News and Publications

Latest AONB News

50th Anniversary Photo Competition

AONB Reports

AONB Management Plan and Progress update

The Blue Remembered Hills Experience

AONB Consultation Documents

General Consultation Responses

Responses to Planning Consultations

Other Reports supported by the AONB

Church Stretton Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2008-2013

Interview Study on Factors Affecting Wildlife Conservation

South Shropshire Multi-use Trails Development Study

AONB Farmer's Market Research Report

50th Logo

50th Anniversary Photo Competition

2008 is the 50th anniversary of the Shropshire Hills AONB. As part of the celebrations we have launched a photographic competition themed to the natural beauty of the Shropshire Hills.

We would like to share what you find special about the Shropshire Hills. There are five themed categories in which to enter. These reflect the special qualities of the AONB and are why it was designated in 1958:

• Hills;

• Farmed landscape and woods;

• Rivers and river valleys;

• Wildlife;

• Culture and Heritage.

Age categories:

• 11 and under;

• 12-16;

• 17+;

• professional.

£50 Jessop's voucher for the winner and prizes for runners-up in each age category.

You can enter a maximum of three pictures, and we will use a selection of the entrees to form an exhibition as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations.

Sending in your pictures:

To enter simply send in your photograph on disc or hard copy (no bigger than approximately 10” x 8”) together with the attached form to:

Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership

Photo Competition

The Old Post Office

Shrewsbury Road

Craven Arms

SY7 9NZ

or email to (please ensure the image is under 5MB)

SHAONBO@shropshire.gov.uk

Entries must be in by 4th July 2008 and the winners will be announced at our celebration event on 29th July 2008. The pictures will also form part of an exhibition on the Shropshire Hills at this event.

Terms and Conditions:

• You must provide your name, postal/email address and age category if you wish to enter this competion.

• All entries must contain a photo and sentence describing where the picture was taken.

• By entering this competion, entrants will be giving full permission for photographs to be used by the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership in future promotional materials.

• We do not accept any responsibility for late or lost entires due to the internet or postal service.

• It is the entrant's responsiblity to ensure that all the necessary permissions are obtained from people featured in a photograph (where possible) and that they are fully informed that the photograph/s will be entered into this competition.

• By entering, entrants will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by these rules.

AONB Newsletter - News and Views

We are currently reviewing our newsletter. Click below for the most recent:

Newsletter - Autumn 2006

Newsletter - Spring 2006

Press Releases

Local wood made good - 8th September 2006

Final year for free trees - 8th August 2006

Undergrounding electricity cables - 23rd June 2006

The Shropshire Hills - Discover an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

This beautiful new 36 page booklet celebrates the Shropshire Hills landscape, its people and places. Written by local author, Keith Pybus, and seen through the lens of local photographer, Gordon Dickins, the book guides you through the AONB.

Click the links below for extracts from the book

'Good fences make good neighbours' Robert Frost

'For I am among thee and maketh things grow' Clun Green Man

Price £ 3.95

To buy a copy you can send us a cheque, payable to Shropshire County Council, for £4.65. This includes 2nd class post and packaging within the UK. For overseas postage, please contact us by telephone or email and we can let you know the postage costs.

Or the book is on sale in the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms and other local bookshops and Visitor Information Centres, price £3.95.

Audio Podcasts

Listen to our podcasts:

• Rosie Evans, local resident, tells and sings the story of the Arbor Tree celebrations at Aston-on-Clun. To listen, click here.

• Val Littlehales regales her poem about the ancient Arbor Tree at Aston-on-Clun. To listen, click here.

• Cath Landles describes the work of the Down to Earth project in the Clun Forest. This was part of a Radio Shropshire Harvest Festival programme broadcast in September 2007. To listen, click here.

• Phil Holden, AONB Manager was interviewed by Radio Shropshire on 11th May 2007 about what the AONB is and how it relates to Church Stretton. To listen, click here.

• Mike Kelly, River Valleys Officer was interviewed on Radio 4's Nature programme in October 2005 about the importance of alder to our rivers, the effects of Phytophthora disease, and how coppicing can help. To listen, click here.

Case Studies

See below for a series of case studies highlighting some of the best examples of work carried out or supported by the AONB Partnership:

Alder Coppicing case study

Clun Forest "Land, Life & Livelihoods" Project case study

Shropshire Hills Farmers Markets case study

E-Bulletins

Click below to read the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership E-bulletins. If you would like to subscribe to the circulation list, please contact us.

E-Bulletin - 14th August 2007

E-Bulletin - 4th May 2007

AONB Annual Reviews

Click the links below to download the Annual Review, or contact the office if you would like a printed copy.

Annual Review 2006-7

Annual Review 2005-6

Annual Review 2004-5

AONB Management Plan 2004 - 2009

This is the first statutory Management Plan for the Shropshire Hills AONB.

Click here to download the full Management Plan, chapter by chapter...

Click here to download Summary of Management Plan 2004 - 2009

Position Statements

The AONB Management Plan does not explicity put forward policies, and this is a significant area which will need to be addressed when the plan is reviewed. In the interim the AONB Partnership is developing and publishing position statements on various issues to help overcome this.

Click below to read the approved position statements:

Access and Recreation

AONB Boundary

Energy and Climate Change

Environmental Policy and Action Plan

Farming and Conservation

Membership Accord

Planning Protocol

Sustainable Tourism

Briefing note on the 'Shropshire Hills' identity

The Blue Remembered Hills Experience

Click here for sections of the report which accompanied our good practice dissemination event about the Blue Remembered Hills project in October 2006.

Encouraging Public Access

Enthusing the Community

Gaining Impact through Schools

Project Management and Staff

Secrets of Successful Community Events

Working with Landowners