Restore Verges in Three Shropshire Parishes project brings together volunteers from the civil parishes of Church Stretton, Hope Bowdler & Wistanstow. The three parishes are diverse, offering many opportunities to develop and demonstrate exemplary verge practice.
Church Stretton Parish includes verges in the town & in the villages of All Stretton and Little Stretton. Wistanstow Parish offers verges in a rural landscape that include the hamlets of Bushmoor, Woolston, & Strefford. The verges at Hope Bowdler Parish extend either side of a busy through road and are closely linked to those in the parishes of Cardington, Rushbury/Wall under Heywood, Eaton and Ticklerton.
As a Community of Practice (CoP) under the umbrella of the Restoring Shropshire Verges Project, we work in partnership with Shropshire Council Highways Department, so that roadside verges can be appreciated by volunteers, residents & visitors alike in this and future generations.
What we'll deliver:
- Advise local groups on How to get started
- Deliver Learning & Sharing Opportunities
- Provide Verge Survey Support
- Host Guided Verge Walks
- Promote Verge Volunteering opportunities
- Establish a Seed, Plug and Plant Swap Shop
- Publish an Activities Calendar
- Sign post Verge Leaders to online sources of guidance
- Connect Verge Leaders to Verge Mentors
Why it's a great idea:
Located within the Shropshire Hills National Landscape the Project aligns with the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Mission to ‘protect and regenerate’ the Shropshire Hills, ‘look after this special landscape’, and ‘help people to connect with and care for it’.
Our aim is improvement in the local biodiversity of native wildflowers and plants, and in the habitat for small mammals, birds and insects. Well managed verges create linear habitats with the potential to link with other areas of good habitat eg nature reserves, churchyards, traditional meadows.
Our work will enhance the scenic quality and tranquility of the area for residents and visitors, encourage local people to engage with the natural environment, and contribute to the development and sharing of best practice with partners and key stakeholders.
The Project also contributes to the Shropshire ‘Local Nature Recovery Strategy’ by providing habitat for specialist species under threat from the effects of climate change.
Steps to get it done:
- Plan and Deliver Volunteer Engagement Programme - local events, webinars, guided walks
- Design and Launch Project Website - events, activities, volunteering opportunities, survey support, mentoring, signposts
- Source and Purchase seeds, plugs, plants and establish Swap Shop
- Print leaflets, event posters, hand outs, and verge signs
- Source and Purchase protective equipment for volunteers
- Source and Purchase video conferencing platform