Shrewsbury Town Council’s Countryside and Greenspace Team looks after over twenty sites around the town, ranging from large Local Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest to small Community Woodlands.
With such a wide variety of sites, Council staff have a programme to carry out maintenance throughout the year.
One of the most recent jobs has seen the team carry out repairs to the wooden rails on a path alongside the Rea Brook.
Matt Wilcoxon, Shrewsbury Town Council’s countryside and greenspace manager, said: “Our team has many miles of fencing within our nature reserves to maintain, including stock netting, strained wire, post and rail, chain link and everything in between.
“The rails alongside the fast flowing stretch of the Rea Brook are essential for the safety of walkers. The unusual design of this fence meant that the only way to replace the rotten post was to get the waders on and get down in to the water!”
Countryside sites are managed with the help of university students on work placements, volunteer work parties, volunteer site wardens, college and community groups. The Town Council also works closely with Shropshire Council and Shropshire Wildlife Trust to share knowledge and resources.
These areas are managed with both people and wildlife in mind and whilst they may not look as neat and tidy as the Town Council’s formal gardens, they support a huge variety of plants and animals.
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Published 5 August 2021