On May 19th The Ramblers’ Association (RA) will celebrate the ‘dedication’, by one of their members, of 150 hectares of woodland for public access in Shropshire. This move will secure public access to a beautiful and historic landscape for future generations.
The owner of the wood, Ann Dyer will be dedicating three areas of woodland under Section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CRoW), which allows landowners to voluntarily 'dedicate' any type of land for public access in perpetuity in England and Wales. She will be joined in celebration by Ramblers' Association (RA) Chief Executive, Nick Barrett along with representatives from Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Forestry Commission.
Three areas of woodland at Westhope, near Craven Arms, are to be dedicated: The Long Coppice, part of woodland onWenlock Edge, Turnershill Plantation and Hillend Plantation running down both sides of the valley at Westhope. All the woods are beautiful traditional Bluebell woods and provide important links with existing rights of way giving walkers access to some beautiful new walking routes.
Nick Barrett, Chief Executive of the RA, said, "We are delighted that Ann has offered to dedicate her woodland for public access. Walking in wonderful landscapes like this one around Wenlock Edge is such a pleasure for people. These beautiful woods offer interesting and stimulating walks, great views and an opportunity to explore more of the countryside. We know from research that the public enjoy woodland walking and, because walkers bring money into local communities, opening up new walking opportunities like this will be good for Shropshire's economy."
The dedication of The Long Coppice, Turnershill Plantation and Hillend Plantation is the second dedication of land by a member of the Ramblers' Association in Shropshire. Another private landowner, Dennis Nisbet, made history last year by becoming the first landowner ever to use the CRoW Act to voluntarily dedicate land for public access. We hope that other landowners, ni Shropshire and elsewhere, will follow suit.
