SANDSTONE RIDGE ECONET PARTNERSHIP

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.

For further information about the vision and the work of the Sandstone Ridge ECOnet Partnership contact:
Mike Wellman
Cheshire County Council
Environmental Planning
Backford Hall
Chester
CH1 6PZ
Phone: 01244 603195
Website: www.cheshire.gov.uk/srep