As members of the Nature Group know well, there are many ideas and initiatives on nature trails, some coming from the council and more from local communities. Two of our members, Jane Tattersall and Penny Oakley, had a meeting with Katie Hampton, SMDC’s biodiversity officer, in April in an effort to bring these closer to fruition. One of these is the proposed Leek Nature Trail, which could also address public health. Angela Dale, the SMDC officer with responsibility for promoting health and wellbeing, was also at the meeting. Angela has the lead on a new initiative called Move More. The aim is to encourage residents of Staffs Moorlands to walk more in their community, using graded routes. There will be an emphasis on the positive aspects of being out in green spaces, on both physical health and mental wellbeing. Better still, there is funding available to promote this initiative.
Angela and Katie envisage signage in Leek town centre, information boards at key points on the trail, the map being promoted on a specific part of the SMDC website and posters being available for public places such as health centres, libraries and tourist information outlets. SMDC would take responsibility for the graphics and the promotional materials; MCA's role would be to identify the significant areas of biodiversity in Leek and the routes or mapping. Katie will be contacting the Foxlowe’s Chris Thompson to talk to him about the Tree Trail and Kate Hamey (Swifts of Leek) to identify the key areas for swifts in Leek. Katie and Angela will get back to us once they have confirmed that this project is going ahead. Assuming this is confirmed, we hope that MCA members will all be able to produce information about the sections of Leek they feel should be included in the nature trails.
On another matter, MCA has been in touch with Leek Town Council to express our concern about pesticides, following recent evidence of spraying in areas where there is no conceivable need. Separately, MCA member Phil Barks managed to get the issue placed on the April Town Council agenda. The council has now agreed to investigate. Frankly, we have been here before, but now that we have the evidence, there is more chance that substantive action will follow. This time around, we cannot let the issue fester.