Latest countryside projects

Visit these pages to find out more about some of the projects Shropshire County Council Countryside Service is currently involved in. Discover ways that you can get involved in making a difference to your local environment. Also visit the Getting Involved pages for further information.

The Bog Mine and Visitor Centre Heritage Project

Shropshire County Council has been awarded £48000 grant from the Heritage Lottery to protect and conserve the Bog Mine and Visitor Centre on the Stiperstones in south Shropshire. Additional funding from Shropshire County Council and the European Regional Development Fund will go toward making the following improvements:

• creating new interpretive panels within the Miners Institute
• repairs to the roof of the Powder Magazine
• small signs will be erected to identify the key site features, i.e. Cow House, Miners Institute, Somme Tunnel and Powder Magazine
• a welcome and orientation panel will be erected within the main car park
• steps to the viewing area will be improved and the existing panel replaced
• the entrance to the Somme Tunnel will be improved with a boardwalk
• the existing desire line from the main car park to the Miners Institute will be improved
• interpretation within the Bog Visitor Centre will be developed to include; a mural of the Stiperstones and a record of the history of the Bog community and the building
• volunteer staff training
• a Stiperstones leaflet
• creation of a geo-garden within the Bog Visitor Centre grounds

Work will start on site on 7th December 2007, with the interpretation being developed early in 2008. It is anticipated that all the works will be completed and installed ready for the 2008 season staring at Easter.

If you are interested in helping with the project or have old photographs, records or stories relating to the Bog Mine, please get in touch with Mark Blount, Countryside Development Manager at Shropshire County Council, Tel: 01743 255053

The Shropshire Way Project
The southern section of the Shropshire Way from the Stiperstones to Wilderhope Manor on Wenlock Edge is to be upgraded over the next two years with financial help from Shropshire County Council, the Ramblers Association, The Heritage Lottery Fund and The European Regional Development Fund.

The Project will be managed by the Shropshire County Council Countryside Access Team with volunteer help from the Ramblers Association, local Parish Paths Partnership (P3) and walking groups. The aim is to make the southern section a circular walk in its own right with a new route linking the Long Mynd to Wenlock Edge via Church Stretton and Acton Scott. The rest of the route will be upgraded with new signs, stiles and gates and some minor route alterations to take it to some of Shropshire's great landmarks such as Bury Ditches and the top of Abdon Burf. A new guidebook will be produced and route information and downloads will be available from the website link on this page.

‘Shropshire Outdoors’
An innovative project that brings together for the first time in Shropshire two currently separate knowledge and skill sets, that of countryside activity providers and those of staff and volunteers who work with Adults with common mental health problems, learning and physical disabilities.

Funding from the BIG Lottery Well-Being programme has been secured by the project partners which include Shropshire Primary Care Trust and the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. The project is due to start early in 2008 and through consultation will enable the targeted groups to become actively engaged in a range of ‘green’ physical activities in the countryside.

The project will deliver over 3 years a range of activities at 9 countryside sites across Shropshire, focusing on those within easy access to Shropshire’s main market towns of Oswestry, Market Drayton, Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Bishops Castle, Whitchurch and Bridgnorth.

Project aims:

• to increase awareness and understanding of the role and value of physical activity and provide support for the targeted groups to incorporate into their lives.
• to increase the physical activity levels of vulnerable and frail adults through development of appropriate physical activity opportunities tailored to individual needs and interests, particularly adults residing in identified areas of deprivation/high health need.
• to promote positive mental health in the target beneficiaries, staff and volunteers.
• increase the capacity of organisations, staff and volunteers to deliver appropriate physical activities appropriate for vulnerable adults within their communities.
• create a legacy for the project through the development of sustainable physical activity and through increasing knowledge and skills of the target beneficiaries, enable progression to more mainstream community activities.

For further information contact Karen Wilson on Tel: 01743 255068

Biodiversity Training Project
The Countryside Service are supporting a new project from the Field Studies Council which aims to train volunteers to become wildlife surveyors. Many of the training courses are free as long as volunteers commit to collect and submit wildlife records. Training courses will cover a wide range of plants and animals in a variety of habitats and is aimed at novices as well as people with some experience
For more information follow the link on the right 'How can I learn to help with Wildlife surveys?'

The Mere at Ellesmere Heritage Project
Plans for the development of The Mere at Ellesmere Heritage Project have recently been given the green light to move ahead by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund. We have received a 'stage 1 pass' from the Parks For People Programme.
Shropshire County Council has been awarded a development grant of £53,500, which will enable us to move forward with plans for a £1.9 million scheme to transform and regenerate the much-loved park. The funding for The Mere at Ellesmere is among the first from the ‘Parks for People’ programme, a new scheme which is designed to invest Lottery good cause money in parks right across UK.
for more information, press releases and newsletters click on the Mere at Ellesmere Heritage Project link

Llanymynech Limeworks Heritage Project
This is a 3 year project to preserve part of the nation’s industrial heritage. A site of national significance, the Limeworks in the Shropshire village of Llanymynech provides a unique, complete and unaltered historic industrial landscape, comprising buildings and transport infrastructure associated with the quarrying, production and transportation of lime – including tramways, a canal and railway. The jewel in the crown will be the restoration of the Hoffman kiln, 1 of only 3 remaining limekilns of this type in the British Isles. The historic structures are due to be restored in 2006/07 and with improved access and interpretation will aim to encourage people from further a field to visit this unique industrial visitor attraction.

Parish Access Project
A five year public rights of way project started in April 2004 to open up nearly 2000km of routes. This involves a parish by parish proactive approach to restoring access.

Blue Remembered Hills
This is a 5 year project which gives people the opportunity to make a real contribution towards conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the Shropshire Hills AONB. The aim of the project is to engage local people in the understanding, care and promotion of the landscape. Advice and grant aid is provided.

Walking for Life

The Walking for Life! project has been developed by Shropshire County Council and Shropshire Primary Care Trust.

The project is funded for an initial 3 year period, from December 2007 until December 2009; by Sport England and Natural England.

Walking for Life! aims to increase the physical activity levels of the people of Shropshire; through providing a continuum of walking activities both in the countryside and in people’s local surroundings.

The project is predominately aimed at sedentary people, and those who face the most barriers to physical activity; for example individuals with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health problems and sensory impairment.

Walking for Life is focussing on 3 main areas of development from which a variety of physical activity opportunities will arise:

1. Walking for the way to Health
2. Independent Walking e.g. self-guided leaflets
3. Active Volunteering

For more information please follow the ‘Walking for Life Project’ link on this page or contact:

Sarah Arden
Walking for Life! Project
Countryside Access Team
Shirehall

Tel: 01743 255059
Email: sarah.arden@shropshire.gov.uk