Local Wildlife Sites

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Local Wildlife Sites in Shropshire

In addition to caring for our 40 nature reserves, Shropshire Wildlife Trust is responsible for the identification and surveying of over 600 Wildlife Sites across the county.

If you are a commercial body and would like to request data about Local Wildlife Sites in Shropshire (not including Telford and Wrekin), please visit our contact page to send an enquiry. For Telford and Wrekin LWS data requests email: teds@telford.gov.uk.

What are Wildlife Sites?

Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) are areas selected for their nature conservation value and include threatened habitats and species within a national, regional and local context, making them some of our most valuable urban and rural wildlife areas.

LWS provide refuges for most of the UK's fauna and flora and often encompass some of the most distinctive features in our landscape. However many sites are in decline along with their wildlife.

Who designates them?

The decision to adopt a Local Wildlife Site is taken by a panel of agencies including representatives from Natural England, Shropshire Council, Telford and Wrekin Council, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, National Trust and Shropshire Wildlife Trust staff. 

Nature Recovery Network

Local Wildlife Sites are often fragmented habitat, unconnected to similar areas.  This causes problems with wildlife mobility for feeding and reproduction. Climate change is an additional threat, meaning that wildlife cannot disperse easily as temperatures rise. Shropshire Wildlife Trust is working to create Nature Recovery Networks, linking sites with each other and with SSSIs in large landscape areas. In this way, wildlife should stand a better chance of survival.

This work relies on external funding as and when it becomes available. We do however continue to work with Local Wildlife Site owners, carrying out surveys and giving management advice wherever possible.  

Curlew in meadon

Zsuzsanna Bird

Nature Recovery Networks

The Wildlife Trusts believe in a future Britain where nature is a normal part of childhood and where wildlife thrives across the landscape.

Find out more