Creating a Network for Nature

We take care of 15 nature reserves across Sheffield and Rotherham.

© woodhouse-washlands-wildflower-nabil-abbas

We take care of 15 nature reserves (almost 600 hectares) across Sheffield and Rotherham where you can enjoy nature and where our conservation work helps the wildlife you love to thrive, whilst working towards creating a network for nature.

Highlights from 2021-22

  • Our ecological monitoring – supported by more than 40 excellent Data for Nature volunteers –  detected Great Crested Newt in new ponds at Woodhouse Washlands
  • We purchased an additional 4.5ha semi-natural ancient woodland adjacent to Greno Woods to extend the nature reserve and we have secured UK Woodland Assurance Scheme for our woodlands.
  • We developed a number of biodiversity improvement schemes along the river Rother corridor, and river restoration works at Waverley were largely completed.
  • Multiple Natural Flood Management interventions have been put in place across the Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership area, to aid natural flood risk management in the upper catchment above Sheffield to help protect the city from flooding.This includes 11 small leaky dams on sites in the Sheffield Lakeland area, specifically targeted at supporting water vole populations.
  • We successfully delivered 70ha of new woodland planting across South Yorkshire and have secured funding from DEFRA to help us expand Woodland Creation over the next 3-years.

Highlights from 2019-20

  • Delivered 100 days of essential maintenance across our nature reserves.
  • A major river restoration scheme was completed at the Woodhouse Washlands nature reserve
  • Engaged farmers in the Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership area with onsite natural flood risk management improvements that also benefit wildlife.
  • Worked with Sheffield City Council to convert 7Ha of conifer plantation to broadleaved woodland, including some ancient woodland restoration.
  •  The Brighter Sunnybank project was completed, improving access, infrastructure, site security of the site and enhancing the wildflower meadows at this urban nature reserve. 
  • Woodland restoration at Blacka Moor improved the nature reserve for breeding migrant woodland birds, such as redstart, spotted flycatcher and pied flycatcher, and halo thinning was undertaken around 90 of the largest trees on the reserve, to create space for these future veteran trees to thrive.
  • Volunteers carried out surveys across a variety of sites as part of the Data for Nature project which helped us to understand the wildlife and habitats on our nature reserves in more detail.
  • Wyming Brook nature reserve was recognised for its environmental character, quality maintenance and visitor experience by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, retaining its Green Flag Award.

Highlights from 2018-19

  • 590 Hectares managed by the Trust
  • 82 days of essential maintenance carried out
  • 75% of our biodiversity management plan met (we had a target of 70%)
  • 80 page report submitted to HS2 ltd highlighting threats and opportunities for nature as HS2 develops
  • 20 project themes launched as part of the Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
  • Key access objectives delivered – The bridleway at Moss Valley was greatly improved, channeling visitor traffic and helping prevent erosion of the precious wildflower habitat.
  • Monitoring framework for nature reserves established as part of our National Lottery Heritage Funded ‘Data 4 Nature’ project – Monitoring volunteers worked alongside expert ecologists to establish baselines for all of the nature reserves.  For example the extent of the harvest mouse population at Woodhouse Washlands was discovered.

Highlights from 2017-18

  • Twenty-three species of butterfly were recorded at Centenary Riverside nature reserve in 2017, including the common blue, brown argus and dingy skipper, and for the first time in many years, we recorded a nesting pair of pied flycatcher at Wyming Brook after working hard to improve the woodland for them.
  • We took on two new nature reserves in Low Spring Wood – a 4.5 hectare semi-natural ancient woodland site, which will become part of our Greno Woods reserve; and Kilnhurst Ings in Rotherham is now on a 25-year lease to the Trust from the Environment Agency.
  • Thanks to funding from Viridor Credits, we’ve created nine new ponds and restored two existing ponds at Woodhouse Washlands, as well as extending the network of wet ditches and completing work on a new footpath, offcially opened by the Deputy Lord Mayor.
  • We published the Sheffield State of Nature 2018 report – the first of its kind and the exciting culmination of our two-year Nature Counts partnership project – assessing how Sheffield’s wildlife and wild spaces are faring.

Highlights from 2016-17

  • Since taking over management of Woodhouse Washlands in spring 2016, we have undertaken a major programme of habitat restoration on this wetland nature reserve, improving it for wildlife and local residents.
  • Wyming Brook once again received a prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space.
  • Following work to re-wet the site at Kilnhurst Ings, snipe overwintered in record numbers and we recorded first records of black-tailed skimmer dragonfly as well as two little egrets.
  • We recorded signs of otter along the length of the River Don through our Nature Counts project.

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