Cheshire County Council Press Release Ref: 20/09 20th January 2009
New Chairman To Lead Cheshire’s Sandstone Ridge Project
An important new landscape partnership scheme aimed at conserving and enhancing the habitats and hillforts of the county’s Sandstone Ridge landscape is to be led by Dr Andrew Deadman.
The Habitats and Hillforts of Cheshire’s Sandstone Ridge will make a major contribution to Cheshire County Council’s vision, an ecological network of expanded and linked wildlife areas with enhanced access and interpretation.
Cheshire County Council and its partners have received almost £1.4 million of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to conserve the Ridge’s hillforts and wildlife habitats, to encourage more people to access, learn about and become more involved in the area’s landscape heritage.
Dr Deadman has accepted the role of Chairman of the Habitats and Hillforts Landscape Partnership Scheme Steering Group, a multi-disciplined body of representatives from a range of local, regional and national organisations including Cheshire County Council, Cheshire Community Action, English Heritage, Forestry Commission, National Trust, Woodland Trust, Vale Royal Borough Council, Cheshire Landscape Trust and Private Landowners, all dedicated to the overall success of the three year project.
Dr Deadman spent over 20 years working for English Nature before training as a primary school teacher, now retired he teaches part time. He has a keen interest in archaeology and has been actively involved with the National Trust, volunteering on habitat projects for the last nine years.
Dr Deadman said, “I’m looking forward to involvement as the scheme gathers momentum. The scheme promises to be very rewarding in its aims to improve the condition of Cheshire’s Iron Age Hillforts, to restore and increase natural habitats in their vicinity,” he said.
“Habitats and Hillforts” was launched last autumn and has already seen the successful completion of a number of improvement projects including hedge laying, dry stone walling and tree planting. This year alone, the scheme will see the completion of over 60 projects.
Now a programme of archaeological fieldwork activities is planned and open to local volunteers over the coming year.
Dr Deadman said, “Thanks to Cheshire County Council, its partners and funders including the Mersey Forest and Vale Royal Borough Council, the scheme is now full steam ahead, working towards a full programme of projects over the next three years.”
DH/CD
For Further Information Contact Ellie Soper, Project Manager For The Habitats And Hillforts Project, Tel 01244 973195, Or Email Ellie.Soper@cheshire.gov.uk Or Visit www.habitatsandhillforts.co.uk
Regeneration Project Leader Alun Evans On 01244 973177 Or Email Alun.Evans@cheshire.gov.uk
Corporate Press Officer For The Heritage Lottery Fund On 0207 5916102, Or Email Samanthag@Hlf.org.uk