| Hello All and welcome to the Autumn edition of Shropshire Council's Outdoor Partnership newsletter where you can find out the latest news of what's happening in Shropshire's Great Outdoors. It is a fact that local government is changing across the whole Country. A planned response has been under consideration for some time with fundamental questions being asked about what public services should look like in the future. The inevitability is that local government will have to stop and/or reduce delivering some services, particularly those services that are not social care and waste collection. The authority is planning a "Big Conversation" where members of the public will be asked about what services they value. This will be carried out through a series of public meetings and online surveys to gauge people's feelings. Information on how you can get involved and make your views count will be made available when the consultations take place. Please take this opportunity to think about the services which are important to you and the wider Shropshire community and get involved. Shropshire has over 5,500km of Public Rights of Way (PROW) these are defined as routes over which the public have the right to pass and re-pass and they fall into four categories known as Footpaths, Bridleways, Restricted Byways and Byways Open to all Traffic (BOAT). All are protected by law under the provisions of the Highways Act 1980 (predominantly) and other relevant legislation. Both landowners/occupiers of land crossed by PROWs and the Council have responsibilities to keep these routes open and accessible to the public but how exactly are these duties distributed?  Landowners/Occupiers of land crossed by PROW are responsible for: Unlawful Obstructions – These are anything which substantially prevent the public from any free access over the whole of the route and it is the responsibility of the landowner/occupier to avoid putting obstructions on or across the route. Examples of obstructions are; permanent or temporary fences, walls, hedgerows, padlocked gates or barbed wire. This also includes vegetation which encroaches onto the route from the sides or above. Obstructing a PROW is a criminal offence. The Council has a duty to ensure that routes are free of any obstruction. If it is not removed the Council can remove the obstruction and recover the costs from the landowner. Ploughing and Cropping – Landowners/ occupiers must ensure that field edge PROWs, Restricted Byways and BOATs are not ploughed. Footpaths and bridleways which cross fields can, however, be ploughed but must be reinstated and clearly apparent on the ground with a surface which is reasonably convenient for public usage, not obstructed by crops and has the minimum defined width which applies to each different category of PROW or to the width within the Definitive Statement. Structures for Access – Where there is furniture such as stiles and gates these must be maintained by the landowner/occupier so they are safe and easy to use. |  The Council is responsible for: The Definitive Map and Statement - This is the legal record of PROW in Shropshire and the Council has a duty to ensure the map is kept up to date and accurate. Surface of a PROW – In the main the Council is responsible for ensuring that the surface of a PROW is in a suitable condition for the status of route. It is an offence to interfere with the surface to the detriment of the user, authorisation from the Council is required by landowners/occupiers if any alteration to the surface is to be made.. Vegetation, which is not considered a crop, and grows from the surface of the PROW is also the responsibility of the Council and should be cleared if it is impeding the ease of use for the public. Bridges - Footpaths or bridleways which pass over bridges are generally the responsibility of the Council to maintain, although there are some exceptions where bridges cross canals or railways or where they are privately maintained by reasons of tenure. Fingerposting/signposting - Where a footpath, bridleway or byway leaves a metalled (tarmac) road the Council has a duty to erect and maintain signposts. Enforcement - In order to ensure that the PROW network is open and available the Council has various powers of enforcement. This is normally carried out after previous attempts to resolve matters through negotiation with the landowner have been unsuccessful. The Council exercise these powers under the Highways Act 1980 or by prosecution in the Magistrates Court. The most common enforcement actions are to remove obstructions and to ensure routes are reinstated after being ploughed or cropped. For more information on Rights of Way Law click here |  Shropshire's beautiful countryside is one of its greatest assets and trees, woodlands, and hedgerows make a significant contribution to this. Equally trees can add character and beauty to the built environment, enhancing rural villages and larger towns alike. Shropshire Council recognises the many and diverse benefits of trees and woodlands and encourages their appropriate planting and sustainable management. Our Community Tree Scheme is one way in which we support tree planting in Shropshire. It enables parish tree wardens, schools, environmentaland community groups, Parish and Town Councils, farmers and landowners to apply for native trees and shrubs free of charge. In fact the scheme is open to anyone who wants to plant trees in a location where they will be readily visible to the public and enhance the landscape and character of the area. | How does it work? It couldn't be simpler. You ask us for the trees you want using the online form or by post if preferred. The scheme operates on a first come first served basis and when our allocation of trees has been reached we will close the scheme; so early applications stand a better chance. We will inform all successful applicants and confirm when they can pick their trees up from their chosen collection point. (One of 5 locations around the County—more details on the application form). What is included? The trees that we supply are usually small bare-rooted transplants, between 20 and 90cm tall. Rabbit spirals and bamboo canes can also be included to help protect against damage from rabbits and field voles, which could otherwise eat the foliage and gnaw the stems of the young trees. How many trees can I have? Due to the popularity of the scheme, there is a maximum number of 100 trees per applicant. Although it is a 'tree' scheme, you can also apply for very short lengths of native countryside hedging (for 'gapping up' or linking hedges and other habitats). There is a maximum of 60 hedgerow transplants per applicant. Applications must also include at least one tree to grow on as a 'standard' within the planted hedgerow. For further information on the scheme and how to apply click here. The summer months are the team's busiest for annual vegetation cutting, alongside all of our volunteers who help us out with this vital and extensive task. The team have cleared over 30 kilometres of priority paths which need either mowing, strimming or overhead and side clearance. Some need all of the above! Thanks must also go out to our volunteers who have cleared many more Kilometres of path. We have trained over 20 volunteers to use a brushcutter so far this year. We do lots of other work besides the need to clear vegetation at this time of year, making improvements and repairs all over the County. In addition to the stile replacement programme that we reported on in previous issues in Eardington Parish, the team have also replaced 21 stiles with gates in neighbouring Chelmarsh Parish plus two bridges and waymarking. This is in support of the local Walking for Health Group and to support the local economy. The friendlier the network is to visitors, the more they will come and spend money in the local businesses. It is hoped to link the improvements in Eardington and Chelmarsh with the new Nature Reserve in Eardington, the Severn Way and promote new walking opportunities in the area. Another big task completed recently was the repair and clearance of the popular Byway at 5 Turnings in Clun. Both 4x4 and agricultural use, alongside some drainage issues, meant that this route was becoming difficult for all users. With the assistance of the local landowners and a contractor as well as the team who cleared all of the overgrowth, the lane is now better drained, surfaced and open and available for all to use. This work was completed in time for the Clun Valley Challenge walk which passes along the byway. As autumn approaches the pressure on vegetation clearance will reduce and the team will look to other work such as furniture replacement, surfacing and all of the other tasks that need doing. Richard Knight – Rights of Way Team Leader – Sept 2015  The Stiperstones and Corndon Landscape Partnership Project approached the team about improving old stiles and difficult paths ready for two new circular walks they will soon be promoting. One of these routes is 6.6 miles starting at Wentnor, across to Linley Beeches and Linley Hill returning from here through Gravenor to Wentnor. The route links various businesses such as the two pubs at Wentnor, a camp site, and the bed and breakfast at Norbury. It provides a walk through a stunning part of the Shropshire Hills including a notable ancient Yew tree at Norbury church and the distinctive line of the Linley Beeches stretching high up Linley Hill. Access has been made easier along the route with 7 old stiles being replaced with kissing gates, 3 new stiles, 6 stile repairs, 4 fingerposts, extra waymarking and a sleeper bridge are included in the recent work. Special thanks to Bishops Castle P3, Shrewsbury Ramblers P3 and the Shropshire Wild team for carrying out large parts of the work. The second circular walk of 7.5 miles links Stiperstones village in a large loop with the villages and hamlets of Bentlawnt, Hope and Hopesgate, two Pubs, two village shops and two impressive Nature Reserves. The impressive hills at Bromlow Callow and the Stiperstones are a short way further for the energetic to explore if they wish. Just like the first walk there are many impressive views and landscapes visited. On this route 5 old stiles have been changed for kissing gates, with many other improvements to waymarking , drainage and existing gates and stiles. The Pontesbury P3 group and Shropshire Wild Team have been indispensable with their assistance. It has been fantastic that many landowners along the way have seen the benefit the walks could bring to the local area and agreed to the improvements, some are looking to let cottages and provide other accommodation to visitors. Leaflets and more information on the walks will be available from the Stiperstones and Corndon Landscape Partnership Project soon. |  Visitors to the Mere in Ellesmere are delighted with our new attraction, the Bee Metropolis, which stands near 12 foot tall, set within wild flower meadows. Adjacent to this is a carved arm chair which was made from the same tree stump as the bee metropolis and carved by Outdoor Partnership's Tom Llewellyn. The wood for this living sculpture came from the felling of three beech trees in this area of the Mere and the desire to see the wood recycled as a home for solitary bees and other deadwood species. Contractors built the 'hive' of wood and volunteers drilled hundreds of holes for the bees to use. The idea for the bee came when Trudy Graham from the Ellesmere Sculpture Initiative. | | Local artist Caroline Lowe constructed the bee sculpture with a friend in Pant who welded the frame to resemble a solitary bee called a Wool carder bee. The whole structure, set within a circular cleft oak fence is as striking as we hoped but will look even better next year when the wildflower meadows will be much more extensive thanks to Wendy and her Mere Volunteers. A colourful interpretation panel will spread the message about bee conservation and hopefully inspire others to plant nectar rich wildflowers in their gardens. To top it off we recently heard that we are one of several national winners of a Defra initiative known as Bees Needs for our efforts to help bees around The Mere at Ellesmere. Shaun Burkey - Greenspace Officer To keep up with the latest news from The Mere visit their Facebook Page. |
|  |  The Craven Arms Walking for Health group has recently been revitalised with the help of the Discovery Centre, the vibrant community facitlity in the heart of Craven Arms which offers easy walking routes and a cuppa in the cafe at the end of the walks. A significant promotional push was carried out prior to the relaunch walk in July, including a taster walk at a Diabetes awareness day, posters in local facilities, contact made with local churches, articles in 'Community e- newsletter' and the' forty-niner', fliers distributed to local housing in immediate area and 100 fliers distributed via local newspaper, The walks are led by Helen d'Albert and Carys Palmer (a volunteer walk leader from the Clun group) and are held every Wednesday at 10:30 from the Discovery Centre. The group now has 11 walkers registered on the books and on the 19th August there were 11 of us on the walk, including a mum and her two young children. All seem keen and enjoy the social aspect as much as stretching their legs! |  Through starting up the group, closer links have been forged with the Discovery Centre who are very supportive of the project. They have been advertising the walks on their Facebook page, as well as on table top stands in the café. Grow Cook Learn are working hard to develop the centre as a walking hub; we have been sharing information and ideas and fostering relations to help both parties. If you are interested in joining the walk or training as a walk leader please email Helen d'Albert or phone on 01743 255059. |  Severn Valley Country Park has maintained its place amongst the top parks in the UK for a record-breaking 12th consecutive year. The park has once again been awarded the Green Flag Award. 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. The Green Flag Awards are judged by an army of more than 700 green-space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement. Councillor Steve Charmley, Portfolio Holder for Business, ip&e, Culture and Commissioning 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 member 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 member 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." Well done to everyone at Severn Valley Country Park. To keep up with the latest news and events visit the SVCP Facebook page.  One of the top nature writers in the UK is leading two free workshops at Rectory Wood and Field in Church Stretton. Paul Evans has been called the John Clare of his generation. He has been writing his seasonal wildlife diary from Wenlock Edge for the Guardian newspaper for around 20 years, is a renowned radio broadcaster, and a 'professional wanderer of woods'. The first of the workshops was held in August and the second will be held on Saturday 17th October (10am-3pm). The aim is to encourage participants to describe the special qualities of Rectory Wood and Field through creative writing. The workshops form part of The 'Creating a Vision for Rectory Wood and Field' project funded through the Shropshire Hills AONB Conservation Fund. The project is being co-ordinated by Outdoor Partnerships and Church Stretton Town Council as part of the current transfer of management to the Town Council. As well as the creative writing workshops, the project includes guided walks and wildlife surveys. The aim of the project is to engage local people with helping to decide on the future management priorities for the site and gather wildlife records to help inform a new management plan. Rectory Wood and Field has a fascinating history. The original layout of the woodland is said to have been influenced by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. The Brownian influence can still be felt with a gothic folly, a tumbling stream and ancient trees. It is an important gateway from the town to the wild expanse of the Long Mynd and was once voted the least stressful place in the UK in a poll in the Independent newspaper! To book a place on the October workshop, please contact Church Stretton Town Council on 01694 722113.  |  Rescuing Rocks is a project in the Stiperstones & Corndon Hill Country Landscape Partnership Scheme to manage rare and valuable habitats at six disused quarry and mine sites. These include four of the Council's countryside sites; Nills Quarry, Poles Coppice, the Bog and Snailbeach Mine. This summer a series of public events at these sites have introduced people to the world of moths; identification, trapping and recording. Many of the species recorded were 'firsts' for each site. Over 100 species were recorded at both Nills and Poles Coppice. Notables included the large number of lobster moths (moving north, almost certainly in response to climate change) and at Nills Quarry, micro moth Pseudotelphusa scalella is a nationally scarce species and Stenolechia gemmella has only been recorded in Shropshire once before. The evening events proved popular and the moth species lists recorded at each site can be seen by clicking this link. |  Another of the Scheme's projects is focused on conserving and enhancing the species-rich grasslands. Valuable remnants still survive locally, ranging from wet flushes associated with springs emanating from the hills through to traditional hay meadows. Working with local meadow owners, the project has helped to set up the Marches Meadow Group. Through networking and training events, members share their experiences and knowledge about wildflower meadows, hay-making, grazing, local contractors and small machinery. The recent purchase of the small tractor and hay making machinery will enable meadow owners to better manage and restore their grassland. For more information about this project please follow the link | The Bog Mine (managed by Outdoor Partnerships) is one of the top sites in the midlands for a rare butterfly. The site is an old lead mine and the vegetation amongst the ruined buildings is stunted and sparse, perfect for the grayling. The grayling is a true master of disguise. When basking on the gravelly substrate with their wings closed, they are perfectly camouflaged. As a defence mechanism they can flick the forewing out of the way to reveal the eye spot. Throughout July and into August the grayling can be seen in good numbers at the Bog and this summer local members of Butterfly Conservation paid a visit to the site to witness the spectacle. Through the 'Rescuing Rocks and Overgrown Relics' project that is being co-ordinated by the Stiperstones and Corndon Hill Landscape Partnership Scheme, the unique habitat at the Bog Mine is being managed to further enhance the site for this rare and wonderful butterfly.   |  Friends of the Shropshire Hills AONB enjoyed a day out in the Clun uplands, finding out about some of the local projects supported by their membership subscriptions through the AONB's Conservation Fund, and the work of the AONB Partnership and partners in this area. The Clun uplands are perhaps less well known than some parts of the AONB, but are a wonderful tranquil landscape with many interesting places. The tour took Friends to The Turbury, Brynwawr Farm and Rhos Fiddle. Natural Environment Officer, Mike Kelly, highlighted the plight of the freshwater pearl mussel and how the new project in the Clun Catchment is helping to improve conditions for this critically endangered animal. Representatives from the Clun Forest History Project, Land Life and Livelihoods, Brynmawr Farm and the Upper Clun Community Wildlife Group explained what they have achieved with support from the Shropshire Hills AONB Conservation Fund. The Meadow Pipits and Mountain Pansies, along with highland cattle and skylarks made for a memorable end to the tour with a walk across Rhos Fiddle Nature Reserve. One Friend attending said "Thank you for all the thought and work that went into creating a wonderful day for us. The different venues and varied contributions from colleagues and Community Groups made it a very interesting experience and I feel privileged to have been able to join you all." Friends of the Shropshire Hills AONB continues to grow, with 17 new memberships (joint and individual) this summer. We hope to encourage more people to join through our series of autumn walks with our volunteer walks leaders, helping people to explore more of the AONB. For more information about Friends of SHAONB |  | For more information on other events being held in the Shropshire Hill AONB click on the events link.  Saturday 10th October, start between 9am to 10.30am Entry fee £13 Dust off your walking boots for this year's 13-mile ramble in South Shropshire's beautiful countryside. Starting in Bishop's Castle, the well-marked circular route has some stunning views of the surrounding area. There are checkpoints along the way and a chance to rest weary limbs at Mainstone village hall, where members of the bowling club will serve hot drinks and homemade cakes. The walk takes in the bowling green overlooking the town, before finishing at the Castle Hotel for soup and a bread roll. All profits go towards maintenance of the historic octagonal bowling green site, including the 18th century octagonal summerhouse. For more information and entry forms email russetramble@gmail.com or telephone 01588 638284. | The 3rd Severn Valley Trail Race will be taking place on Sunday 27th September at 11am. The 5km route takes in the wonderful scenery of Severn Valley Country Park in Alveley near Bridgnorth and has 2 steep climbs and some fantastic single track running through woodland and riverside. It is traffic-free and multi-terrain so a great introduction for people wanting to try their first race. If you are a seasoned runner, why not try and beat the race record of 19.23 minutes? The event is kindly sponsored by Hobsons Beer and Wenlock Spring Water. Prizes for the winners in each age category. Entry fee is £7 in advance or £8 on the day. Call the park on 01746 781192 for more information or to get an entry form. Severn Valley Country Park is a 126 acre country park with a large car park, visitor centre and teashop, children's play area and way-marked walking and cycling routes. It is a great place to bring the family with plenty of space for spectators. |
