‘Thriving in Balance with Nature’ is the new five-year plan for the Shropshire Hills National Landscape.
The plan is based on the legal purpose for which the Shropshire Hills National Landscape is designated – to conserve and enhance natural beauty, and on addressing the challenges we face.
Its vision is that nature and natural processes are restored, that climate is stabilised and we are resilient, water is clean and supports life, land is nurtured so it can sustain us, people are healthy and thriving, and the Shropshire Hills are valued and cared for as a special place.
Phil Holden, manager, Shropshire Hills National Landscape Team, said:-
“There’s already a lot of great activity by many people on all these topics, but some aspects of the environment are still deteriorating. Collectively we need to do more of the positive things, and keep questioning carefully what kinds of progress and development can meet people’s needs while sustaining our environment.”
The draft plan has been developed through a broad partnership set up for this purpose. It sets out local priorities as well as taking account of influences from outside the area including global environmental change and national policies. It aims to influence and guide landowners, organisations and individuals on a wide range of topics by setting out a vision for management of the Shropshire Hills landscape.
Alex Carson-Taylor, chair of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Partnership, explains:-
“The plan calls for improved care of existing valuable features and creation of better connected habitats for wildlife including woodland, trees, meadows and wetlands. We will forge a new sustainable future for farming and land management with farmer groups, support and advice. The plan details the need for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, action to clean up our rivers and to re-naturalise their channels and the land at the top of their catchments to lessen flooding.”
Alex continues:-
“We need to involve a wider range of people to be active outdoors for health and wellbeing, and to build a thriving regenerative economy that supports the environment and local communities and businesses. We want to help people connect more to nature, and to connect to places through their cultural heritage and local food, leading to people enjoying and caring more for the area.”
The plan includes policies to influence decisions which affect the area and recommends actions for partners to deliver. It calls for a shared responsibility in which organisations, land managers, businesses, communities and individuals can all play their part in looking after this special landscape.
Shropshire Council Cabinet member for housing and leisure, James Owen, added:-
“The vision for the Shropshire Hills National Landscape and for co-ordinated action to conserve and enhance it is set out in this statutory Plan. Based on local partnership and consensus, the Plan seeks to guide and inspire action to meet the purposes of designation and apply local solutions to local challenges. The Plan has been prepared by the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Team on behalf of Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council.”
The draft plan is available to download from our website at 2025-30 Shropshire Hills Management Plan. On this webpage is a link to an online form for you to comment on the Plan. The public consultation finishes at the end of July 2025.
We are holding our Shropshire Hills Summer Forum on Thursday 5 June at Rushbury Village Hall, near Church Stretton. This is an opportunity to find out more about the Plan through short presentations, information stands and field visits. Information and how to book on this event is on the Shropshire Hills National Landscape website. Or please contact the Shropshire Hills National Landscape team by email: [email protected] or telephone 01743 254740.
