Friends of the Shropshire Hills AONB

Share your love of the Shropshire Hills!

Friends of the Shropshire Hills AONB aims to foster a sense of belonging and encourage more people to care about the landscape, and contribute to conserving and sustaining it.

Friends is a network which we hope will appeal to a wide range of people with a common interest in this beautiful landscape, its wildlife, heritage, culture and well-being.

Joining is easy and only costs £20 for individual annual membership. All money goes towards supporting local projects. For further information see below.

How to become a Friend of the Shropshire Hills AONB…

Membership runs from the beginning of the month that you join.  On joining Friends of the Shropshire Hills AONB you will receive:

  • Newsletters and updates;
  • Special offers including FREE entry to the Discovery Centre;
  • an invitation to the annual Friends events;
  • discounts to AONB events;
  • A window / car sticker;
  • the Shropshire Hills Events & News booklet;
  • opportunities to get involved in voluntary work.

Supporting Local Projects

Membership contributions from Friends go entirely towards community projects in the Shropshire Hills through the AONB Partnership’s Sustainable Development Fund. This is a grant scheme for projects that bring social, environmental and economic benefits to the AONB, including:

  • energy conservation;
  • sustainable transport and tourism;
  • farming, food and health;
  • conserving wildlife;
  • community involvement in the environment.

Getting Involved

Supporting the AONB’s work

Although there is no AONB volunteer group as such, there will periodically be opportunities to get involved in the AONB’s work in a voluntary capacity. Individual AONB team members may need help for activities such as:

  • promoting the AONB at events, summer shows etc;
  • research and surveys;
  • helping host groups or leading walks;
  • helping organise Friends events or newsletters;
  • specialist input from Friends with expert knowledge on subjects.

If you would like to help in any of these ways, please contact us with brief details of how you can help.

There are many other opportunities for getting involved in the Shropshire Hills including conservation work parties, becoming a tree warden or volunteering with local groups.

News and Events

  • 14th August 2011
  • Second visit to the Monastery of St Antony and St Cuthbert on the Stiperstones (see below).
  • 24th July 2011
  • Friends event to the Monastery of St Antony and St Cuthbert on the Stiperstones.  The Monastery is in a Higher Level Stewardship Scheme, is a Shropshire Wildlife site and Sacred Land Project with the Alliance of Religions and Conservation.  This fascinating small-holding is situated at 1,273 ft under the Shepherd’s Rock on the Stiperstones.  The Monastery consists of 20 acres of high pasture, wetland and woodland, a sanctuary of wild flowers and rare butterflies.  It is managed in conjunction with Natural England, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, West Midlands Butterfly Conservation and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation.
  • 5th June 2011
  • Annual Friends event to Stokesay Court, near Craven Arms. The visit included a guided tour of the house, grounds and gardens, and afternoon tea.
  • 30th October 2010
  • Friends of the Shropshire Hills AONB event at Blakemoregate on the Stiperstones re. restoration of the two squattors cottages. See press release for details of the event.
  • 27th June 2010
    Annual Friends Event to Titterstone Clee and Catherton Common, which explored the rich industrial heritage with local expert Alf Jenkins.
  • 21st June 2009
    Wilderhope Walk and BBQ – Annual Friends Event at Wilderhope Manor. See press release for details of the event.
  • 1st November 2008
    The new Friends of the Shropshire Hills network was launched at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre.

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