Natural England - Shropshire Hills ESA

Shropshire Hills ESA

The Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme has now closed to new applicants and has been superseded by the Environmental Stewardship scheme. Some existing agreements will, however, continue until 2014.

The Shropshire Hills ESA covers an area of 38,500 ha in the south of the County. The ESA comprises two discrete areas of land, each of which contains a core of upland habitat (at an altitude of 450-550 m). The two parts of the ESA are separated by Ape Dale and the escarpment of Wenlock Edge. The northern part of the ESA is located south-west of Shrewsbury and stretches to the Welsh border. It contains a number of upland areas including the Stiperstones, the Long Mynd and the Stretton Hills.

Description

A variety of habitats can be found in the ESA. Unenclosed moorland, semi-natural grassland, broad-leaved woodland, rivers and streams are amongst the important semi-natural habitats remaining within a landscape otherwise dominated by agriculturally improved grasslands. The land use has traditionally consisted of a mixture of beef cattle and sheep grazing. Dairy herds are localised and arable cropping occurs principally to produce grain for home-consumption and as refreshment management for worn pastures. The area is rich in historical features dating back to prehistoric times. Prominent hill forts, earthworks and ancient field systems are found throughout the ESA, with the remains of more recent mining activities in the Clee Hills and around Pennerley and Shelve.

Significant habitats and species

The moorlands are notable floristically through the coincidence of a number of northern and southern species, and the occurrence of communities at the edge of their geographical range. The moors are also important at a regional level for their populations of moorland birds. Much of the grassland has been improved, with only remnants of semi-natural vegetation surviving in the unenclosed acid grasslands of the moorland and the traditionally-managed neutral hay meadows and pastures. The ESA contains  26 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve, and a range of local designations.

ESA management options

There were two main management options available within the Shropshire Hills ESA:

  • Option one relates to basic management prescriptions for all land, and ensures there is no increase in the area of arable land on the holding.  Management prescriptions require agreement holders to maintain hedgerows, walls and other landscape elements, such as ponds and trees. Management prescriptions for permanent grassland include restricted cultivation for the benefit of nesting birds and ensuring hay meadows are not cut before the prescribed date, extensive permanent grassland has similar restrictions as well as restrictions on the use of fertiliser and pesticides. Moorland prescriptions include restrictions on stocking levels and supplementary feeding.

  • Option two aims to enhance the nature conservation interest of heather moorland vegetation by restrictions on stocking levels and grazing periods. 

Contact

Natural England's Shropshire office