News
Higher Level Stewardship Agreement secured to support the management of SGCT flower rich meadows |
| Posted by Jackie Cornish - Volunteer Officer on 18 Aug 2010 |
SGCT has been successful in securing a 10 year Higher Level Stewardship agreement via Natural England to enable it to continue to manage its flower rich meadows to the highest possible standards. This will be a continuation of our work over the last 10 years under a Countryside Stewardship Grant which has now ended. We are continuing to work with Littehales Environmental in establishing a flock of native breed sheep that we can move around different meadows to graze them, thereby helping the wildflowers whilst reducing costs of cutting steeper and difficult to manage fields. We have also established a volunteer ‘lookerers’ scheme where training has been provided by Harper Adams University College, Littehales Environmental, the Old Pound Vets Practice and SGCT so that local people can help look after and learn more about sheep.
SGCT has a busy Autumn programme. This includes the second part of a Forestry Commission Woodland Improvement Grant (WIG) at Lydebrook Dingle SSSI and a further WIG programme at Oilhouse Coppice managing the woodland to increase the diversity of birds. It is also aimed at removing Rhododendron which if left unchecked will eventually prevent the woodland from regenerating due to the dense shade which it casts.
SGCT is also leading a large programme of recreational infrastructure improvements throughout Telford with many partner organisations through the Access to Nature programme.