1Protecting Wildlife for the Future
Sheffield & RotherhamKingfisher
creating a living landscape for people and wildlife
Issue 73 Summer 2010
25 ways to support Sheffield Wildlife Trust
Wharncliffe to Wogden FootGuided Cycle Ride
E.ON joins The Wildlife Trust
Greener Grounds
Ben Keywood
Hello and welcome to Kingfisher. Last issue celebrated the past twenty-five years; this one looks at what
we’re up to today. Living Landscapes is informing all of our work, our reserves are flourishing, and our membership is growing. Isn’t it refreshing to hear good news for a change? You can read about all of this on page 4 alongside our 25 Ways to Support Us in our 25th Birthday Year feature. To celebrate our birthday we’ve created a list of 25 ways you can support us as we work towards another 25 years of protecting wildlife and improving green space for the benefit of both people and nature. You might have seen these suggestions on the front page of our website and on our Facebook page. If so, please spread the word to your friends and family with a quick link. Each of these suggestions provides a direct benefit to us – and some don’t even cost a penny!
Also in this issue you’ll find the results of our membership survey – we had a fantastic response. Find out more on page 6. There are articles about two new projects in the Rivelin Valley and our urban nature reserves that will give you the opportunity to get involved in new and exciting ways. Another new project, the East Peak for Young People project, will consult with over 1000 young people about their green spaces. Involving children and young people actively in decision making about their environment remains a cornerstone of the Trust’s work.
I hope you enjoy this issue of Kingfisher. If you have comments or suggestions for future issues, you are welcome to write to me at the Trust’s postal address or via email to [email protected], with ‘Kingfisher’ in the subject line.
For further information on every aspect of the Trust, visit our website, wildsheffield.com As ever, we value your support and feedback.
Laura Boyles, Editor
The Wildlife Trust for Sheffield & RotherhamVictoria Hall, 37 Stafford Road, Sheffield S2 2SFTel: 0114 263 4335 Fax: 0114 263 [email protected]
TrusteesDr Patrick Vaughan (Chair), Margaret Spence (Vice Chair), Roderick Lees (Treasurer), Nigel Dunnett, Richard Hoare, Brian Walker, Ann Clegg, Mike Allen, Penny Simpson
Corporate membersE.on DiamondSheffield Forgemasters DiamondNorthend Creative Print Solutions SilverIrwin Mitchell Solicitors SilverBluetree Design and Print Small BusinessNew Habits Training Small Business
Thank youWorking to make Sheffield a better place for people and wildlife takes money, time and goodwill. We are totally dependent on our members, funders, partners and volunteers. A big thank you to all our volunteers who have helped us out over the last few months:Vicki Frogatt, Cheryl Kelsall, Daniel Killer, Shaun Weston, Anthony Hill, Julie Riley, Marion Watson, Louisa Whitthread, Nicola Moorhouse, Haydn Walsh, Jenny Middlehurst, Diya Sinha, Alistair Campbell, Catherine Barber, Ann Clegg, Gordon Heyes, Stephen Bradley, Dave Higgins, Myles Flanagan, Rebecca Lees, Ben Walton, Jaye Hawley, Rebecca Marshall, Ashley Booker, Louisa Molloy, Melissa Finney, Mike Pilkington, Patrick Carolan, Pippa Gillingham, Donna Tubridy, Amy Kitching, Asif Shahid, Jenny Horne, Alison Somerset Ward, Kevin Onu, Aimee Hilton, Jen Crawley, Julie Saw, Fionn Birrell. Kathleen Lally, Mike Timmons, Pete Mella, Nicky Moore, Katherine Williams, Rachel Stevenson, Claire Taylor, Matt Shaw, Dawn Sockett, Paul Moore, Chris Smith, Dawn Bond, Charmian Cochrane Hay, Brendon Wittram, Nick Blood, Laura Boyles, Stuart Bown, Shaun Morgan, Kelly Brindley, Lucy Davies, Roger Brooks, Darren Raynes, Michael Bond, Sarah Jaggard, Simon Doxford...and thanks, most importantly, to all our members.
Sheffield Wildlife Trust is registered as charity no. 700 638; company no. 2 287 928. Kingfisher is edited by Laura Boyles, designed by Tony Williams and printed by J W Northend Ltd on 100 per cent recycled paper.
Sheffield & Rotherham
Creating a living landscape for people and wildlife
Ben Keywood
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Standing Up for Wildlife
25 years of The Wildlife Trust 425 ways to support The Wildlife TrustMembership Questionnaire Results 2010 6 AGM 2010 6
Creating a living landscape for people and wildlife
Fostering Sustainable Living
E.ON joins The Wildlife Trust 10A wonderful weekend training opportunity 10
Protecting and Enhancing Wildlife Havens
Crabtree’s crafty creatures 7Urban Nature Reserves Interpretation Project 7 Rivelin Valley wonders 7Living landscape cash for water voles 7Wharncliffe to Wogden Foot Guided Cycle Ride 8
Inspiring and Engaging People
New Corporate Members 11New environmental project in the East Peak 11The Wildlife Trust online 11 Events 12Little Rascals celebrate Greener Grounds 14 Wild celebrations 14Corporate support at Sheffield Half Marathon 15 Wildlife to watch for in summer 16
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THE BIG VISION
If the climate continues to change as ex-pected, there’s a real risk that our fragile and embattled natural ecosystems will fail to cope. Wildlife cannot exist in isolated pockets. It needs space to allow it to adapt.
It needs natural wild space to be protected and encouraged; it needs virtually everywhere to be managed in ways that are friendlier to wildlife thus enabling plants and animals to move freely across the length and breadth of the country.
This is what Living Landscapes is all about: Protecting, enhancing and creat-ing green spaces on a landscape scale. Our Living Landscape areas are South Sheffield Greenway, the Living Don, Western Valleys, Blackburn Valley and the Eastern Moors.
OUR MEMBERSHIP
Is the largest it has ever been, and is grow-ing faster than ever before. We rely heavily on our members for your support, which gives us our influence, and for unre-stricted funds without which we simply wouldn’t be able to keep going.
Our membership currently stands at over 4,800 and we’re welcoming new members every week.
Last issue we looked back over our last 25 years. This issue looks at what we are doing today.
What is the overarching vision of the Trust, how many nature reserves are we looking after, how many members have we got? Looking back 25 years from now, it should provide us with a pretty interesting overview!
Sheffield &Rotherham
Stand Upfor Wildlife
OUR RESERVES
We continue to look after Carrhouse Meadows, Wyming Brook, Fox Hagg, Blacka Moor, Sunnybank, Crabtree Ponds, Salmon Pastures, Moss Val-ley and Carbrook Ravine, as well as managing our own HQ garden for wildlife and the community. Excitingly, we have been involved in a partnership to create a whole new nature park and flood alleviation project, Centenary Riverside, along the Don in Rotherham. And we’re working on extending our reserves…listen out for big news coming soon.
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Sheffield &Rotherham
Stand Upfor Wildlife
Sheffield &Rotherham
1 Become a member today: This is the best way you can support us. Our members give us a voice and influence, they spread the word, they fund our work to protect wildlife for the future. Without our members, we simply could not exist.
2 Buy gift membership for a friend or loved one: An inspiring and unusual gift.
3 Recommend us to a friend: Spread the word! The more members we have, the more we can do to look after local wildlife and green spaces.
4 Donate £25 in our Jubilee year -a pound for every year that we have been protecting local wildlife.
5 Encourage your company to become a corporate member: Joining us is a great way for firms to demonstrate their commitment to the environment, and enjoy a number of other benefits, too.
6 Hold a fundraising event for us: A coffee morning, a sponsored walk, a garden party, or a bungee jump. We have a fundraising pack with loads of ideas and step by step instructions for first time fundraisers.
7 Sell raffle tickets for our annual Prize Draw: Tickets will be available with the autumn/winter issue of Kingfisher.
8 Be a ‘looker’ at Blackamoor: We need people who visit Blacka Moor regularly to look in on the cows once a week and make sure they look happy and healthy. You don’t need to be an expert, or have any special training. Contact our Reserves Team for more information.
9 Encourage your favourite restaurant or café to join the Healthy Choices Award scheme: Designed to encourage and reward eateries for offering healthy choices, using locally sourced food, providing breastfeeding-friendly premises, and more. For more information, contact our Food in Sheffield team.
10 Enjoy nature at one of our reserves: Relax in the urban retreat that is Sunnybank, wander the wonder that is Wyming Brook, glory in the wildflowers in Carrhouse Meadows…Visit wildsheffield.com for maps and directions to all our reserves.
11 Become a fan of ours on Facebook: As well as showing us your support, you will receive updates on events and training, interesting bits of news, and campaigns and activities you can take part in. Discuss wildlife in your area, and share photos and sightings.
12 Raise money for us while enjoying dinner with friends at dinner4good/WildSheffield: This website makes it easy and fun to host a dinner party and raise funds for us.
13 Do your online shopping through buy.at/wildsheffield: With a huge choice of well known retailers, this is a simple and free way to donate to us. From groceries to gifts to holidays, for every purchase made through buy.at/wildsheffield, we will receive a donation. There are also special deals for shoppers using the site, so visit it today! Buy online and support us: www.buy.at/wildsheffield.
14 Get involved with the Sheffield Half Marathon: We’re one of the nominated charities that benefit from the Sheffield Half Marathon. It’s not all about breaking the pain barrier, though: there’s a Fun Run and a Mascot Race, and we always need volunteers to help out on the day. Contact Nicky Moore for more information.
15 Purchase all your birdseed needs from Vine House Farm: Help your local bird population while supporting this conservation award winning farm, in the happy knowledge that we will receive a donation from their sales. A real winner all round.
16 Support our events: There’s an event to suit everyone, from volunteer work days on our nature reserves, to children’s crafts, winter play and youth projects. Visit wildsheffield.com to find out more.
17 Volunteer for us at events: We always need enthusiastic volunteers to help out at events, chatting about what we do, selling merchandise and lending a hand with children’s activities. Contact our Events Officer to find out how easy it is to get involved.
18 Encourage your local school to become a member. We have an excellent schools membership package, and when they join they’ll receive a voucher for £20 off a schools visit with Sheffield Wildlife Trust.
19 Join your local Wildlife Watch group: In Sheffield there are seven Watch groups for children aged 8 to 12. The groups do a range of activities from tree planting and nest box building to art projects and wildlife surveys.
20 Become a Trustee: SWT and our community interest company, Wildscapes, are always looking for skilled professionals to help guide us in our work.
21 Join a Reserves Advisory Group: The idea of RAGs is that you as an individual, or representing your club or organisation, can contribute to decision-making about particular reserves. This is a very useful way for us to understand the use and perceptions of reserves in a wider context, and a way of generating ideas on how to solve problems.
22 Donate a PC or laptop: We are always in need of good quality, good spec machines. As much as we appreciate the thought, please speak to us before donating as a low spec machine will end up costing us money to have recycled.
23 Support our AGM: Our AGM will be held on Thursday 16th September 2010 at SWT Headquarters, 37 Stafford Road, and will be preceded by Keynote Speaker and Sheffield woodland expert, Mel Jones: “Sheffield’s Woodland Heritage.”
24 Book onto a training course: From half day courses to full NVQs, we offer a range of training opportunities. Learn how to identify local flora and fauna, how to build a dry-stone wall, or lay a hedge. Visit wildsheffield.com to find out more.
25 Garden for wildlife: Help us achieve our aim of creating a Living Landscape for people and wildlife by looking after wildlife in your own garden. It’s wonderfully easy to provide a haven for wildlife. Contact us for more information on wildlife gardening.
TAKE ACTION
Can you complete all 25? While that would be fantastic, it would be even better if you could spread the word. Email this list to your friends and colleagues (there’s an electronic version on our website), or join our Facebook page and post our weekly wish on your profile for all your contacts to see. Alternatively, link to our website (wildsheffield.com), where we also post a new suggestion every week.
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We had a fantastic response to our questionnaire, with over 300 responses. Thank you!
45% of respondents were aged 51 and above, and 5% were under 21.
Top reasons for joining were:
1 Care for wildlife and environment 61%2 Support local group 10%3 Like our work 9%4 Good cause 5%5 For their children 4%
Our most visited reserves were Blacka Moor, Wyming Brook and Sunnybank.
The majority of members find Kingfisher magazine interesting, but it could be more useful and user-friendly. Many members would like maps and walking routes for our reserves to be more readily available. Many would like to know about events earlier, and feel event reminders by email would be helpful. Some members would prefer to receive all information, including Kingfisher, by email. Promotion of the website and Facebook pages in Kingfisher was also suggested. A few people suggested they would enjoy having competitions and a ‘making things’ section in Kingfisher.
Other suggestions we are looking into include more information about courses, meetings and volunteering; and providing evidence of membership, e.g. a membership card.
Some suggestions and comments have been responded to individually, some have been added to short or long term plans. So much came out of your responses that there isn’t room to write it all here. If you have a specific item you want to know more about, feel free to contact us. Email Julie Gough at [email protected] or ring 0114 2634335.
Stand Upfor Wildlife Membership Questionnaire
Results 2010
This year our annual general meeting (AGM) will be held on the evening of Thursday 16th September.
You are welcome to join us at our Headquarters, Victoria Hall, Stafford Road, Sheffield, S2 2SF.
Before the meeting, at 6.30 there will be talk on Sheffield’s Woodland Heritage by Sheffield Woodland Expert, Mel Jones.
The AGM, which is members only, will be held at 8 pm.Please book your place on the talk, and/or let us know you will be
attending the AGM by ringing Clare Jordan on 0114 2634335, or email her at [email protected]
AGM 2010
1.00%4.32%
11.63%
17.94%
25.91%
20.60%
18.60%
Age
Under 20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
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70+
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12.96%8.97%
6.31%
3.99%
1.99%0.66%
4.65%
20.93%
3.32%
How they found us
Door Call
Event
Friend
Paper Article
Leaflet
Old Employee
Phone
Reserve
Supermarket
Website
5.65%
55.48%
3.99%
5.32%
8.64%
9.63%
11.30%
Reason for Joining
Care for enviroment
Care for Wildife
For children
Good cause
Like our work
Support local group
Other
AGM 2010 Programme
6.00pm (All welcome) Tea and coffee6.30pm (All welcome) Keynote speaker and Sheffield woodland
expert, Mel Jones: “Sheffield’s Woodland Heritage”7.30pm (All welcome) Buffet refreshments8.00pm (Members only) AGM business9.00pm End
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Wildlife Havens
Rivelin Valley wonders We will be running a programme of improvements and habitat enhancement, events and school visits funded by The Veolia Environmental Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund on several sites along the beautiful Rivelin Valley, taking in the picturesque river valley and surrounding heathlands and woodlands.
Events will be run on Fox Hagg Nature Reserve, Black Brook Wood and Millstone Edge as well as routes along the river corridor, and will give people the chance to experience the valuable heathland and woodland along the Rivelin Corridor and find out more about the Living Don Project. The Living Don Project aims to improve the habitats along the River Don Catchment and the green corridors that this includes.
The Rivelin Valley is a key part of Sheffield’s ecological network or ‘Living Landscape’, which connects the moors in the west to the city
and beyond. It is essential that the heaths (UKBAP), woods (LBAP) and river corridor (LBAP) of the Rivelin Valley are restored to full ecological functionality to allow wildlife to migrate and survive in the face of climate change.
Events will include guided walks up the Rivelin Valley and community practical days in the autumn as well as many others.
Urban Nature Reserves Interpretation ProjectThe Urban Nature Reserves Interpretation Project, funded by Awards for All, is coming to Sheffield.
Awards for All have generously provided £9,927 which will be used to encourage people to access and enjoy the nature reserves and learn more about them.
Local schools and community groups will have the opportunity to get involved with several projects, including working with an artist to create a sculpture depicting an animal or bird found on Sunnybank nature reserve, creating designs for leaflets about our reserves detailing interesting features and how to access them, and creating attractive fencing for Carbrook Ravine which should improve the appearance of the reserve and hopefully encourage people to use it for recreation and discourage antisocial behaviour.
Hannah Wittram, Community Wildlife Ranger, said, “I’m very excited about this project, we are working with several groups who are keen to get involved and the new sculpture, leaflets and entrance should help encourage more people to visit the reserves and enjoy wildlife”
The Buzz Club, run by Springfield Primary, will kick off the project with the design of the Sunnybank sculpture.
Crabtree’s crafty creaturesOn a sunny Friday during half-term, the aquatic occupants of Crabtree Ponds Nature Reserve were joined by families and youth groups during an event encouraging children to explore and understand more about the inhabitants of the pond.
“Crabtree’s Crafty Creatures” was an afternoon of pond-dipping and craft activities. With nets and buckets in hand, participants discovered and inspect-ed swarms of tadpoles, handfuls of pond snails, and even newts and fish. For the creative-minded, there was also the chance to recreate these and other animals with clay, recycled plastic bottles and pipe cleaners.
Check out our Events pages to find fun events near you.
Living landscape cash for water volesWater voles are the UK’s fastest declin-ing mammal, making them a top priority within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
As part of the Living Don project, SWT has completed a £5,000 project at Kilnhurst Ings, funded by Carillion’s
Natural Habitats Fund in Rotherham. The work included days with Carillion staff and the local community helping to restore rare wetland water vole habitat for both wildlife and public enjoyment.
TAKE ACTION
Get involved and get your local group involved in designing interpretation for the urban nature reserves. Speak to our Reserves team about the project by phoning 0114 2634335 or emailing [email protected]
TAKE ACTION
Keep an eye open for events and community practical work days in the Rivelin Valley, come along, get involved and have fun while learning more about Living Landscapes.
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Wildlife Havens
1 The TPT is behind Penistone Station. Cycle onto the TPT and turn left.
2 Follow the trail through Oxspring and Huthwaite. There are interpretation boards along the route. Be aware and slow down for crossings. Look for interesting flowers along the trail in the summer.
3 At Thurgoland there is a tunnel - put your lights on to warn others of your approach. It’s a great echoing tunnel so give a shout out!
4 The valley gets steeper approaching Wharncliffe, with rock outcrops and heath vegetation. You will pass a stable on the left just before the TPT joins a forestry track. Go through the access barrier and continue under the tunnel on the right and up the hill. Get off and push if you can’t make it to the top!
5 After reaching the hill continue for about 250 metres and take the right hand track. After another 200 metres you will come to an electricity pylon with a gate adjacent to it. This is a good place to lock up your bikes and go for a wander on Wharncliffe. There are great views of the Don Valley and Stocksbridge from the top of the path.
Wharncliffe to Wogden FootGuided Cycle Ride
Exploring our countryside by bike allows you to cover greater distances and see more of the landscape than you would on foot; and you can always hop off and explore any interesting bits along the way.
This easy-going cycle ride uses the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) to visit two very different nature reserves. Wharncliffe Heath is one of Sheffield’s best heathlands, with open vistas of heather and bracken ringed by broad-leaf and mixed woodland. It has some exceptional wildlife, including nightjar and the green tiger beetle, a vicious insect predator.
Wogden Foot sits alongside the River Don near its source and is very different to its surroundings. Previously railway sidings for the Woodhead route between Sheffield and Manchester, it has mounds of limestone ballast that give it an unusual limestone flora. Look out for the wildflower meadows and orchids.
Both sites are grazed in the summer by rare breed cattle and sheep so make sure you close any gates.
The route starts at Penistone Train Station and travels down to Wharncliffe Heath, returning and continuing past Penistone to Wogden Foot. This allows you to stop at Penistone if you are tired or the weather is bad and is a good halfway point. The whole ride is 22 miles and is along the TPT with no roads. The gradient is fairly shallow (with one short steep section near Wharncliffe) and the route is suitable for all abilities. The ride will take between 1.5 -3.5 hours depending on ability.
Don’t forget helmets, high viz jackets, puncture repair kits, plenty of water, and snacks. An OS map may be useful if you want to leave the TPT to explore the wider area (OS map OL1).
6 When you have had a rest, cycle back the way you have come to Penistone. Remember to turn left after the tunnel through the access barrier to go past the horse stable.
7 Have a rest at Penistone before getting back on the trail, this time heading right and uphill.
8 The further you travel the wilder the landscape becomes. There are several bridges and crossings with minor roads - be careful. Look for old tracks from the railway at the crossings.
9 Look out on the right for the Hade Edge wind farm which is always active. When you pass the Hazlehead Bridge you are nearly there!
10 You have reached Wogden Foot when you see stock fencing with a gate on the right. You can carry on up the trail or cycle through Wogden Foot - great fun due to the slopes over the limestone mounds. If you carry on up the trail, there is a meadow, a nice spot for a rest.
11 Sail back down the TPT with the wind at your back for a speedy and effortless return to Penistone.
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Wildlife Havens
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Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery’s Office. Crown © copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Sheffield Wildlife Trust licence number 100033899.
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E.ON has become a member of the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham to help support its work at Blackburn Meadows.
The biomass renewable energy plant will be located on the site of a former coal-fired power station. Surrounded by approximately 7 hectares of marshland, it offers a potential haven for wildlife.
Martyn Thompson, Remediation Project Manager at Blackburn Meadows, said: “The land in and around the Blackburn Meadows site is potentially rich in biodiversity which is why it’s so great that we are able to join forces with the Trust.
“Helping to look after some of the wildlife habitats in and around Blackburn Meadows is really important; enabling children and people from across the area to learn more about wildlife and the world on their doorstep.”
The renewable energy plant will be able to provide approximately 40,000 homes with renewable electricity. The plant will displace the emission of around 80,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year by burning recycled wood in place of traditional fossil fuels like coal and gas.
Be Wiggs at the Trust also said: “The site at Blackburn Meadows is being developed to be an attractive wildlife site, rich in biodiversity. It is part of the green corridor along the River Don and will provide invaluable habitats for the wildlife in the area and in the wider Living Landscape”
Subject to financial approval, the Blackburn Meadows Renewable Energy plant will be the second of E.ON’s biomass developments in the UK, with Steven’s Croft near Lockerbie in Scotland the first E.ON station, burning a combination of forestry residue and specially grown willow.
E.ON joins The Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham
Sustainable Living
TAKE ACTION
We run training sessions to suit all abilities and many interests. From short half day courses to full NVQs, there’s plenty to choose from. But we need people to attend our courses in order to keep running them. Check our website for our brochure, or contact our training team to find out more.
Introduction to Encouraging Wildlife10–12th September 2010Cost: £350 (£450 residential)This is a fabulous, fun and practical weekend course on how to encourage native wildlife into your life and your garden!
Learn about the importance of insects, hedgehogs and frogs to your garden, how to identify plants and attract bees and butterflies, and how to use tools safely.
Get to grips with some hands-on stuff, too:Finding fungi and other wild food •Detecting bats• Making a bird, hedgehog or bat box•Building a wormery•Trapping mammals•
Takes place at Northern College (set in 60 acres of Grade 1 listed gardens). Lunch and dinner is included. On-site childcare for under 14s and a residential op-tion with Bed and breakfast is also available.
Habitat Management Two-day course 14–15th August 2010Cost: £99
For more information on either course, please contact our Training team on 0114 2634335 or email [email protected]
A truly wonderful weekend training opportunity!
Above: Trust chief executive Nigel Doar presents a corporate membership certificate to Martyn Thompson of E:ON
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TAKE ACTION
Social responsibility enhances corporate reputa-tion, as does a visible commitment to biodiversity conservation. We have levels of corporate mem-bership to suit all business sizes, and corporate membership of the Trust brings a whole range of benefits, including PR opportunities, environmental consultancy expertise, staff motivation, sponsorship opportunities, and more. If you know of a business that would benefit, contact us on 2634335.
Inspire & Engage
New Corporate Members New Habits is our newest small business member. They joined us in April after working with us on specialised staff training; they also offer coaching, development and consultancy. New Habits works in partnership to support the fulfilment of organisational and personal goals.
New environmental project for young people in the East PeakThe East Peak Innovation Partnership have funded en:volve to run the East Peak for Young People project, which will consult with over 1000 young people to find out what they like about their area, what they want to change and how strongly they feel about environmental issues. From this, young people will have the chance to develop their own environmental project and make a difference to their local area.
Stephen Gould EPIP manager said “The East Peak Innovation Partnership (EPIP) is delighted to be supporting Sheffield Wildlife Trust to deliver this project. This initiative will contribute to improving access
to and understanding of the natural environment among young people and will also help to shape future projects within the East Peak LEADER programme.”
Funding has been made available through the Rural Development Programme for England, jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, managed by Yorkshire Forward.
Sarah Duly, SWT’s Youth Participation Officer said “The young people that will work on these projects will not only gain ownership over their projects but will help to protect our wildlife and environment for future generations to enjoy.”
Trust chief executive Nigel Doar presents Joanna Reynolds of New Habits with a corporate membership certificate
Find us online at www.wildsheffield.com for more news, events, training courses, volunteering and job opportunities, and in-depth information about what each of our teams is doing to protect wildlife for the future.
You can also find contact details for our various teams, more about our partners and corporate mem-bers, links to useful sites…and so much more.
Find us on Facebook, too (link from our website) and receive useful event and training updates, snip-pets of news and information, and fun ways to be involved in our work.
The Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham online
TAKE ACTION
Become a fan of our Facebook page. Start discussions with other interested folk, and get updates, info and news. Visit our website to find out more about what we do. Got a suggestion for the upcoming new website, or something you’d like to see on this one? Email us at [email protected]
TAKE ACTION
Every penny counts; if you can help run a fundraising event to support our work, especially in this, our 25th birthday year, please get in touch with Nicky Moore via email at [email protected] or by phone on 0114 2634335 for information and support.
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Inspire & Engage
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Want to get out and enjoy Sheffield and the region’s wildlife, but don’t know where to start?
Sheffield Wildlife Trust runs a whole host of events all over the city, aimed at helping everyone get the most out of their local environment. All our events are free of charge, though you may have to ring to book in advance for some of them.
Please wear suitable clothing & footwear, bearing •in mind that weather is unpredictable, especially on the larger nature reserves inside the Peak District. Please make sure your children are accompanied •by a responsible adult, as we are unable to take responsibility for them at events. Many nature reserves have uneven or steep terrain, •and may not be suitable for wheelchair or pushchair users. Please check beforehand if you are unsure. All events can be reached easily by public transport •and most events are arranged around bus times. For public transport details, call Traveline on 01709 515151. Photographs may be taken by Trust staff at events •and used for publicity purposes. Please speak to a member of staff at an event if you are unhappy about having photos taken. Dogs on leads are welcome, unless specified •otherwise.
Contact the Reserve Manager on 0114 279 2667 for details and bookings.
Flying High
Tuesday 3rd August, 1pm–3pm Centenary Riverside Nature Reserve
Have some summer fun and fly a kite around the reserve. There are all sorts of birds flying around, come and see you can design your nature inspired kite to fly in the sky.
Meeting point: the Steel Henge sculpture, just on the right once you’ve walked across the bridge. Centenary Riverside is just off Riverside Way, (off the A6178), Rotherham.
Bookable event, please contact Hannah Wittram on 0114 2634335 or h.wittram by the 2nd August to book a place.
Wildlife on your doorstep! Batty about Crabtree
Friday 6th August, 8pm–9.30pm Crabtree Ponds Nature Reserve
Come down to pond and join us for a guided twilight stroll around the pond and nearby woodlands and hear all about different bats and night time creatures found around Crabtree Pond. As well as spotting bats, here’s your chance to hear about the work that SWT are doing in nature reserve.
Meet at the reserve entrance off Crabtree Close.Bookable event, please contact Hannah Wittram on
0114 2634335 or h.wittram by the 4th August to book a place.
Fishy Frogs
Tuesday 10th August, 1pm–3pm Sunnybank Nature Reserve
Hop down to Sunnybank and see if you can spot some frogs and have a go at making your own hopping frog. If frogs aren’t your thing why not try your hand at making your very own flying fish to fly home with.
Meet near the top entrance off Broomhall Drive, Grid Reference SK 343 863.
Scarecrows and Ragged Robins
Wednesday 11th August, 1pm–3pm Crabtree Ponds Nature Reserve Meeting point: Near the pond off Crabtree Close.
Thursday 26th August, 1pm–3pm Carbrook Ravine Nature Reserve Meet at the Danewood Road entrance, off Hastillar Rd
Have you got old clothes and don’t know what to do with them? Feeling crafty? Or want something to scare away the crows? Come and make a scarecrow to take home and make some other recycled crafts.
Meeting point: Near the pond off Crabtree Close.
AGM 2010
Thursday 16th September SWT Headquarters, Victoria Hall
6.00pm (All welcome) Tea and coffee6.30pm (All welcome) Keynote speaker and
Sheffield woodland expert, Mel Jones: “Sheffield’s Woodland Heritage”
7.30pm (All welcome) Buffet refreshments8.00pm (Members only) AGM business
Please book your place on the talk, and/or let us know you will be attending the AGM by ringing Clare Jordan on 0114 2634335, or email her at [email protected]
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Wildlife on your doorstep!
Blackstock Meadow (behind Bankwood Primary School)
Every Monday3.30pm–5.30pm during term time11am–3.30pm during school holidays
Millhouses Park (Abbeydale Road)
Every Wednesday3.30pm–5.30pm during term time11am–3.30pm during school holidays
Spider Park (Lodge Moor)
Every Thursday3.30pm–5.30pm during term time11am–3.30pm during school holidays
Meersbrook Park (Meersbrook Park Road)
Every Tuesday11am–3.30pm during school holidays
For more information and to book a place on these events please ring our en:volve Team on 0114 2634335 or email [email protected]
PLAY DAYS
Parkwood Springs Play Day26th July, 10am–4pmParkwood Springs Play Scheme27th–30th July, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1pm–3pmGleadless Valley Play Day28th July, 10am–4pmNational Play Day (Hillsborough)4th August, 11am–4pm
For more info on play days and play schemes call 0114 273 6199.
en:volveen:volveyoung people in the environment
Inspire & Engage
Parkwood Springs PlaydayMonday 26th July, 10am–4pm Parkwood SpringsClimbing, high ropes, den building, wil-low weaving. Bookable.
Environmental games & craftsTuesday 27th July Parkwood Springs
10.30am–12.30pm: Environmental games. Bookable.1pm–3pm: Badge making, using bow saws and drills. Bookable.
Gleadless Valley PlaydayWednesday 28th July, 10am–4pm Parkwood SpringsClimbing, high ropes, den building, wil-low weaving. Open access.
Environmental games & activitiesWednesday 28th July Parkwood Springs
10.30am–12.30pm: Games, woodland treasure hunt, shadow pictures with nature paper and natural frames.1pm–3pm: Insect safari, stream dipping. Bookable.
Treasure hunt & den buildingThursday 29th July Parkwood Springs
10.30am–12.30pm: Treasure hunt.1pm–3pm: Den building and rock houses. Bookable.
Fire lighting & caterpillar challengeFriday 30th July Parkwood Springs
10.30am–12.30pm: Fire lighting.1pm–3pm: Caterpillar challenge, popcorn making over an open fire.
Bookable.
For more information and to book a place on these events please ring our en:volve Team on 0114 2634335 or email [email protected]
Frog Rescue
Wed 8th and Thurs 9th September, 10am–3pm Sunnybank Nature Reserve
The meadows of this small but perfectly formed nature reserve are cut each year as a hay meadow. However, it’s right next to a pond so the meadows are teaming with frogs which need rescuing before the cut!
Meet by the pond SK 343 863.
Wildlife Photography Walk
Sunday 17th October, 10am–4pm Wyming Brook Nature Reserve
Would you like to improve your wildlife photography skills? Join photography expert Paul Hobson and practice your photography skills whilst admiring the beautiful views of Wyming Brook.
Please wear sturdy footwear and warm clothes. Minimum donation of £5.
Meet at Wyming Brook Car park, off Redmires Road, Grid reference SK 269 858.
Bookable event, please contact Hannah Wittram on 0114 2634335 or h.wittram by the 15thOctober to book a place.
Fungal Foray
Saturday 30th October, 11am–1pm Wyming Brook Nature Reserve
Come along and join our local fungus ex-pert, Ziggy on a guided walk and discover the fungi that can be found around Wym-ing Brook.
Meet at Wyming Brook Car park, off Redmires Road, Grid reference SK 269 858 Please wear sturdy footwear and warm clothes. Minimum donation of £3.
Bookable event, please contact Hannah Wittram on 0114 2634335 or h.wittram by the 28th Oct to book a place.
Snug as a bug
Thursday 28th October, 1pm–3pm Sunnybank Nature Reserve
Give our insects a helping hand this winter and create some hibernation homes to help them feel snug as a bug over the cold winter months.
Meet at Sunnybank Nature Reserve, off Broomhall Close entrance.
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Little Rascals celebrate Greener Grounds
Inspire & Engage
Wildlife Watch in Sheffield is celebrating a second year of funding from Brelms Charitable Trust, funding will support our 6 Watch groups in Sheffield with children’s activities, support and events across the year. For more information about Watch groups in your area, contact Nicky Moore on [email protected]
Wild celebrations
Parents and children enjoyed a sunny afternoon in their spectacular new garden at the Little Rascals Day Nursery on Halifax Road after the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham worked in partnership with local landscape gardeners, Nethergreen Landscapes, to transform their dangerous and muddy grass slope into an exciting outdoor play area.
The new garden has a rockery full of nooks and crannies for insects and creepy crawlies to hide in, bird boxes made by the children; a sand pit, a planting area, a secret tree house, even a stage for hosting tea parties and concerts or for dressing up and pretending. There’s also a separate area where the babies can take their toys outside and spread out safely away from the older children.
Outdoor play is high on the pre-school agenda: it’s healthy for children to be physically active, experience nature and the freedom of being outdoors, and learn about their own safety.
Lisa, the nursery owner, was delighted with the results: “It’s breath-taking! It certainly has the Wow! factor we wanted.”
A parent said, “It used to be a dangerous patch of muddy grass on a really steep hill with concrete steps at the bottom. The children weren’t allowed onto it, but it’s wonderful now”
Thank you to Turner Hire and Hardcore Builders Merchants for their assistance.
To find out more about developing your space to encourage outdoor play, contact the Greener Grounds team at the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham for more details.
Main photo: the new garden at Little Rascals Day Nursery
Below: the sand pit is put to the test
TAKE ACTION
Become a Wildife Watch member. For a small fee, your family can join, get a great welcome pack, stickers, wildlife facts and activities sent to your home. You can also join a Wildlife Watch group near you and take part in fun outdoor activities like pond dipping and bug hunting.
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Inspire & Engage
Corporate support at Sheffield Half MarathonDedicated staff from Bluetree Design and Print ran in the SIG Insulations 3k Fun Run in April. The Bluetree team dressed in striking ‘Bat’man and ‘Robin’ costumes to raise awareness and over £500 to help protect some of our most favourite and well known wildlife on our local nature reserves.
Staff from Killgerm chemicals also donned their train-ers to race against Wildlife Trust staff and supporters in the SIG Insulations Half Marathon race. The Killgerm team were Isabel Sampson, Stephen Hudson, and Jochen Halle, Killgerm GmbH’s Managing Director who flew over to the UK especially to take part. The Killgerm team raised over £200 and the com-pany also matched what the team had raised.
Well done and thank you to everyone who took part. To run for the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham at next year’s race, contact Nicky Moore on [email protected]
TAKE ACTION
Encourage your colleagues to run as a team for us in the 2011 Sheffield Half marathon, the Great North Run, or the Three Peaks Challenge. Contact Nicky Moore for hints and tips on fundraising for us.
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Sheffield & Rotherham
Inspire & Engage
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
Keep your eyes out for the ladiesThe summer months are a great time to see butterflies taking to the air. One of our larg-est and most beautiful is the Painted Lady, a gorgeous species with orange, black and white wings.
The species is a migrant to Britain - although it breeds here it cannot tolerate our cold winters. Instead it winters as far afield as North Africa and the Middle East, arriving here in May and June. Some years are bet-ter than others for Painted Ladies, and it can be possible to see them coming in over the sea in vast numbers.
They can be found almost everywhere, including gardens (especially those well-stocked with Buddleia!), but are found particularly around thistles and knap-weed, which are important food plants for caterpillars..
Pete
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BY
PETE
MEL
LA
in SummerWildlife to Watch For
Dragons on the moorsIf you’re visiting the moorland, keep your eyes open for drag-onflies hunting and breeding on boggy pools.
The most common in this habi-tat is the Common Hawker. It’s a large species of hawker; the males have a black abdomen with paired blue and yellow spots, and females a brown abdomen, usually with yellow spots (although these can be blue or green).
The species can be tricky to differentiate from close rela-tives such as Migrant Hawker and Southern Hawker – among other differences, Common Hawkers have a diagnostic yellow costa (the major vein on the leading edge of the wings) though this can be hard to make out in flight. However the other species do not occur in acid bogs and pools, making the ID a little bit easier!
Beware the biters!While the summer months fill the air with some truly wonderful insect life, others are less welcome. Horseflies can be found in damp habitats such as wetlands, wet moorland and woodlands, from May until September.
While the males are harmless nectar-feeders, the females are fond of mammal blood – including that of humans! They’re masters of stealth, with a quiet flight that means they’re
often on your arm before you even know they’re there. Bites can be very painful, leave a triangular wound, and in some people cause severe allergic reactions.
There are many species of horsefly, and some found locally are of the genus Chrysops, which are also known as deerflies. Despite their fearsome bite they have beautiful jewel-like eyes and patterned wings – although be careful of getting too close a look!
Pete
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