Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership

Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership
Name	Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership
Caption	The Stiperstones ridge within the Shropshire Hills
Location	Shropshire, England
Established	1958
Area	169 sq mi
Governing body	Partnership board

Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership

The Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership is a statutory advisory body responsible for the landscape designation covering the Shropshire uplands centred on the Stiperstones and Long Mynd plateaus, incorporating features such as Carding Mill Valley, the Wrekin, and the Clee Hills. The Partnership works with national bodies including Natural England, Countryside Council for Wales (historic), and local authorities such as Shropshire Council and Telford and Wrekin to conserve a mosaic of habitats between Wenlock Edge and the River Severn catchment. It engages with landowners, statutory agencies like the Environment Agency, charities including the National Trust, and community groups across parishes such as Church Stretton and Bishop's Castle.

History

The designation of the Shropshire Hills as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1958 followed national debates involving John Dower-influenced landscape policy, the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, and post‑war planning that also shaped Peak District National Park and Lake District National Park. Early conservation efforts involved collaborations with the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, proponents from Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and county archaeologists documenting sites like Stiperstones tors and Caer Caradoc Iron Age hillforts. During the late 20th century partnerships with agencies such as English Nature and initiatives influenced by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 broadened work on rights of way, hedgerow restoration, and agri‑environment schemes administered through Natural England and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Governance and Organisation

The Partnership is constituted through a board comprising representatives from Shropshire Council, Telford and Wrekin, parish councils including Church Stretton Town Council, and key stakeholders such as the National Farmers' Union and the Country Land and Business Association. Specialist members are drawn from organisations like the National Trust, the RSPB, and the Shropshire Wildlife Trust alongside technical advisors from Natural England and the Environment Agency. Funding streams combine local authority allocations, grants from foundations such as the Heritage Lottery Fund, project income from programmes tied to the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (historic), and contributions from trusts including the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Strategic planning aligns with national frameworks set by DEFRA and regional strategies such as the West Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership.

Geography and Landscape

The AONB encompasses a diverse landscape of heaths, moorlands, plateaux, limestone escarpments, and river valleys spanning features like the Long Mynd, Stiperstones, Clee Hills, Clun Forest, and sections of Wenlock Edge. Geology includes Precambrian tors, silurian limestone, and glacial deposits notable at sites near Carding Mill Valley and Ratlinghope. The area contains rivers including the Clun and Onny feeding into the River Severn, ancient woodlands such as Rowton Wood and veteran hedgerows recorded by local archaeologists and ecologists from institutions like the British Geological Survey and the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre. Cultural landscape elements include medieval ridge and furrow, droves linked to Shropshire's livestock history, mining remains at Snailbeach lead workings, and historic routes used since the Roman Britain period.

Conservation and Management Objectives

Management plans prioritise the conservation of priority habitats recognised under UK biodiversity policy administered via Natural England, including lowland heath, upland hay meadows, and veteran trees targeted by the Biodiversity Action Plan framework. Objectives include restoring peat and wetland on upland commons, controlling invasive species in sites surveyed with partners such as the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the RSPB, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices through agri‑environment schemes implemented with the National Farmers' Union and local tenant farmers. Cultural heritage conservation works involve scheduling and protection advice applied with Historic England and local museums like the Shropshire Museums Service. Monitoring and research collaborations have involved universities such as the University of Birmingham and the University of Wolverhampton.

Recreation, Tourism and Education

The Partnership promotes responsible access to waymarked trails including sections of the Shropshire Way, promotes events in Carding Mill Valley and visitor facilities such as the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, and liaises with transport authorities including National Highways and local bus operators to improve access for visitors to Church Stretton and Bishop's Castle. Educational programmes are delivered with partners like the Field Studies Council and local schools in Shropshire to teach geology, ecology, and cultural history of sites such as the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve and Wemmergill commons. Tourism strategies coordinate with regional bodies such as VisitEngland and the Heart of England Tourism cluster to balance visitor economy with conservation priorities.

Partnerships and Community Involvement

Community engagement is central, with voluntary groups such as the Shropshire Hills Walking Festival organisers, parish councils across Clun and Ludlow, and Friends groups for locations including the Stiperstones. The Partnership collaborates with conservation charities including the National Trust, RSPB, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, and agricultural organisations like the Federation of Small Businesses for rural enterprise support. Cross‑sector projects have included habitat restoration funded by trusts and coordinated with agencies such as Natural England, the Environment Agency, and academic partners including the Open University. Local campaigns have involved heritage organisations such as Historic England and community archaeology projects supported by the Council for British Archaeology.

Category:Protected areas of Shropshire Category:Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty