Shropshire Hills Summer Forum & Field Visits

'Thriving in balance with nature' - Find out more about the new five-year Plan for the Shropshire Hills National Landscape.

With short presentations, information stalls and field visits, the Forum will showcase some of the brilliant work being done by lots of people to help protect and regenerate this special landscape.

It's also a great opportunity to meet some of the many people involved in looking after the Shropshire Hills landscape and find out how you can get involved in community action or as an individual.  

Forum & Field Visit Programme:

• 9.30 for 10am start (refreshments available)
• 10 – 11.45am presentations around themes of the new Management Plan and how to get involved/take action  
• 11.45am – 12.30pm informal networking and chance to look around the stands which showcase activities happening locally to help to look after the Shropshire Hills landscape.
• 12.30 - 3.30pm - DROP-IN EVENT for farmers/land managers (no need to book)
• 12.30 – 1pm light lunch and gather for field visits 
• 1 - 3.30pm field visits depart and return by minibuses from/to the village hall

The Forum is free, but booking is required. You are welcome to attend the morning session only if preferred. 

Please book giving your field visit choice (details below) and any dietary requirements by either:

• email: shropshirehills-nl@shropshire.gov.uk 
• telephone: 01743 254740
• online: click the button below

 online booking form

 

Field trip one - Blackhurst Farm, Longnor

Farmers, Sarah & Rob Davies, will guide us around the farm and talk about their beef cattle, which are helping to maintain  conservation sites.  With funding from the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, the beef is now sold direct from the farm. Sarah & Rob are also members of the Upper Onny Farmers Group.  

Alison Jones & Cath Landles, from the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Team, will be leading this visit and can talk about how their involvement with the Upper Onny Farmers Group and the funding programme has impacted on the farm business and the Shropshire Hills landscape.

 

Field trip two - Glyn's Garden & High Leasowes, Church Stretton

A visit to different community spaces to see how the volunteer groups are taking action to improve access to nature for all.  Glyn's Garden is a 2-acre site which offers assisted gardening sessions to a variety of vulnerable people who benefit from this gentle exercise. High Leasowes is a 6.5 hectare organic grassland site which is encouraging nature recovery through habitat restoration and increasing biodiversity, as well as creating a place that people can enjoy. 

Nigel McDonald & Joe Penfold, from the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Team will be leading this visit and steer the discussion around Access for All, interpretation, community conservation, engagement & diversity.

 

Field trip three - Slow the Flow – natural flood management in the Corvedale

A walk from Wilderhope Manor, with Sarah Mackness, Water Resources Project Manager at Shropshire Wildlife Trust, to talk about natural flood management and the ongoing 'Slow the Flow' work in the Corvedale.  We'll walk to see some of the leaky wood barriers along the Wilde Brook. 

Rachel Glover, from the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Team, will be helping to lead this visit and can talk about some of the other natural flood management work which is happening across the Shropshire Hills.

 

12.30 - 3.30pm, Farmers and Land Managers are welcome to drop-in at Rushbury Village Hall to find out about the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme.

Our Farming in Protected Landscapes Adviser, Helen Oliver, will be able to talk to you about the funding programme and opportunities for your farm business.  It's also a chance for you to ask any questions you have around making an application/ developing a project. 

Farming in Protected Landscapes