Tameside Countryside Service

Annual Review 2007/08

Key Service Objective

To manage and promote the countryside of Tameside in a way that meets the needs of the community and safeguards and improves the landscape, historic and nature conservation value of the countryside.

Introduction

This annual review is an opportunity to celebrate the successes and highlight the challenges ahead for Tameside Countryside Service.

As this report shows, a great deal has been achieved this year, by a strong team that is committed to providing a high quality, effective Service. Ultimately however, the Countryside Service can only function at this level through the commitment, goodwill, trust and integrity of everyone involved in its work. Staff, Volunteers, Councillors, other Council Officers, contractors, landowners and the general public are all crucial to this process. The year confirmed the strength of this support and we look forward to this continuing and developing in the coming years.

We have a number of challenges ahead for next year, not least the review of the  Nature Conservation Strategy, which will guide the work of the Service over the next few years. I am confident that whatever the challenge, the Countryside Service will meet it head on and with enthusiasm.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to the countryside of Tameside over this last twelve months.

Carl Baron
Acting Head of Countryside
Sustainable Communities

The Countryside Service

Tameside Countryside Service is responsible for managing the countryside in the Tame, Medlock and Etherow Valleys and in Stalybridge Country Park . Working with landowners, local authority partners, government agencies and voluntary organisations, the Service is responsible for landscape, recreation, access and habitat management; organising a wide range of public events and activities; managing visitor centres at Park Bridge, Werneth Low Country Park, Stalybridge County Park and Lymefield; and working closely with educational groups of all ages and abilities.

This year has seen a reshuffle within the Service and the development of specific teams to manage Country Parks, Local Nature Reserves and the River Valleys. This has seen much more focused effort allowing a greater continuity of management across the range of countryside sites. The Estate Rangers have continued to undertake much of the hard landscaping projects and regular site maintenance.The Voluntary Ranger Service, which has been running since 1976, has worked all year round, providing an invaluable service to the public. Whilst they come from all walks of life, they all have one thing in common - a love of the countryside and the enthusiasm and motivation to help to manage it. Last year volunteers spent a total of 898 days helping to manage Tameside's countryside.

The Voluntary Ranger Service, which has been running since 1976, has worked all year round, providing an invaluable service to the public. Whilst they come from all walks of life, they all have one thing in common - a love of the countryside and the enthusiasm and motivation to help to manage it. Last year volunteers spent a total of 1230 days, equivalent to approximately £61,500, helping to manage Tameside's countryside.

Recreation and Access to the Countryside

Access is about giving people the opportunity to visit and enjoy the countryside. This can mean anything from providing information, installing signposting and waymarking, installing a new path or providing picnic facilities. The Countryside Service places a high priority on improving and maintaining access for all members of the community.

2007/08 Highlights:

• Various rights of way have been improved through signposting, replacing stiles, installing bench seats or clearing vegetation.
• Monitoring the 1400 hectares of moorland and heath opened up to walkers under the CRoW Act is continuing with a view to improving access.
• Path improvements have been undertaken at Broad Mills, Haughton Dale, Hardy Wood, Roaches and Daisy Nook.
• Completed installing 5,000 metres of stockproof Country Park fencing and 1,500 metres of riding track fencing costing £43K.
• Bridge repairs have been undertaken in Hurst Clough, Broadbottom and Whittles Farm, Denton.
• All picnic and recreation areas were grass cut on a fortnightly basis throughout the growing season.
• Countless sections of vandalised fences, walls, site furniture and interpretation boards have been repaired.
• 83 skip loads of litter, rubbish and fly tipped material have been removed from sites and partnership working is continuing with the fly tipping enforcement team.
• Various improvement works on the Trans Pennine Trail and Pennine Bridleway.
  

Managing the Countryside for Wildlife

With its varied landscape and wide range of habitats, Tameside supports an abundance of plants and animals.

Conservation of the habitats and wildlife has continued to be carefully managed throughout the year. Sustained nature conservation work over the years has resulted in a wider range of habitats and a continuing improvement in the wildlife value of the Borough as a whole.

2007/08 Highlights:

• 415 metres of hedgerow were laid at Werneth Low, Roaches, Knott Hill and Haughton Dale.
• 260 metres of new or gap hedgerow were planted at Werneth Low, Knott Hill and Haughton Dale.
• Wetland management works have been undertaken at Hulmes Wood Pond.
• Wildflower meadows were traditionally managed at Werneth Low, Haughton Dale, and Park Bridge.
• The wildflower meadow at Broad Mills is in the process of being restored.
• Botanical and habitat surveys were undertaken in Werneth Low, Great Wood grasslands, Rocher Vale, Castle Clough and Cowbury Dale.
• 160 metres of dry stone wall were rebuilt at Hartshead Pike and Stalybridge and Werneth Low Country Parks.
• Thinning and coppicing of the woodlands were undertaken at Haughton Dale, Daisy Nook, Roaches, Gower Hey Wood, Werneth Low, Great Wood, Park Bridge, Knott Hill …...and many more!

Involving the Community

Creating the confidence and ability of all sectors of the community to visit the countryside is central to the work of the Countryside Service. We are committed to involving the local community in their local countryside and offering them the chance to give something back.

2007/08 Highlights:

• Voluntary Rangers completed 1230 working days which equates to approximately £61,500 of work.
• The annual programme of events attracted 6380 people to the 196 events.
• The Young People Conservation Group met on 12 occasions, undertaking work such as balsam bashing, site clean ups, dry stone walling and woodland work. 
• The Visitor Centres attracted 23,381 visitors.
• 43 teams of staff used Park Bridge tea room as a team development venue.
• Main site visitor counters recorded over 380,000 people using the countryside.
  We worked with 93 school and community groups
• A survey of participants of countryside events and activities has been undertaken during the winter.
• Held 4 Dry Stone Walling Courses for the general public attracting 150 participants and trainers.
• The Countryside Service website is continuing to be reviewed.
• The KITE group met on 12 occasions, working on topics such as building hedgehog boxes, bird watching, willow weaving and butterfly gardens.
• We were involved in the Crucial Crew event with over 2000 schoolchildren getting involved.

Providing a Quality Service

The Countryside Service have continued to ensure that visitors receive a quality and value for money service. We know this as it has been judged in a number of areas by assessors, external to the organisation, and by measuring our performance.

2007/08 Highlights:

• All three Green Flag Awards were retained at Park Bridge, Werneth Low Country Park and Lymefield and Broad Mills.
• A Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Award was retained for the third year at Park Bridge Heritage Centre.
• Park Bridge contributed to Tameside's success in winning the North West large city category of Britain in Bloom.
• The cost of providing the Service is likely to be around £1.87 per visitor to Tameside's countryside, even better than the target of £1.90.

Service Priorities for 2008/9 

• Increase the opportunities for access, recreation, health and wellbeing in the counMore people from a wider range of backgrounds getting involved in the care and management of Tameside’s countryside.tryside for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
• Park Bridge to play a key role in the Council's Britain in Bloom application.
• Priority species and habitats increased in extent, health and connectivity and the damaging impacts of non native species reduced.
• The distinctive character and ‘sense of place’ of Tameside’s countryside will be maintained and conserved.
• Ensure that the rich historic and cultural environment of Tameside’s countryside is recognised, understood, appreciated and used, conserving it for future generations.
• Ensure that Tameside’s countryside is managed as a healthy, safe and secure environment.If you have any comments or would like further information about anything contained in this report, please contact:

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Park Bridge Heritage Centre The Stables Park Bridge Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 8AQ View local map
0161 330 9613
0161 343 1834