Who We Are
Steering Group
The partners are joined by other organisations and individuals in a Steering Group whose role is to guide the implementation of the Scheme during its life cycle from 2008 for three years. It will, thereafter, continue in a consultative role as and when the need arises for the duration of the contract life of 10 years.
Steering Group members are:
• Chair - Andrew Deadman
• Cheshire West and Chester Council
• Cheshire Community Action
• English Heritage
• Forestry Commission
• The National Trust
• The Woodland Trust
Project Team
The Habitats & Hillforts Landscape Partnership Scheme is managed by a dedicated core delivery team of three officers (Project Manager and two Habitats and Hillforts Project Officers) located within Cheshire West and Chester's Regeneration Service, Special Projects. This team is fully funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The Project Team co-ordinates the activities of the various third-party grantees, consultants, volunteers and advisors to enable the implementation of the Scheme’s programmes and projects, and will manage the Scheme’s budget and seek opportunities for additional investment.
Project delivery
The majority of the projects within the Scheme will take place on privately owned land and property. The Council will enter into Funding and Management Agreements with these third parties that set out the agreed position in respect of any financial support for the project and the obligations for the maintenance of the work or heritage feature.
Training Group
The Scheme includes an extensive training, education and volunteer programme designed to: provide innovative and meaningful community based learning and training opportunities about the habitats, hillforts and landscapes of the Sandstone Ridge and their interpretation and management and to help sustain the assets in the future; encourage individual and group participation; develop educational experiences and resources, promoting the use of the local heritage resources for local schools; and provide opportunities for heritage and rural skills training to meet rural skills shortages.
A Training Group of specialist largely locally based training providers has been established to provide quality training, education and events, and ensure that the training and education activity is fully in line with and supportive of the Scheme as a whole. The Training Group comprises:
• Cheshire's Outdoor Education Service
• Reaseheath College
• Harthill Arts Trust
• Cheshire West & Chester Arts Officer
• BTCV
• FWAG
Sandstone Ridge ECOnet Partnership
The Habitats & Hillforts of Cheshire’s Sandstone Ridge Landscape Partnership Scheme has grown from the wider Sandstone Ridge ECOnet Partnership which has the support and funding of Cheshire West and Chester (Cheshire County Council 05 -09) and other partners including Natural England, the National Trust, Cheshire Community Action, Forestry Commission and local landowners, local businesses and communities.
Specifically the Habitats and Hillforts Scheme is designed to focus resources on the 6 hillfort areas which represent some of the most valuable environmental, heritage and recreational resources along the Sandstone Ridge.
The existing Partnership Board for the wider Sandstone Ridge ECOnet Partnership (SREP) will maintain close links with the Habitats and Hillforts Steering Group.