The next meeting of the Cannock Chase National Landscape Joint Committee is taking place on Monday 9th December at 2.00pm at the Main Conference Room, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Wolseley Centre ST17 0WT

The full agenda, papers and further information for the meeting can be viewed on the website.

Members of the public wishing to observe this meeting in person are welcome to do so. 

More information

Residents, visitors and other interested groups are being urged to share their views on the future of two of Staffordshire’s best loved countryside destinations. Engagement activities have begun for Cannock Chase (Marquis Drive) and Chasewater, and online surveys are currently being used as one way of seeking feedback to help shape improvements to the destinations. This engagement is part of an £18 million investment by Staffordshire County Council aimed at enhancing Cannock Chase, Chasewater, and the Staffordshire Way.

This investment aims to make the most of Staffordshire’s environmental treasures and instil pride in the county. Already a vibrant tourist destination, the council hopes this investment will attract even more visitors and boost the local economy.

Long-term plans include redeveloping the Marquis Drive visitor hub at Cannock Chase, upgrading Chasewater’s facilities, and relaunching the 92-mile Staffordshire Way to encourage exploration of the county's natural beauty. Improvements will celebrate Staffordshire’s rich heritage while balancing recreation and nature conservation.

People’s views are key to shaping these plans and Staffordshire County Council is urging people to complete the online surveys which can be found on the link below.

Have Your Say

The National Landscape team and partners have been working on the Cannock Chase National Landscape Management Plan 2025-2030. This will be the fifth edition of the Plan and sets out our vision and ambitions for the National Landscape for the next 5 years. The draft plan and online survey will be available from mid December for you to have your say.

We will be taking the initial draft to the next Joint Committee on 9th December and once we have incorporated any amendments it will be ready for public consultation. Please look out for it, share with others and fill in the survey. It will be available on the home page of our website.

More information on previous Management Plans is available on the website here.

More information

The Friends of Cannock Chase were very lucky to hear about a personal photograph album, up for sale, at a Devon Auction Room. It belonged to one of the Military Surgeons, Harry Compton Parsons, who was in charge of the Great War Military Hospital at Rugeley (Brindley Village) during its last 2-3 years.

The Friends bid for it and now have the find of a lifetime about the local history of this period of Cannock Chase. They are hoping to be able to exhibit some of the images at the Great War Hut over the coming months.

Cannock Chase is one of the last remaining strongholds for the adder. Unfortunately despite the protected nature of the landscape, adders are still vulnerable to disturbance which is likely to affect their ability to thrive in the future. 

If you are lucky enough to spot an adder please try and maintain a distance of at least 4 metres. If you are very still and quiet you may then be able to watch it undetected. Never try to catch or touch an adder, even a very young one, as it will be extremely scared and may respond with a painful bite, which will require urgent medical attention.

If you are walking around the Chase please stay on the paths and do not walk through vegetation looking for wildlife - as you may disturb protected ground nesting birds as well as small mammals and reptiles. Although most adders are currently hibernating they may still bask in the sunshine on milder days.

If you are patient and careful you will have greater success in spotting wildlife.

We are currently recruiting for volunteers to join our teams at the Milford Information Hut and at the Great War Hut on Marquis Drive near the Cannock Chase Visitor Centre. If you are a bit of a history buff or you just like meeting new people and have good customer service skills then send an email with your details and telling us what role you are interested in and we will get back to you with more information.

Email us here