Welcome to the Sandstone Ridge ECOnet Partnership (SREP)
View our latest Annual Report 2008
SREP have just applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a
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The “Habitats and Hillforts of Cheshire’s Sandstone Ridge”
- an exciting new Landscape Partnership Project
Find out more about Habitats and Hillforts |
Latest SREPeNews
Spring 2008 SREPeNews
A new vision for the Sandstone Ridge
A bold and imaginative new vision for the Sandstone Ridge between Frodsham and Bickerton has been kick-started with money from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The aim of the Sandstone Ridge ECOnet Partnership is to create an interconnected network of woodlands, heathlands, peatlands, wetlands and grasslands along the Ridge to provide benefits for people and wildlife. The creation of this "ecological network" will take shape over many years, and will have a lasting impact on everyone who lives and works in the area.
Who is involved?
Cheshire County Council is leading the project, in partnership with local people, farmers and landowners, businesses and communities. At this stage, the Heritage Lottery Fund through its Landscape Partnerships Fund is funding the preparation of a Development Plan to identify and work up projects in the area. Funding for the implementation of these projects will then be sought from Heritage Lottery Fund as well from a number of other local, regional, national and European sources.
What difference will it make?
The Sandstone Ridge ECOnet Partnership will be made up of a number of individual projects which, together over time will:
- Expand and link areas for wildlife
- Increase public enjoyment of the landscape
- Celebrate the local cultural associations with the landscape
- Support rural skills through training
- Coordinate and improve the interpretation of this unique landscape for education and enjoyment.
The Partnership is the latest phase in Cheshire County Council's long-term ambition to create an ecological network in Cheshire by 2020AD.
What is special about the Sandstone Ridge?
The Sandstone Ridge ECOnet Partnership is located along the Mid-Cheshire Sandstone ridge, between Frodsham and Bickerton, and includes:
- An area covering 22,000 hectares or 10% of Cheshire
- A population of 34,000 people
- The pre-eminent landscape feature in Cheshire which has had a significant impact on the cultural, social and environmental history and character of the county.
- Extensive heritage interests including 3 Areas of Special Value for Landscape (ASCVs), 14 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs - 7 of which are of European importance), 88 Sites of Biological Importance (SBIs), 78 meres and mosses, 28 ancient woodlands, 9 hillforts, 4 Roman Roads, 305 listed buildings, 40 Scheduled Monuments, 87 medieval sites, 20 ancient burial grounds.
SREP will maximise the area's existing qualities and look for new project's that will improve them.
Want to get involved?
If you have an idea for a project, or know of a local organisation, business or community group that could benefit from funding and would like to be involved in the Partnership then please contact:
Ellie Soper
Tel: 01244 603195
Email: srep@cheshire.gov.uk
A Partnership Board has been set up to work with the wider community to make the project a success and turn ideas into real improvements on the ground - Minutes of SREP Board meetings.
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