5. Countryside + Wildlife
Shrewsbury is surrounded by
a fabulous variety of landscapes and habitats, from flat mossy wet lands to
high heather moors. With fingers of green coming right into the town, allowing
kingfishers, water birds, and the occasional otter to be found right in town!
However, the balance is very delicate, as the green spaces and long-standing
trees on the town’s perimeter are very much at risk from builders, supermarkets
and enclosed sports facilities, all wishing to create more and more concreted
space on the outskirts. And with climate change, we cannot be sure of how
insects and creatures will get out of step with their environment, and create
unexpected change – we are seeing it already in earlier flowers and birdsong
than we are used to. The proposed desecration of outstanding landscapes and
wildlife sites for a North West Relief Road is a case in point. There is much
to celebrate, and much to protect!
The biggest single resource for Shrewsbury’s wildlife by far is private gardens.
Gardens provide acres of green space with woods, hedges, rough areas, ponds –
almost everything wildlife needs! As climate change begins to bite, our best
response to protect wildlife is to provide large areas of habitat. Your garden
can be part of this.
A few
simple tips are:
·
Don’t over-tidy – leave rough
patches and dead stems standing throughout winter
·
Incorporate nectar rich flowers,
like lavender, marigolds, sedum
·
Reduce your use of pesticides,
nature will do the work for nothing
Local
Contacts
Shropshire Beekeepers Association
T: 01743 791081
Biodiversity Action Reporting System
W: www.ukbap-reporting.org.uk
Biologic Design
Wetland
Ecosystem Treatment Systems, Archenhills, Stanford Bishop, Bringsty, Herefordshire, WR6
5TZ
T: 01886 884721
W: www.biologicdesign.co.uk
Purify wastewater, create ecosystems and wildlife habitats,
and plant biomass.
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
34 Market St.,
Oakengates, Telford TF2 6DU
T: 01952 616104
Council for the Protection of Rural England
2
Bear Steps, St. Alkmonds
Square, SY1 1UH
T: 01743 356511
Campaigns to preserve the beauty and tranquillity of the
countryside.
English Heritage
T: 0870 3331181
W:
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Protects and promotes historic buildings.
Environment Agency
General enquiries: 08708 506506
Floodline: 08459 881188
Environmental incident hotline: 0800
807060
Environment
surfers against
sewage www.sas.org.uk
International Tree Foundation
Shropshire
& Montgomery Branch.
W: www.itfshropshire.co.uk
Tony
Knapp T: 01743
365602
Monthly meetings, plantings, visits & newsletter.
The National Trust
Attingham Park,
SY4 4TP
T: 01743 708162
W: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Aims to protect special places in the UK.
Natural England
Attingham Park,
SY4 4TP
T: 01743 28200
W: www.naturalengland.org
Amalgamation of English Nature, The Countryside Agency
& the Rural Development Service.
Shrewsbury Countryside Unit
Weeping
Cross Depot, Shrewsbury
SY5 6HY.
T: 01743 359199
W: www.shrewsbury.gov.uk/countryside
Need volunteers to manage Council’s nature reserves.
Shropshire Badger Group
T: 01743 271999
Shropshire Bat Group
T: 01952 416307
Shropshire Ornithological Society.
www.shropshirebirds.com
Shropshire Wildlife Trust
193
Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury
SY2 6AH
T: 01743 284 280
W: www.shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
Manages 38 nature reserves, most of which are freely
accessible. Has details of branch contacts, and other groups, and many volunteers.
Sells bird food, gifts and compost in its shop, and has lots of information,
holds events, and a garden to explore.
See
www.wildlifewatch.org.uk specifically
for young people.
Further
afield
Common Ground
Gold
Hill House, 21 High Street,
Shaftesbury,
Dorset SP7 8JE
T: 01747 85820
W: www.commonground.org.uk
A unique and inspirational charity, linking nature and
culture in creative and celebratory ways.
National Wildflower Centre (Liverpool)
T: 0151 738 1913
W: wwwnwc.org.uk
Charitable and educational promoter of wildflower
habitats.
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
17 Birkheads Road,
Reigate, Surrey RH2 9SP
T: 01767 680551
W: www.rspb.org.uk
Count your garden birds in their annual Big Garden
Birdwatch survey – usually end of January, and lots more besides.
Woodland Trust
W: www.woodland-trust.org.uk
Charity which acquires and protects native woodlands.