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:
Conservation and Land Management
Woodland and Tree Funding and Advice
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- Planning & the National Landscape (includes frequestly asked questions)
- Shropshire Hills Agricultural Buildings Design Guide (download)
- Church Stretton Town Design Statement (download)
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.
Shropshire Hills 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:
- Teme Rivers Water Friendly Farming Guide
- Planting & Caring for Trees Factsheet
- Black Poplar Management & Planting Guidelines
- Alder Coppicing Case Study
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.
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.
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, email ross.cowie@shropshire.gov.uk. Ross can help with:
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.
- 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
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)
- Shropshire Climate Action - an action driven coalition of local people, organisations and businesses, all dedicated to helping Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin take climate action.
- Stretton Climate Care – local charity seeking to reduce the carbon footprint of the Church Stretton area. Membership, events and advice.
- Lightfoot Enterprises – Bishop's Castle based not-for-profit organisation. Its principal activity is to promote sustainable use of the Earth’s resources for the benefit of the public and environment.
- Marches Energy Agency – Shrewsbury based not-for-profit organisation with a wide portfolio of activities and projects.
- Access for All, a Defra capital funding scheme - read Guidance here. For information please email joe.penfold@shropshire.gov.uk (A4A budget spreadsheet)
- Go Green with your Festival (download leaflet)
- Shropshire Council’s Public Rights of Way – A Guide for Landowners and Farmers
