The Countryside Unit

"Working for people and wildlife in Shrewsbury's countryside"

Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council's Countryside Unit was set up in 1990 to help bring about the joint objectives of conserving the rich wildlife and countryside in and around Shrewsbury, and to improve opportunities for people to enjoy and appreciate their natural heritage through quiet recreation and participation. They manage a network of Countryside Heritage Sites, and Community Woodlands, and organise a year-round programme of countryside events including guided walks, a summer play scheme and tree planting.

The most notable of these sites are the Rea Brook Valley Local Nature Reserve and the Old Shrewsbury Canal, where the work of the Countryside Unit has enhanced their nature conservation value and helped to improve access facilities for people without damaging the wildlife value. This has been achieved by community involvement where much of the work is done by volunteers, trainees and local people.

Another of the Countryside Unit's aims is to develop community woodlands, which create a better environment for people to use, cherish and enjoy. It invlolves the planting of new woodland, copses, hedges and occasionally individual trees by people, because local people want to help make a difference to their environment.

There are woodland sites, with a total of 22 hectares (54 acres), and approximately 20,000 trees and shrubs within the Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council area. They are:-

• Harlescott CW, beside Little Harlescott Lane
• Lythwood CW near Lythwood Hall, from Recreation Ground, Bayston Hill
• Meole Brace CW, behind Moneybrook Way, Meole Brace
• Monkmoor CW, between Coseley Avenue and Fearn Drive
• Mousecroft CW, Mousecroft Lane, off Longden Road
• Pimley CW, below Sundorne Recreation Ground
• Underdale CW, Corporation Lane, Coton
• Greenfields CW, Greenfields playing field (part)
• Copthorne CW, Shelton Road field (part)

There are 22 council designated sites within the urban area, which were found to have the highest nature conservation value following a comprehensive survey in 1990. The Countryside Unit manages some 26 sites covering 391 acres. The Countryside Unit provides specific nature conservation advice and guidance to other departments within the Council, and general wildlife information to other organisations, and the public. The unit runs an ongoing programme of events including guided walks, titled Walks and Rambles Around Shrewsbur.

Events held during the year are:

• an Easter Egg Hunt,
• a St George's Day Hedgerows event,
• Wildlife Bingo
• Dip Into Spring event especially for children.