The service is a specialist team within Parks and Open Spaces that seeks to maintain the nature conservation value of sites within Cannock Chase District whilst integrating wildlife management with the potentially competing demands of informal recreation. It is also part of the Countryside Services role to provide specialist ecological advice to Cannock Chase Council’s Planning Department and the general public.

The sites that the service are responsible for range from old railway lines and colliery spoil heaps to heathland, grassland and woodland sites. This includes one SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), a Green Flag award winning SAM (Scheduled Ancient Monument), Local Nature Reserves and SBI’s (Sites of Biological Interest).

These sites include:

• Hednesford Hills
• Hazelslade Nature Reserve
• Mill Green & Hawks Green Valleys Local Nature Reserve
• Castle Ring
• Fair Lady Coppice 

The Countryside Service also look after further areas of land outside of the five designated sites mentioned above.

These areas include Nunswell Park near the village of Cannock Wood which has a mix of grassland and woodland habitats and old mineral railway lines which are now largely wooded including lengths at Brereton, Rawnsley, Prospect Village and Norton Canes.

As well as managing the sites, the service also provides valuable work experience placements for people wanting to enter the profession as well as a weekly community volunteer day on Fridays.

For up to date information find us on our Facebook page: Cannock Chase Council Countryside Service