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(Partner - Severn Gorge Countryside Trust)
Benthall Edge
Captains Coppice
Dale Coppice
Haywood Plantations
Lincoln Hill
Lloyds Coppice
Preenshead
Sutton Wood
Pattins Rock quarry, Benthall Edge
Work was undertaken to enhance the area of species-rich limestone grassland at the quarry. Limestone grassland is a local Biodiversity Action Plan target habitat.
Views into the quarry and out over the Ironbridge Gorge were reopened from the Pattins Rock quarry viewpoint. The viewpoint itself was made safe.
Benthall Edge and Ladywood
Hazel coppicing, thinning, tree surgery and tree planting at Benthall Edge and tree work at Ladywood helped to; regenerate hazel coppice, improve woodland diversity, improve landscape value and open up access corridors.
Benthall Edge Picnic Site
Works was undertaken to improve drainage, paths, landscape furniture and views from the picnic area. An all ability gate was installed.
Selective felling, tree surgery and hedgelaying opened up and improved the site.
Additional work was carried out to upgrade railings near to the river adjacent to the Iron Bridge.
Benthall Edge Steps
The existing steps were coming to the end of their useful life and had irregular step heights, making some sections particularly difficult to use. By-pass routes were having significant detrimental impact on surrounding ground flora and path side regeneration.
Comprehensive replacement of existing steps on both the main north-south routes up through Benthall Edge Wood, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and site viewed from Ironbridge and the Iron Bridge.
The new steps with their fixed riser height, level surface and good grip have re-opened the area to some people for whom the poor state and design of the old steps had proved a barrier to continued use of the site.
Paths were widened, gradients reduced and steps removed where feasible, allowing a wider range of users to access and enjoy the woodland. New stone surfaces were laid and compacted. Benches and rest areas were constructed using timber from Severn Gorge Countryside Trust sites.
A new stretch of path and steps was created to form a circular route through the woods.
The historic Sabbath Walks or Workers Walks, possibly the first walks designed for public access, were created in these woodlands by Richard Reynolds more than 200 hundred years ago.
Work included rhododendron control, new steps, footpath improvements, installation of benches plus tree surgery, thinning and felling to enhance views and footpath corridors. Hedges and fences have been improved along the boundaries beside footpaths.
Work on surfacing and drainage on the woodland ride through Haywood North, improved conditions for walking and occasional working access on a site with very heavy and wet red clay soils.
An innovative lightweight 'raft' type of construction method has been used incorporating baled heather as a sub-base for a shallow stone track construction.
This method produced a lightweight working track that is pleasant to walk on and can now carry small scale forestry equipment. Drains and ditches have been installed to reduce the amount of water reaching the track surface.
There have also been improvements to link routes to and from Haywood.
Views from the footpaths were created and improved and trees were planted to reinforce natural regeneration. Consolidation works were undertaken on the old cold store, hall site and boundary walls
Interpretation boards explain ecology, land use history and archaeological remains of pumping engine and cave stores.
Thinning and coppicing to open up footpath corridors created more diversity and opened up old fruit trees and large hawthorns at the top of the wood. In addition, additional views were created.
Work is currently underway on this project
Woodside Orchard at Coalbrookdale
A derelict site next to Rough Park Way at Coalbrookdale has been turned into an orchard with 30 different local, traditional and scarce fruit tree varieties, a mixture of cider, dessert and cooking apples, pears, damsons and cob nuts.
Access has been improved by constructing a new surfaced footpath with an access ramp and easily opened gates at the entrances.
Wildflowers were sown in the newly grassed areas. New hedgerows have been created along the Rough Park Way long distance footpath.
River Bank Protection work
A trial section of bank reinforcement was carried out using willow sourced from the Telford area to protect the bank, pathway and improve visual appearance of the riverbank as seen from Ironbridge.
Severn Valley Way
Wooded former railway line, Ironbridge
The 4.5km Severn Valley Way walking and cycling route and its heavily wooded corridor serves local users and visitors to the Gorge. It acts as a main route to and from many key woodlands owned and managed by Severn Gorge Countryside Trust and as a walking and cycling route between the Iron Bridge and other historic sites at Jackfield and Coalport.
Work was undertaken to help address neglect, improve access and provide biodiversity and silvicultural benefits.
Work included thinning, coppicing and tree surgery to achieve biodiversity benefits and improve visibility / sightlines for site users. Work was also undertaken to open-up views to key local heritage features, targeted surface improvements and drainage works, additionally waymarkers and benches were installed.
Countryside Stewardship work
Sites included - Maws Meadow, Shakespeare Meadow, Haywood Pastures, Benthall Edge grassland (adjacent to Severn Valley Way), Paradise grassland, Church Road, Coalbrookdale grasslands, Werps field at Jackfield (also known at Boat Inn field)
The Trust manages important areas of wildflower hay meadows and pastures. Traditional wildflower hay meadows and pastures are a rare and extremely valuable habitat.
In 1999 the Trust began an ambitious programme to conserve and enhance the meadows and pastures under its management and restore and enhance hedgerow and shrub habitats. Seven sites in Coalbrookdale, Coalport and Jackfield were entered in to the Countryside Stewardship Scheme run by DEFRA. With assistance from the scheme the Trust has been able to restore an extensive area of wildflower meadows and pastures.
Three of these sites Maws Meadow, Shakespeare Meadow and Haywood Pastures are within the World Heritage Site. Public access is encouraged and they are close to Museum sites and long distance footpaths.
In February 2003 after preparing the sites, the Trust was successful in securing assistance for a second phase of works on 5 further sites; 4 of which are within the World Heritage Site, Benthall Edge grassland (adjacent to Severn Valley Way), Paradise and Church Road grasslands in Coalbrookdale and Werps field at Jackfield.
The work will achieve habitat improvements together with the restoration of small areas of grassland, including one small former area of calcareous grassland which is a Local Biodiversity Action Plan target habitat. The sites are alongside well used paths such as the Ironbridge Way, Severn Valley Way, Severn Way and Shropshire Way.
Other improvements included access to the Crostan, and footpath corridor improvements at Bedlam Furnaces.
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