Middle Marches Community Land Trust
The Middle Marches Community Land Trust is owned and managed by local people to protect, conserve, restore and enhance our environment through the stewardship of land.
The Stiperstones Landscape National Nature Reserve (NNR)
On Thursday 14 August 2025, the Stiperstones Landscape National Nature Reserve (NNR) was launched at Nipstone Rock, near The Bog.
Stiperstones Landscape NNR declaration
- The NNR brings together a partnership of six landowning organisations, which includes Natural England, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Shropshire Council, Linley Estate, Forestry England and Middle Marches Community Land Trust (MMCLT).
- The NNR is one of the ‘King’s Series’ of National Nature Reserves, the first of which was declared in 2023, in honour of His Majesty The King’s longstanding passion for the natural environment. This is the most significant expansion of the NNR series in a generation.
- The expanded NNR will cover 1562 Hectares of nationally rare upland habitats which includes a mix of lowland and upland heath, woodland, bog, mire and flush and acidic grasslands
- Bringing these sites together under the banner of one NNR will aid nature recovery across and beyond these sites. The partners will work together to create a strategic management plan for all sites, which will better inform the existing site-based plans and set them in a wider and more ambitious context.
MMCLT own two reserves that will be included in the NNR: Norbury Hill and Minsterley Meadows, and we look forward to working with the partners across the NNR area.
(Cover photo, “View from the Long Mynd” (c) Lucy Gaze)
ABOUT
Middle Marches
We are a community-led Trust based in the Middle Marches committed to the promotion and development of sustainable and environmentally responsible agriculture that supports a thriving natural world.
Our Vision is to help create an ecologically healthy and sustainable countryside in the hills of the Middle Marches to inspire both residents and visitors.
The video below was one of Tim Selman’s last initiatives for MMCLT, funded by the Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The aim was to explain Middle Marches’ vision directly, without the filter of the written word.
We would like to thank Arthur Sharples and Robin Fellows-Weir for bringing it to life.
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Support the Trust by becoming a Shareholder
Lifelong journey
When you become a Shareholder of the Middle Marches Community Land Trust, you can be part of the Trust for a lifetime.
Part ownership
Purchasing shares to become a member means that you own part of the Trust and will therefore own a stake in any land that we acquire.
Voice to vote
As a Shareholder, you are entitled to one vote at the Annual General Meeting at which key decisions for the Trust will be taken.
If you’d like to support the Trust in other ways than becoming a Shareholder, we are always very grateful to receive general donations or offers of time and expertise.
Or, perhaps you would like to donate through a Legacy (see Leaving money in your Will). Whether you can give your time or money, Thank you!
Get in touch!
Address
Enterprise House, Station Street, Bishops Castle, SY9 5AQ
Email us
info@middlemarchescommunitylandtrust.org.uk
Telephone
01743 891492 (Dr Richard Keymer)