Towards the end of 2016 interest was shown to reform a group in Cockshutt Parish to help maintain and improve access in the village.  An initial meeting was set up where a number of enthusiastic locals came to hear about the P3 scheme and discuss issues in the area and options for the group.  A number of issues had already been identified in the village with two in particular being highlighted as a priority, these were on a route which led out from the village hall and was heavily used by locals for recreation.  The issues were a dangerous sleeper bridge and stile which were particularly inconvenient for the user.  It was decided that this and a subsequent stile should be upgraded to kissing gates which gave the landowner the benefit of better stock control without fear of fencing being cut to allow dog access. 

In early February 2017 the new group members came together to replace two stiles and a sleeper bridge and the feedback from the villagers on the improved access has been very positive.  Since then two more stiles have been replaced with gates by the group and potential improvements have been negotiated across the Parish which will provide a work programme over the coming year. 

Many of the group have benefited from some training sessions delivered by Shropshire Outdoor Partnerships covering Rights of Way Law and Practice, installation of countryside kissing gates and a brushcutter course and will put this to use in the future. 

Many thanks to Janet for taking on the role of P3 Co-ordinator and to all in the Cockshutt Parish who have volunteered to help with the work.

In 2016 Shropshire Outdoor Partnerships was approached by the Meres and Mosses Landscape Partnership Scheme to deliver some Skills in land Management training to include Rights of Way law and practice; installation of access furniture (delivered in Novemebr 2016) and a brushcutter course.

On the 2nd of March 2017 the final part of this programme of training was hosted at the newly opened Bungalow at The Mere Ellesmere.  Nine delegates from within the Meres and Mosses area attended a half day brushcutter course delivered by Gary Edwards.   

In the following week another course was held at Nils Quarry in Pontesbury where another 14 delegates, many from Shropshire Wild Team, undertook the same course. 

Both days were a great success and it is hoped that the skills and knowledge gained by the 21 people who attended will be put to good use helping keep the Rights of Way network open over the coming months as the growing season starts.

Severn Valley Country Park

Our volunteer group continues to grow! So much so that we are now running a second day of volunteering on a Thursday. The new group has been in operation for just over one month and already we have five regular volunteers. Both our Tuesday and Thursday groups have been busy replacing tree guards in our wildflower meadows, finishing off a new viewpoint looking from the Visitor Centre down to the River Severn, assisting with improvements to the Visitor Centre and restoring two coal trucks to show the mining heritage of the site.

We are unable to take anymore new volunteers on a Tuesday but we would very much welcome new members to join our Thursday group. The Thursday group will meet mostly at Severn Valley Country Park at Alveley but will from time to time meet at other countryside sites in South Shropshire. Please ring 01746 781192 for more information.  Your can catch up with the latest news from the park on its Facebook page.

Stanmore Country Park (Nr Bridgnorth)

The volunteer group here have been very busy opening scrubland to turn the area into a memorial orchard. The area was cleared during November and December last year and in February fruit trees were planted. The fruit trees were sourced from a local nursery and they are old English varieties with many being local such as Shropshire Prune Damsons, Worcester Black Pears and Madresfield Court Apples. The fruit trees were paid for as part of the £8,000 grant form Tesco Bags of Help. This grant has also paid for new footpaths through the site and also new interpretation panels giving information about the history of the site. The panels are in the process of being designed and made and it is envisaged that they will be installed during May and June. More volunteer days are planned at Stanmore, please ring 01746 781192 for more information.

The Wild Team’s more recent jobs have included another 25 meters of hedge laying along the Montgomery for the Canals and Rivers Trust.  It was touch and go to see if the Elites and the Hornets would finish before the Trust’s Ecologist ordered a halt to the work but they succeeded and tools were downed just days before time was called.  The Zombies were working in Carding Mill Valley and dug fourteen drainage ditches in one day for a grateful National Trust.  The Zombies and the Alpacas have also been clearing a coppice coup on the Wenlock Edge for the National Trust creating space for new hazel to shoot and, hopefully, a few wild flowers to start appearing.  Both the Zombies and the Alpacas have also been making friends with National Trust at Dudmaston and have managed to get a few jobs completed in the past couple of months with plans to return soon.  The Wild Team would like to thank all the Rangers across the National Trust properties for all their support.

Moving north, the Elites having been doing their bit for the Wildlife Trust with guidance from Reserve Officer Gareth Egar.  They have managed to clear numerous ash whips on Llynclys Common and also helped with opening up either side of the main path at Llanymynech Quarry which will allow limestone grassland habitat loving species a good chance at re-establishing.  They have also been instrumental in clearing a sizable area at “The Orchard” for the Cambrian Railway Project, who have now begun to plant 400 trees on the site.

Heading south again, the Hornets were recently up at Nesscliffe and created over 20 meters of dead hedge to keep people away from the cliff edge now visitors are much safer from those sheer drops on the other side.  The Alpacas have also been felling trees, shifting logs and clearing Rights of Way on the very steep hill of Brinneddin, opening up the canopy will enable visiting school to enjoy a wild flower grove at the top of the steep steps. 

Other examples of work undertaken by the Wild Team includes fencing and clearance for Caring for God’s Acre, tree planting for the Shropshire Hills AONB and laying paths and making steps at Limekiln Woods.

If you have any projects you think the Wild Team could help you with or if you would like to join one of the teams please contact Simon Brown on this email link or phone 01743 255055.  For more information about the Shropshire Wild Team click on the link.

It is with sadness that we bid farewell to Mick Dunn, Central Walking Coordinator for Walking for Health.  Mick has been with Shropshire Council since 2010 and has made a huge contribution to developing and supporting the Walking for Health groups in his area.  Mick would like to thank all the fantastic volunteers he has had the pleasure of working with over the years both from the Walking for Health Scheme and Parish Paths Partnership groups.  Having spent so long here Mick is looking forward to returning to the County regularly so you may still spot him wandering around the Shropshire Hills.

Mick’s Walking for Health responsibilities will be undertaken by the two remaining Walking Co-ordinators.   Helen d’Albert will be taking on south east Shropshire, including Much Wenlock, Chelmarsh, Highley, Bridgnorth, Alveley, Shifnal, Albrighton, Broseley and Ditton Priors in addition to her current groups in the South of the County.  Liz Evans will be taking on central Shropshire including Hanwood, Pontesbury, Haughmond and Shrewsbury town groups in addition to her north Shropshire area.  

Everyone here a Outdoor Partnerships wants to thank Mick for his hard work and dedication in promoting walking in Shropshire and wish him all the best for the future.