Pontesford Hill saved thanks to generous donations
Shropshire Wildlife Trust has purchased Pontesford Hill with the help of donations from people across the country.
The purchase was made following a community effort which brought the village of Pontesbury together to save the hill for local people and wildlife. Their visionary determination caught the imagination of people all over Shropshire and the UK with more than 100 donations made from distant locations.
The hill was originally put up for sale by the Forestry Commission in 2010, but despite huge efforts and much fundraising by the Friends of Pontesford Hill, the plan was scuppered when we were outbid by a private buyer. Fears for people’s freedom to roam over the hill were raised when Mr Simon Hutchen, the owner, challenged the right of people to register the paths on the hill. Mr Hutchen then decided to sell.
Shropshire Wildlife Trust mailed out an appeal to all its members and their generous response brought in tens of thousands of pounds to make the purchase.
Numerous fundraising events were held locally to raise the money needed to buy the hill, including a sponsored six-mile walk by 800 children and staff from Mary Webb School, Pontesbury Primary and Severndale Academy. A photographic show put on by award-winning wildlife photographer Ben Osborne, contributions from the Shrewsbury Mountaineering Club, The Ark Day Nursery, the 2nd Long Mynd Scout Group, the Mary Webb Society and Shawbury Rotary Club and many others have all helped the campaigners to reach their target. A nine-year old girl, Ffion Korsak, threw a birthday party and invited her friends to give donations to the appeal instead of buying her presents.
While enough money has been raised to purchase the hill the appeal is ongoing to support future management works and costs of looking after the hill.
Mike Mortimer, Chairman of the Friends of Pontesford Hill said: “To have raised this money in just five months demonstrates how deeply people care about their local landscape. I would like to thank everyone who has supported the appeal and helped us reach our goal of keeping Pontesford Hill at the heart of our community.
"We still need to raise another £24,000 to reach our target of £265,000, We have numerous fund-raising events coming up over the next few weeks, please support them!"
Meanwhile, the wildlife of the hill is being surveyed and recorded so its management can be planned in a positive way. Local consultations are also underway to discover people’s wishes.
