website at http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/a-special-place/management-plan/
Support the Shropshire Hills by becoming a Friend from as little as £3/month. Your subscription goes entirely into our AONB Conservation Fund which supports local projects to raise awareness and conserve the Shropshire Hills landscape, its diverse wildlife and rich heritage. http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/a-special-place/friends/.
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.