Shropshire Wildlife Trust has announced that its plans to buy 527 acres at Catherton Common in the Clee Hills have become a reality as the purchase reached completion on Friday 20 November. "We have been amazed at the success of the appeal," said John Hughes, the Trust's development manager. "Four hundred and twenty people have sent in donations which together with Gift Aid amount to GBP40,000. We are immensely grateful to these individuals for their generosity, without which our bid to buy the common would not have succeeded."The Trust has also been fortunate to have received two substantial awards, one through DEFRA's Natural England's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund and the other from Biffaward's Landfill Communities Fund. This means it now has the full GBP125,000 land purchase price and additional funds to help finance the cost of looking after the common in the future.
"Catherton Common has an extraordinarily diversity of wildlife," enthused John Hughes. This includes wonderful things such as bog bush crickets and bristly fingerwort – a tiny plant that lives in the pools. Its birdlife is fabulous too, with skylark, linnet, meadow pipit and yellowhammer singing and breeding on the common in spring. A vast pesticide-free area, it's also a haven for bees, dragonflies and many other insects. "We're absolutely thrilled to be taking on Catherton Common. This will be the largest Wildlife Trust nature reserve in the West Midlands and one of its most valuable wild places," said a delighted John Hughes.
Gillian French, Programme Manager for Biffaward, said, "Biffaward is keen to support projects which improve access to the countryside and encourage us to learn more about our natural environment. This project will help ensure the prosperity of Catherton Common, help support a rural economy and will mean that more people will be able to enjoy the common throughout the year."
Shropshire Wildlife Trust will now be working with the commoners to make sure Catherton stays in good shape in the future. "We will be drawing up co-ordinated plans for grazing and gorse control to make sure we get the timing right for various kinds of wildlife." The Trust also plans to hold several events next year to thank the appeal donors.
