Project aims to restore nature at rural sites

A new nature recovery project is set to begin at four sites in the Shropshire Hills.

Shropshire Council said the Rescuing Rocks and Overgrown Relics scheme would focus on habitat restoration at former mining and quarrying locations, including Poles Coppice in Pontesbury, Snailbeach and the Bog.

The work will include scrub management and coppicing to expose rocky habitats that support species like slowworms, grayling butterflies and bird's-foot-trefoil.

The project will be led by the council's outdoor partnership team and the Shropshire Hills National Landscape team, with help from volunteers.

Funding comes from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of the government's "30by30" target to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.

Council leader Heather Kidd said she was "delighted" by the project's launch.

"Bringing these historic sites back to life for both nature and people is a fantastic example of partnership working in the Shropshire Hills," she said.

"It's especially welcome that this important work is being funded by Defra, supporting our shared commitment to nature recovery without placing additional pressure on local council budgets."

Other 30by30 projects planned in the Shropshire Hills this winter include habitat restoration on Norbury Hill and natural flood management work at Walcot.

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