Guidance & Grants

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Here, you will find links to guidance and grants available from ourselves and other organisations that will help you to conserve and enhance the Shropshire Hills.

Click on the links below:

Planning Guidance

Conservation and Land Management

Woodland and Tree Funding and Advice

Water and Resource Protection

Energy and Climate Change

Festivals, Events & Access

Pontesbury Hill by Phil King

Planning Guidance

 

Conservation and Land Management

We currently administer the following grant schemes:

Farming in Protected Landscapes programme - we can support farmers and land managers to apply for grants for projects to provide benefits to climate, nature, people and place on land in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape.

Conservation Fund - a small grant pot to support projects to deliver practical conservation work and/or educational and awareness-raising activities relating to the Shropshire Hills and its conservation, especially involving young people.  

Ancient Woodland Restoration Project - funding available to actively restore Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) and Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) in the Shropshire Hills. The project is intended to be at no cost to the woodland owner, minimal paperwork and supported by a dedicated Woodland Officer.

Shropshire Hills guidance documents:

Other locally produced guidance:

 

External links for other good sources of advice and guidance:

Legal obligations on protecting rural landscapes and features.  This simple government guide includes an overview on the following:

  • funding and cross compliance
  • hedgerows and watercourses
  • trees and woodland
  • dry stone walls
  • scheduled monuments

Hedgerow Regulations including guidance on good management of hedges.

Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) regulations.  Ploughing or improving uncultivated land or semi-natural areas, and projects that physically restructure rural land holdings (changing field boundaries or adding soil), require permission.

Good practice guide to geological conservation (link to download Natural England publication)

Woodland and Tree funding and advice

There are several grants and other incentives available from Defra for woodland creation, maintenance, management and tree health. Click here for a brief overview and links to further information.

Ancient Woodland Restoration Project- funding available to actively restore Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) and Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) in the Shropshire Hills. 

Tree Health Pilot Fund for additional support for landowners with disease affected trees and woodlands - more information about the fund in our news item. 

Other useful links:

  • Woodland Trust MOREwoods - grant to plant 500+ trees as woodland on at least half a hectare? Apply for saplings, advice and funding
  • Woodland Trust MOREhedges - saplings, advice and funding for new hedging projects of 100 metres or more
  • SmallWoods Woodland Biodiversity Project
  • STW Boost for Biodiversity - fund to help biodiversity projects in Severn Trent Water region
  • Shropshire Council Farm Tree Helpdesk, email tree.planting@shropshire.gov.uk
  • Shropshire Council woodland creation or new tree planting, email ross.cowie@shropshire.gov.uk. Ross can help with the following:

    England Woodland Creation Offer - for larger plots of woodland, at least 1hectare. This can be made up of smaller blocks of at least 0.1ha. You can get increased funding depending on the area (e.g. near priority habitats, flood areas). This grant provides funding towards the trees, planting and also maintenance costs for 15 years.

    Local Authority Treescapes Fund - for smaller sections of woodland (below 0.5ha) and can be used to replenish old tree stocks, or for natural colonisation.  Application needs to be submitted by Shropshire Council (only one application per year/per round). It cannot be used for hedgerows.

     Urban Tree Challenge Fund - for trees near to urban areas, so only land next/within the larger settlements can apply. The fund is for individual trees, rather than woodland. It can provide funding for larger specimen trees. Only one application can be submitted per year, so each town council could submit one for their town/area. Private landowners can also apply.

  • Farming in Protected Landscapes -  funding programme for one-off farming projects that can demonstrate benefits to climate, nature, people and place.
  • CPRE Shropshire Hedgerow Project - to help plant hedges

Water and Resource Protection 

Shropshire Pond Creation Scheme - to create and improve pond habitat for Great Crested Newts.

Getting to Know Your Septic Tank (download leaflet, or contact us to send you a copy) 

Energy & Climate Change

  • South Shropshire Climate Action - a comprehensive set of resources can be found on their website including documents, videos and case studies.
  • Shropshire Climate Action Partnership - this Shropshire-wide group has developed with a combination of grassroots community initiative, and support from Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council.
  • Stretton Climate Care – Local charity seeking to reduce the carbon footprint of the Church Stretton area.  Membership, events and advice.
  • Lightfoot Energy Service – Bishop's Castle based not-for-profit organisation offering impartial energy efficiency information and encouragement to help reduce rising fuel poverty and carbon emissions. 
  • Marches Energy Agency – Shrewsbury based not-for-profit organisation with a wide portfolio of activities and projects.

Festivals, Events & Access