
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.
• 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.
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)
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.
• 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.
We are currently reviewing our newsletter. Click below for the most recent:
Sounds of the Shropshire Hills - 30th April 2008
Shropshire Hills Shuttles back in operation - 23rd April 2008
"Shaping the Shropshire Hills" Geology Walk - 19th March 2008
Shropshire Hills Buy Local Scheme - 18th March 2008
Shropshire Hills Beauty Beer - 14th March 2008
Sustainable Business Scheme - 4th March 2008
Shropshire Hills Christmas Wood Fair - 19th October 2007
Black Poplar Grants - 9th October 2007
Orchard Tree Pruning Courses - 2nd October 2007
Shropshire County Council Scrutiny Panel - 7th March 2007
Proposed Power Plant at Brockton - 28th November 2006
Sharing Best Practice Event - 13th October 2006
Proposed Power Plant at Brockton - 25th September 2006
Re-launch of the Shropshire Hills Farmers' Markets - 11th September 2006
Local wood made good - 8th September 2006
Final year for free trees - 8th August 2006
Undergrounding electricity cables - 23rd June 2006
Discover an Area of Outstanding Natural BeautyThis 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.
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.
See below for a series of case studies highlighting some of the best examples of work carried out or supported by the AONB Partnership:
Clun Forest "Land, Life & Livelihoods" Project case study
Shropshire Hills Farmers Markets case study
Click below to read the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership E-bulletins. If you would like to subscribe to the circulation list, please contact us.
Click the links below to download the Annual Review, or contact the office if you would like a printed copy.
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
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:
Environmental Policy and Action Plan
Briefing note on the 'Shropshire Hills' identity
Click here for sections of the report which accompanied our good practice dissemination event about the Blue Remembered Hills project in October 2006.
Gaining Impact through Schools
Secrets of Successful Community Events
Funding Guide for Environmental Projects produced by South Shropshire Partnership
Planting and Caring for Trees Fact Sheet
Click below to read the AONB Partnership responses to consultations:
RES Delivery Consultation. 21st February 2008
Bridgnorth Core Strategy - Issues & Options. 27th November 2007
Consultation on Draft West Midlands Economic Strategy. 19th July 2007
Changes to Permitted Development: Permitted Development Rights for Householder Microgeneration. 12th June 2007
Response to Regional Spatial Strategy Stage 2, Spatial Options. 28th February 2007
Consultation on Regional Economic Strategy Policy Choices. 27th February 2007
Draft Shropshire Geodiversity Action Plan. 19th January 2007
West Midlands Regional Implemenation Plan for the RDPE. 15th November 2006
Defra Consultation - England's Trees, Woods and Forests. May 2006
Consultation on the Clun Bridge Improvements. 18th May 2006
Consultation on the next Rural Development Programme for England, 2007 - 2013. 19th May 2006
Consultation on future uplands rewards structure (Rural Development Programme, 2007 -2013). 12th May 2006
Planning Application - Wind Turbine, Blakemoor. 18th Dec 2007
Planning Application - Log Cabins, Lower Bush Farm. 18th Dec 2007
Planning Application - Stables & Stores at Cleeton St Mary. 27th Nov 2007
Enforcement Appeal Grange Farm Church Preen. 12th Nov 2007
Planning Application - Stretton Hall Hotel. 12th Nov 2007
Bishop's Castle Power Plant, Draft Response. Nov 2007
Planning Application - Rushton Cottage. 29th Oct 2007
Planning Application - 13 Houses, Clee Hill. 24th Sept 2007
Planning Application - Coppice Barn Quarry, Diddlebury. 24th Sept 2007
Bridgnorth Core Strategy Sustainable Appraisal Scoping Report. 29th Aug 2007
Planning Application - Oak Farm, Ditton Priors. 22nd Aug 2007
Telford & Wrekin Draft Telecomms Supplementary Planning Document. 21st Aug 2007
Bridgnorth Affordable Housing Draft Supplementary Planning Document. 20th Aug 2007
Planning Application - Ripletts Poultry Unit. 23rd July 2007
Craven Arms AAP Issues and Options. 15th May 2007
Statement of Community Involvement. 17th Apr 2007
Planning Application - Stoke St Milborough Yurts. 26th Mar 2007
Planning Applications - Caravan Sites at Clunton. 10th Oct 2006
Bridgnorth Submission Statement of Community Involvement. Oct 2006
South Shropshire Affordable Housing Guidance. 20th Sept 2006
South Shropshire Draft Statement of Community Involvement. 11th Sept 2006
South Shropshire Core Strategy Issues and Options. 16th May 2006
South Shropshire Sustainability Appraisal Draft Scoping Report additional comments. 16th May 2006
South Shropshire Sustainability Appraisal Draft Scoping Report. 16th May 2006
Powys Interim Development Control Guidance on Wind Farms. 29th Mar 2006
Shropshire County Council Core Strategy Preferred Options. 27th Mar 2006
Shropshire County Council Draft Mineral Resources DPD Preferred Options. 14th Mar 2006
Bridgnorth Draft Statement of Community Involvement. 22nd Feb 2006
Shropshire County Council Statement of Community Involvement. 5th Dec 2005
Telford & Wrekin Core Strategy. 19th Oct 2005
Telford & Wrekin Core Strategy Sustainability Appraisal. 19th Oct 2005
Telford & Wrekin Development Control DPD. 19th Oct 2005
Shrewsbury & Atcham Core Strategy Preferred Options. 28th Sept 2005
Shrewsbury & Atcham Sustainability Appraisal. 28th Sept 2005
Shropshire County Council Minerals DPD Issues & Options. 23rd Aug 2005
Shropshire County Council Core Strategy Issues and Options. 22nd Aug 2005
Click here to download the report
Click here to download the report
Click here to download the report
Click here to download the report