A popular South Staffordshire nature
reserve has been given a quality assured rating by the country’s
leading tourism authority; Visit England.
Shoal Hill Common, which lies between
Penkridge and Cannock, has now been awarded ‘Quality Assured
Place of Interest’ status after an independent report produced
by Visit England praised the site which is home to endangered
lowland heathland which is rare both in the UK and Europe.
Thousands of walkers, bird spotters and
wildlife enthusiasts visit the common every year.
Councillor Donald
Cartwright, Chairman of the Shoal Hill Common Joint Committee
said:
“We’ve done a
lot of work with Cannock Chase District Council over the past
twenty years or so to preserve some of the rare habitats and
wildlife on the common and it’s wonderful to see Shoal Hill
receiving this status from Visit England.”
“Tourism plays a
huge part in our local economy so it’s a huge boost to see some of
our most popular attractions receiving national recognition like
this”.
Recent figures released by the council suggest
that more than 1.9 million visitors come to South Staffordshire
every year, generating more than £91m for the local economy.
South
Staffordshire Council’s tourism chief, Councillor Bob McCardle,
added:
"At a time of
economic doom and gloom it’s great to see our local tourism
industry thriving and attracting more and more people here every
year. It’s proving to be a real boost for local business.”
Links
Shoal Hill Common