Churnet Valley (previously Weaver Hills)

Weaver Hills - Colin HayesWeaver Hills - Colin Hayes

A fascinating human history and a legacy of industrial and social history

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

360 view

The varied geomorphology of this area resulted in a fascinating human history and a legacy of industrial and social history, a diverse patchwork of habitats with a regionally important concentration of grasslands, steeply sloping wooded valleys and small watercourses.

 

 

 

 

Virtual tour by Mike McFarlane

360 view

What's happening?

The partnership has embarked upon a four-year programme of projects to enhance, protect and celebrate the natural and cultural history of our valley. There are 25 projects within this programme based around heritage, access and learning, community engagement and training.

  • Scheme area: 20,000 hectares 
     
  • This scheme is helping species including brown hare, otter, skylark, native crayfish
     
  • Current threats to the landscape include agricultural intensification, increase in 'hobby' farming, loss of parkland, removal of field boundaries, increased tourism and urbanization of rural villages (all identified by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's Landscape Characterisation Study as significant threats to the valley)
     
  • This scheme is also integrating wildlife management and the protection of the built heritage with socio-economic development through promoting ecosystems services and promoting the greening of tourism, all helping to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Partners

Natural England, Local Authorities, local landowners, local produce marketing schemes.

More information

Email: info@staffs-wildlife.org.uk  |  phone 01889 880100  |  visit Churnet Valley and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

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