Rescuing Rocks and Overgrown Relics is a soon to start nature recovery project at four Shropshire Council countryside sites in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape.
The countryside sites are historic former mining or quarrying sites and include Poles Coppice at Pontesbury, Snailbeach and the Bog. These once industrial sites have become valuable spaces for nature as well as people.
The Young Rangers group at Poles Coppice on Saturday 11 October. The Young Rangers project is run by the Shropshire Hills National Landscape.
The project focus is habitat restoration. The work will involve scrub management and coppicing to expose more of the rocky/scree habitat favoured by some rarer plants and animals such as slowworm, grayling butterfly and Birds foot trefoil (foodplant of common blue butterfly).
The work to restore this important habitat is being delivered by volunteer groups, led by Shropshire Council’s Outdoor Partnership Team and the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Team. Volunteers include the Shropshire Hills Young Rangers and Shropshire Council Wild Team which supports those recovering from mental ill health.
Funding for the project is from Defra, through the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, to deliver the UK Government’s commitment to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030, known as 30by30. Rescuing Rocks and Overgrown Relics is one of a number of 30by30 projects being supported in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape this winter. Others include habitat restoration on Norbury Hill and floodplain meadow restoration at Walcot.
Rescuing Rocks and Overgrown Relics is one of a number of 30by30 projects being supported in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape this winter. Others include habitat restoration on Norbury Hill and natural flood management work at Walcot.
Councillor Heather Kidd, Shropshire Council’s leader and local councillor for Chirbury and Worthen, said:
“I’m delighted to see the launch of the Rescuing Rocks and Overgrown Relics project. Bringing these historic sites back to life for both nature and people is a fantastic example of partnership working in the Shropshire Hills.
“It’s especially welcome that this important work is being funded by Defra, supporting our shared commitment to nature recovery without placing additional pressure on local council budgets. My thanks go to all the volunteers and partners involved in making this vision a reality.”
For information on 30by30 visit the Gov.UK website at 30by30 on land in England: confirmed criteria and next steps – GOV.UK
