Published: Tuesday 24th April 2018 | 10.21am
Cannock Chase Council’s Countryside Services are celebrating after winning the first ever Natural England West Midlands Region Conservation Award.
The award was presented at a ceremony held at Wyre Forest Discovery Centre in Worcestershire on 28 March 2018, by the Chairman of Natural England, Andrew Sells.
The award recognises the outstanding achievements in wildlife conservation; the service was commended for its outstanding work in achieving sustainable grazing and traditional hay making in an urban environment, along with successful land management for the endangered willow tit and rare insects plus much more.
The Countryside Service for Cannock Chase Council is based at Deavalls Farm in Hawks Green and consists of just five members of staff.
The team manage approximately 240 hectares of land within the District including Hednesford Hills, Mill Green and Hazelslade Nature Reserve, along with the award winning ancient monument at Castle Ring. All of these sites attract up to 500 thousand visitors per year.
Mike Edmonds, Head of Environment and Healthy Lifestyles said "The Countryside Service Team work hard to maintain and conserve our areas of natural landscape in the District, they together with our willing band of volunteers not only make a difference to the local environment, but they also have a positive effect on enhancing the habitats for our wildlife. I am delighted that the team and our volunteers have received this award as recognition for all their hard work.”
Natural England is the government advisor for the natural environment who are charged with helping to protect England’s nature and landscape for people to enjoy and the services they provide.
L-R: Richard Gill (Countryside Estate worker), Steve Barnes (Countryside Team Leader), Simon Siddle (Countryside Development Officer), Douglas Barber (Countryside Estate worker), Myles Adams (Countryside Estate worker).