North Shropshire Meres and Mosses named as Nature Improvement Area
A large-scale nature conservation project in the Meres and Mosses area of north Shropshire and south Cheshire was today awarded £568,000 as part of a £7.5m government scheme.
The project is one of 12 successful bids chosen from 76 applications across England to be named a Nature Improvement Area.
The grant will enable a partnership of organisations to work with local farmers and landowners to achieve conservation-friendly farming in the area. The Meres and Mosses are highly sensitive to pollution, so reducing run-off of fertiliser and manure into water-courses is a vital measure of protection in this area.
The project area encompasses 40,153 hectares (99,220 acres) between Ellesmere, Whitchurch and across Cheshire towards Crewe.
The bid was put together by John Hughes, Development Manager at Shropshire Wildlife Trust, on behalf of a number of partners who will all be active within the project. The partnership will be led by Shropshire Wildlife Trust.
"The award is fantastic news for the Meres and Mosses. The area has received garlands of international designations over the years and was recognized as one of the county’s outstanding natural areas by Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s founders, 50 years ago. It is marvellous that we now have significant funds to make a real difference to its future," said John Hughes.
Professor Sir John Lawton, who led the panel judging the competition spoke glowingly of the applications to the £7.3 million Government fund:
"For more than 40 years I have had the privilege of working on nature conservation issues in the UK, both as a professional scientist and in the voluntary sector. Never in all that time have I seen the sort of creativity, partnership working and sheer enthusiasm that the NIA competition has released in consortia that want to deliver more effective conservation for England’s wonderful wildlife in their area. Choosing 12 winners from 76 bids was an awfully difficult task, but I believe we have 12 outstanding
NIAs, each unique in what it is setting out to achieve, for the benefits of people and wildlife."
Recognised for its unique wetlands, the Meres and Mosses area of north Shropshire and south Cheshire formed as vast ice sheets retreated, 15,000 years ago. Marvellous species such as Britain’s biggest spider, the raft spider, rare dragonflies and carnivorous plants live in the ancient peat bogs.
