Transforming the Trent Valley's celebration event on the Burton Washlands. Transforming the Trent Valley Celebration Event and Family Fun Day. The High Sheriff’s Tour of Staffordshire along the River Trent with Transforming the Trent Valley culminated in our celebration event and family fun day on Saturday 31st July outside Burton-upon-Trent Library on the Washlands. There were displays from Manor Park Sailing Club, Tean Valley Meadow, Marchington Parish Council, Brizlincote PC, Stramshall Scouts, Burton Conservation Volunteers, Trent Rivers Trust, and Burton Canoe Club plus Wildchild sessions, wildlife recording/Bioblitz tent and guided wildlife walks on the Washlands.
James Friend, High Sheriff of Staffordshire partnered up with Cdt Thomas Astbury (East Staffordshire Unit of Staffordshire Police Cadets) to canoe downstream along the River Trent from Burton-upon-Trent to Newton Solney. Stage 7: Canoing along the River Trent from Burton-upon-Trent to Newton Solney with Burton Canoe Club. The final stage of the High Sheriff’s Tour of Staffordshire began on the Burton Washlands where he took to the River Trent and Canoe downstream to Newton Solney where the River Dove join the River Trent.
James Friend, High Sheriff of Staffordshire talks to dignitaries attending the evening celebration event at Staffordshire Willdife Trust's Wolseley Center. Stage 6: Celebrating the High Sheriff's Tour On the evening of Friday 30th July, the High Sheriff and staff from Transforming the Trent Valley joined invited guests and dignitaries for the evening to celebrate the completion of his tour of Staffordshire.
The end of the walk at the Burton Mail Millennium Woodland. From left to right, Cdt Thomas Astbury (East Staffordshire Unit of Staffordshire Police Cadets), Sanda Friend (Wife of the High Sheriff), James Friend, (High Sheriff of Staffordshire), Lawrence Oates (Burton Conservation Volunteers), David Leigh (Former High Sheriff of Staffordshire), Louise Morris (Scheme Manager, Transforming the Trent Valley), and Alison Thornhill (Trent Valley Way Project Officer). Stage 6: Tucklesholme to the Burton Washlands. The High Sheriff continued his tour along the River Trent accompanied by Alison Thornhill (Trent Valley Way Project Officer), walking from Tucklesholme to Branston Leas Nature Reserve. Here, Chris Hart (Residential Portfolio Manager for St. Modwens) joined the group with Lawrence Oates (Burton Conservation Volunteers) providing his extensive knowledge of the wildlife and heritage in the area. The walk continued up past the new Burton Flood Defences, finally reaching the Burton Washlands where Victoria Bunter (Living Floodplains Officer) gave an overview of the planned works on the Washlands before ending the walk at the Burton Mail Centenary Woodland on the Washlands.
The High Sheriff Jamie Friend and his wife Sanda cut the ribbon to officially open the new Discovery Area at Tucklesholme Nature Reserve as from left to right, Cdt Thomas Astbury (East Staffordshire Unit of Staffordshire Police Cadets), Kathryn Kavanagh (Wildchild Officer) and Louise Morris (Scheme Manager) look on. Stage 6: Tucklesholme Discovery Area. Stage 6 of the Tour of Staffordshire with Transforming the Trent Valley continued when the High Sheriff arrived at Tucklesholme Nature Reserve, where he took time to meet Kathryn Kavanagh (Wildchild Officer) and visit the newly created ‘Discovery Area’ designed to support outdoor education including our popular Wildlings sessions. After the official opening of the Discovery Area, the first ‘customer’ arrived with his parents to explore the Discovery Area as part of this morning’s Wildchild session.
Victoria Bunter, Living Floodplains Officer for Transforming the Trent Valley explains the importance of this and other river restoration projects within the scheme area to Jamie Friend, the High Sheriff of Staffordshire. Stage 5: A site visit to Cherry Holme. This morning, the High Sheriff of Staffordshire as part of his tour of Staffordshire visited Cherry Holme, the site of an ambitious river restoration project completed in September 2020 by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust as part of the Transforming the Trent Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme. The new river channel at Cherry Holme is greening up nicely as nature begins to reclaim and naturalise the channel. Vegetation is taking hold and is already providing a good diversity of habitats for plants, insects, mammals and fish. For more information about the Cherry Holme river restoration project, please visit our Cherry Holme Feature Page. The High Sheriff and Transforming the Trent Valley would like to thank the staff at Hanson Aggregates for facilitating our visit today.
The High Sheriff of Staffordshire thanks the volunteers and staff of Transforming the Trent Valley for all their hard work through difficult times. Stage 4: Volunteer Celebration at the National Memorial Arboretum. On the afternoon of the 13th, Jamie Friend, the High Sheriff, swapped his walking gear for some rather more official attire to welcome some of our wonderful volunteers who support the work of Transforming the Trent Valley to the National Memorial Arboretum. Louise Morris, Scheme Manager for Transforming the Trent Valley began proceedings by welcoming everyone and provided an overview and update on progress. We were also joined by Phil Metcalf, Vice-Chair of the board for Transforming the Trent Valley and Green Infrastructure and Planning Manager at the National Forest Company. Phil said a few words about the importance of the scheme and the valuable and important contribution given freely by our volunteers. This was followed by a relaxing afternoon tea which was enjoyed by all. It was lovely to have the opportunity to chat with each other, albeit with Covid precautions in place. Once everyone had had their fill of tea and scones, Jamie spoke to the room and expressed his admiration and heartfelt thanks to the hard working and dedicated team from Transforming the Trent Valley and its partners. He also highlighted the importance of volunteers to the success of such a scheme. Jamie thanked all the volunteers including those unable to attend today for their selfless act of kindness in giving their time freely for such a good cause, and he wished everyone every success. Following the High Sheriff’s speech, all those volunteers present we presented with a certificate of appreciation for their support. The High Sheriff, his wife Sanda and everyone from Transforming the Trent Valley and its partners would like to thank all our volunteers for all their work and support over the last 18 difficult months.
From left to right: Ruth Needham, Senior Catchment Manager (West) and Alison Thornhill, Trent Valley Way Project Officer both from the Trent Rivers Trust with Jamie Friend, High Sheriff of Staffordshire and Louise Morris, Scheme Manager for Transforming the Trent Valley begin their walk from Kings Bromley along the Trent Valley Way. Stage 4: Walking the Trent Valley Way from Kings Bromley to Alrewas. On the morning of Tuesday 13th July, Jamie Friend, the High Sheriff of Staffordshire, and his wife Sanda continued their tour of Staffordshire following the Trent Valley Way from Kings Bromley to Alrewas with Transforming the Trent Valley. Accompanying the High Sheriff was Ruth Needham, Senior Catchment Manager (West) for the Trent Rivers Trust and Alison Thornhill, Trent Valley Way Project Officer for the Trent Rivers Trust and Louise Morris, Scheme Manager for Transforming the Trent Valley.
Opportunities for people and wildlife on land at the former Rugeley Power Station site. Stage 3: A visit to the former Rugeley Power Station site People and wildlife are set to benefit from exciting plans to deliver a suite of habitat enhancements at land adjacent to Riverside Park at the former Rugeley Power Station site. Today, the High Sheriff of Staffordshire discovered more about these plans including how Transforming the Trent Valley and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust are working to restore the floodplain and mitigate flooding, working in partnership with Engie. The High Sheriff and Transforming the Trent Valley would like to thank the staff at Engie for facilitating our visit today. To find out more about the development of a mixed-use community at the former Rugeley Power Station visit the Rugeley Power Ltd website. Form more information about the Riverside Park at the former Rugeley Power Station, please see Rugeley Power Station: A New Riverside Park, part of our Living Floodplains project.
Louise Morris, Scheme Manager for Transforming the Trent Valley with James Friend, High Sheriff of Staffordshire, his wife Sanda and daughter Georgina on the Trent and Mersey Canal at Wolseley Bridge. Stage 3: Walking along the Trent and Mersey Canal from Wolseley Bridge to Kings Bromley. The 250-year-old Trent and Mersey Canal provides the historic and cultural spine to the Trent Valley. Improvements to surfacing, signage and access for users reconnects communities with both the historic environment and the wider landscape. Louise Morris, Scheme Manager for Transforming the Trent Valley joins James Friend, High Sheriff of Staffordshire, his wife Sanda and daughter Georgina to walk the third stage of the High Sheriff’s Tour of Staffordshire from Wolseley Bridge to Kings Bromley on the Trent and Mersey Canal at Wolseley Bridge. Along the way, they had an opportunity to see some of the towpath improvements that have been made at Rugeley as part of Transforming the Trent Valley in partnership with the Canal & River Trust. This leg of the tour illustrates just how important the canal network is as a place for recreation, exercise, relaxation and as a vital sustainable travel network. Find out more about our Canal Access project.
James Friend, High Sheriff of Staffordshire, and his wife Sanda (left) make it to the finish line at the Wolseley Centre, headquarters of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust at Wolseley Bridge, accompanied by Louise Morris, Scheme Manager for Transforming the Trent Valley and Julian Woolford, CEO of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. Stage 2: The end of Stage 2 and the start of the Transforming the Trent Valley Scheme area at Wolseley Bridge. The cycle tour ended at the Wolseley Centre, headquarters of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust at Wolseley Bridge. This marked the end of stage 2 of the tour and the start of the Transforming the Trent Valley scheme area.
James Friend, High Sheriff of Staffordshire and Louise Morris, Scheme Manager of Transforming the Trent Valley on Essex Bridge. Stage 2: A detour to Essex Bridge. A slight detour was made to visit the Essex Bridge; a Grade I listed packhorse bridge spanning the River Trent at its confluence with the River Sow at Great Haywood. This iconic bridge was built in the late sixteenth century by the Earl of Essex. It is now the longest remaining packhorse bridge in England. The Essex Bridge carries the long-distance footpath The Staffordshire Way over the River Trent, linking the Trent and Mersey Canal tow-path with the bridleway through the Shugborough estate and on to Cannock Chase. It also marks the most westerly point of the Transfoming the Trent Valley Landsacpe Partnership Scheme lanscape area along the River Trent.
Sandon Park was laid out between 1778 and 1787 by William Emes, and again around 1800 by John Webb and provided an inspirational backdrop for this stage of the tour. Stage 2: The wheels come off at Sandon Park! The High Sheriff followed National Cycle Network 5 before diverting through Sandon Park for what seemed like an easy section of the tour. Halfway through the grounds, the High Sheriff suffered a puncture, and a replacement bike was duly summoned. Fortunately, Julian Woolford, Staffordshire Wildlife Trusts CEO, was part of the tour and as a seasoned cyclist was well prepared for all eventualities. The front wheel was quickly removed and after a short battle with the tyre levers, the old inner tube was free. A spare inner tube was quickly deployed from Julian’s spares and after a few minutes, the group was back on the road, heading towards Great Haywood. Many thanks to Sandon Hall for allowing the tour to go through Sandon Park. Find out more about Sandon Hall and Park.
James Friend, High Sheriff of Staffordshire joins the towpath alongside the Trent and Mersey Canal at Stoke-on-Trent. Stage 2: Cycling tour begins. The High Sheriff of Staffordshire continued his tour by cycling along the Trent and Mersey Canal from Stoke-on-Trent to Stone where he visited the Grade II listed Trent and Mersey Canal Yard Lock. The High Sheriff was very keen to meet some of the hard-working volunteers from the Canal and River Trust who were undertaking some general maintenance work. He also met with the Cllr. Tony Nixon and Mrs Hazel Nixon, Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Stafford; Cllr. Mrs Kelly Dawson, Deputy Town Mayor of Stone and The Reverent Prebendary Gerald Gardiner, the High Sheriff’s Chaplain. Following a light lunch and refreshments, the High Sheriff then met with Jemma Hancock from Stafford and Stone Canoe Club.
From left to right Professor Martin Jones (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Staffordshire University), Cllr Abi Brown (Leader, Stoke-on-Trent City Council), Cllr Dr. Chandra Kanneganti, The Lord Mayor of the City of Stoke-on-Trent and his wife, Julian Woolford (Chief Executive, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust) James Friend, High Sheriff of Staffordshire and his wife Sanda, Louise Morris (Scheme Manager, Transforming the Trent Valley), Richard Guy (Project Manager, SUNRISE, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust). Stage 2: Visit to the SUNRISE project at Staffordshire University. On the morning of Thursday 24th June, The High Sheriff of Staffordshire visited the SUNRISE Project; a £3.6 million project in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme that unites the efforts of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust with the overlapping aims of its project partners Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, the Environment Agency, Groundwork West Midlands, Staffordshire County Council, and the Wild Trout Trust. The project is funded by a grant from ERDF, the European Regional Development Fund, with match funding coming from the project partners. Find out more about the SUNRISE project.
Cllr Dr. Chandra Kanneganti, The Lord Mayor of the City of Stoke-on-Trent gives the thumbs up as James Friend, High Sheriff of Staffordshire (centre) and his wife Sanda (left) begin the second stage of their tour accompanied by Transforming the Trent Valley Scheme Manager Louise Morris (right).
Richard Guy (left), Project Manager for the SUNRISE project provides some background to the project and its aims.
James Friend, High Sheriff of Staffordshire and his family at Kynpersley Reservoir. Stage 1: The High Sheriff's tour of the Trent Valley begins. The High Sheriff and his family walked the first stage of his tour of the Trent Valley; a distance of approximately 12 miles, from the headwaters of the River Trent on Biddulph Moor to Staffordshire University.
