Restoring habitat networks around the Long Mynd and Stiperstones

This is a partnership project, led by the National Trust.  We are working with farmers, other landowners, and the local community to connect wildlife habitats.  We are doing this by creating stepping stones and wildlife-friendly corridors between the Stretton hills, Long Mynd and Stiperstones to enable wildlife to thrive in the Shropshire Hills.

more about the project here

we have led on farmer and landowner engagement, and community consultation. 

Farmer engagement.  The Upper Onny Farmers Group are farmers who manage land within the Upper Onny valley.  The Group has a common aim to ‘share views about the main issues affecting the future of farming and the environment in the upper Onny valley, and to explore ways for improving the environment, the landscape and its wildlife in ways that are integral to profitable farm businesses’.  Our Community Landscape Officer, Cath Landles, supports the group, coordinates activities and meetings. The Group has grown from 9 to 20 farmers mainly due to word of mouth among the local farming community.  

read case study

 

Community Consultation.  We held a series of community meetings, attended by over 160 people, between January and March 2020.  The discussion from these events helped to shape Stepping Stones community projects around verge restoration, meadow creation, hedgerow management and species recording. 

Community Consultation Report

  

Stepping Stones Visitor Economy Study.  An appraisal of current and potential economic contribution of tourism to supporting farm businesses and a healthy natural environment.

Stepping Stones Visitor Economy Study, May 2020

 

Please get in touch through our contact page if you would like more information about our involvement with Stepping Stones.