Welcome to February 2012 s issue A belated Happy New Year from Cannock Chase AONB Partnership. We are very much looking forward to the year ahead and would like to take this opportunity to give you an update of those last few months of 2011 and what s going to be happening this upcoming year. A big thank you to all our volunteers who last year helped us with the mammoth task of completing an AONB visitor survey. You filled in over 5000 survey forms. The results are being looked at at the moment and a report will be presented to all volunteers in March. Hero dogs remembered on Armistice Day On the 11 th of November the AONB hosted a service to celebrate working dogs at Freda s Grave. Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) invited working dogs and their owners to a special service on Armistice Day. The service was been inspired by Freda, a Dalmatian-type dog that was the New Zealand Rifles mascot, when the regiment was stationed on Cannock Chase during the First World War. She died in 1918 while the regiment was training on Cannock Chase, and is buried there. Over 50 dog owners and handlers, along with 40 dogs, gathered at Freda s grave to take part in the ceremony. This included listening to readings and poems, and laying wreaths on the grave. The loyalty and ceremony of our working dogs is often forgotten, and so the Armistice Day service is a chance to celebrate them, and to remember any dogs that are no longer with us but the positive contribution they continue to make.
National Trust Walk Haywood Cliffs A big thank you to the Rod Whiteman from the National Trust for showing the AONB team and AONB members the hidden gems on a walk around Shugborough and the cliffs. People were astonished by the Haywood Cliffs and the tales behind the trees. Have Your Say The Cannock Chase AONB team is once again inviting people who love their outstanding areas of natural beauty to give their views on plans for how these areas are managed and protected. The AONB team is holding a series of roadshows, so it can find out what people think of its Management Plan. Emma Beaman-Green from the AONB team, said: We re reviewing our Management Plan, which looks to the future of Cannock Chase AONB. It contains a vision that can only be achieved through the continued, active participation of a wide range of people. To make sure we re on the right track, we need people who live or work within or around the AONB to give us their views on our plans. We are keen to know if anything is missing or if something needs to be changed. This is why we hope lots of people will come and talk to the team and tell us their thoughts at our next roadshow. AONB roadshow Thursday March 1 st 10am midday at the Park Gate Inn, Cannock Wood Saturday March 17 th 10am 2pm at the information hut at Milford Common. The roadshows are also a good opportunity to find out about becoming a member of the Cannock Chase AONB and volunteering for conservation work
Cannock Chase AONB Membership Scheme If you love Cannock Chase AONB, and wonder how you can give something back to help conserve and improve the beautiful, but endangered habitat, you might be interested in becoming a member of the AONB. Cannock Chase AONB offers a membership scheme. As well as newsletters and a book of stunning AONB photographs, members will help the AONB Partnership to protect the landscape, while getting a behind the scenes look at how the local area is managed. There are lots of memberships to choose from including individual, partner, family, group and corporate, as well gift memberships. As a member you will get invites to all of our volunteering days and other member-only events that are held. Last year we held a history walk and talk around Castle Ring Iron Age Hillfort led by Steve Dean, County Archeologist, followed by lunch at the Park Gate Inn, Cannock Wood. This year we have been lucky enough to organise two narrowboat days for members travelling throughout the AONB. More events will follow. For more information contact Emma on 01889 882613 or email emma.beaman-green@staffordshire.gov.uk Join in with the AONB Please see below the list of upcoming awareness days, if you want to take part you must register. Due to the big response on the photography course we are holding a new one that commences on the 9 th of February. All sessions run from 10am till midday and finish with a light lunch. The following dates are available: Fixed Point Photography Workshops 8 th March Milford Hall Cricket club 22 nd March Chasewater Innovation Centre (focusing on wildlife and water)
29 th March John O Leary Centre, Marquis Drive (focusing on everyone s photographs from the course and looking at what has been captured) Community Awareness and Volunteering Days 13 th March 12 2pm visitor survey presentation and lunch at the Hawksyard Golf Club for all volunteers involved in the visitor survey 21 st March 10am 12- community litter pick at Dinah s Knob near Chaseview Primary School following the request of the community to clean up the area 22 nd March 10am 2pm heathland management Hednesford Hills 2 nd April 10am 12 - community litter pick at Dinah s Knob near Chaseview Primary School 4 th April 11am 2pm AONB rabbit trail and activity day with the rangers at Cannock Chase Visitor Centre 19 th April 10am 1pm Gentleshaw Common- tree clearance work and heathland management followed by a led walk around the site at 1pm 15 th & 23 rd March members only narrowboat day trip 12 th April 10am 12 June Jukes MBE from Friends of Cannock Chase will be leading a 3.5 mile (approx) walk from Mifflins Valley up onto the Jubilee Trail 27 th April 9am 3pm Willow weaving at Shugborough, includes lunch cost 15, places are limited and based on a first come basis 11 th May 10am Bluebell walk Beaudesert Scout Camp (subject to change depending on when the bluebells flower). Please contact us nearer the time. AONB Partners sign up for the future On Friday 20 January 2012, members of the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership gathered together to sign the Memorandum of Agreement with Defra. The agreement seals the financial future of the partnership until 2015, with local authority partners agreeing to match Defra s substantial contribution to the work of the AONB. The agreement sets out how all the parties will work together to make sure the AONB is conserved, enhanced and promoted for the benefit of all. While it is a statutory duty of all the authorities involved to deliver the objectives of the AONB Management Plan, signing the Memorandum of Agreement formalises how the partners will pool their funds and expertise to make an on-going impact in preserving
and improving the special qualities of Cannock Chase AONB that is key to its survival. Steve Preston, Policy and Sponsorship Officer for Defra, said: We are delighted that the local authorities within the AONB areas are playing a strong part in managing the AONB, and we re very happy to continue to support the partnership over the next four years through the Memorandum Agreement. Focus on Name Glynis Ward MBE Glynis has recently been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours for her services to conservation in Cannock Chase. Tell us more about yourself Gynis. Q1 What is your role within the AONB? I am a volunteer; sit on the sustainable development fund panel and a parish councillor of one of the parish councils within the AONB. Q2 How long have you volunteered with the AONB and what exciting things have you got up to? I have volunteered for 4 years and in that time I have done visitor surveys, peace and tranquillity surveys, litter picks, heathland management, fixed point photography, ragwort and Himalayan balsam pulling, awareness days and also done presentations on the AONB s behalf. Q3 What is the best part of volunteering? -Meeting like-minded people -Being outside in such a nice place -Having a good laugh when mishaps occur Q4 What is the worst part of volunteering? There isn t one but maybe you could say that 7am on a cold and frosty morning talking to dog walkers isn t ideal. Q5 Favourite place I have two the seat at the top of Tar Hill, Brocton and Sherbrook Valley mid-week. Q6 What makes you important to the AONB? All volunteers are important, mundane jobs wouldn t get done and
projects would be difficult. Living in the area we like to keep it nice for everyone else. I try and promote the work of the AONB through the parish council. Q7 What one thing would you change about the AONB if your fairy godmother appeared? I would really like to be able to grade some of the paths to make them more accessible to disabled people. Q8 If you were Prime Minister for the day, what law would you pass? I would make it compulsory for every town and city to have safe cycle routes. Thank you Glynis and good luck at the Palace on the 22 nd. To find out more about the work of Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Visit: our blog at www.aonb-blog.co.uk or our corporate website at www.cannock-chase.co.uk Sign up: For monthly e-newsletters email emma.beaman@staffordshire.gov.uk