Stiperstones Trust The Environment

The monastic site consists of twenty acres of hill pasture and woodland managed as an Ecologically Sensitive
Area, in close conjunction with Natural England at Rigmoroak who manage the Stiperstones to the west, as
the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, who manage the Brook Vessons site to the north. The Monastery is a Shropshire
Wildlife site, managed closely with DEFRA, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, so as to
preserve rare orchids and butterflies and other species.

The Monastery has been a Sacred Land Project with the world-wide Alliance of Religions and Conservation
since 1997. It was part of the Blue Remembered Hills Project in 2003, and falls within the Shropshire Hills Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Since November 2003, three Exmoor ponies, Ted, Sage and Charlie, from ancient pure-bred Exmoor herds,
have grazed the upper field and lower wetland pastures, and occasionally the home area and orchard. This has
brought outstanding improvements over six years.

There is a flock of brown egg-laying Welsummer hens running with two Welsummer cocks, and a Speckledy
hen. The produce is sold to the Horseshoes Inn, Bridges, a regular customer since 2001. The flock is presided
over by a pair of Steinbacher/Russian Tula Geese, Genghis and Gerta, who have been at the Monastery since
2001.

There is a flock of call ducks and, in the past, Indian Runner ducks, and a flock of white doves in the
Monastery columbarium. Two cats help keep local vermin under control.

The Monastery has close links with Butterfly Conservation bodies and courses have been hosted here. The
small pearl-bordered fritillary is one of the rarer species with colonies in the wetland. But large Skipper, Ringlet,
Meadow Brown, Green veined white, Painted Lady, small Tortoiseshell and Silver have also been counted.

The Monastery woodland is managed with the help of past grants from the Forestry Commission and the
expert help and advice of Martin Hazel, who has given generously of his knowledge and time for many years.
This year he cleared an area of intrusive brambles and tidied areas of the woodland. Martin Hazel was
responsible for the acquisition of the neighbouring Brook Vessons site, when he worked for the Shropshire
Wildlife Trust, and so knows the area extremely well.

If you are interested in contributing to the woodland programme, contact Fr Silouan. If you have expert
knowledge of wild flowers, or butterflies, and would be interested in being involved in the conservation work of
the Monastery, there are local groups you can join and there is individual work you can do. If so, you are most
welcome to get the touch.