|
|
|
|
|
A
study of the potential to enhance the green and
open spaces of Stocksbridge SRB5
Report by Jim Flanagan and Sheffield Wildlife Trust
for SVP 10.1. Sources of information relating to public consultation on use of open space 1.
How Green Is Your Valley? and How Green Is your
Garden? Questionnaires - Local Agenda 21 Action
Plan (1998) by Helen Pickford & Claire
Wilson (available
at STEP office and Stocksbridge Library) Appendix
6 contains the results of two surveys carried out
in summer 1998. Two main audiences were targeted -
adults and children 12-14 years old. Response rates
were 20% and 80% respectively. Much of the
questionnaire asked people for their ideas on how
improvements could be made to the town centre. In
'What people would like to see in their
neighbourhood' six per cent of adults and sixteen
per cent of children wanted more 'parks and green'
(Graph 6.16 & 6.34). A
questionnaire to assess garden biodiversity was
also study conducted - How Green is your garden
survey? The results of this survey showed there was
great potential for increasing biodiversity in
gardens. 2.
'Ten Thousand Years of Human History' - Wharncliffe
and Upper Don Heritage Interpretation Project,
School Survey for South Yorkshire Forest by Chris
Senior (1999) (available
at SSVUDP office) This
study sought to obtain views of local schools, both
pupils and teachers, through questionnaire and a
short, informal interview exercise on the potential
for using interpreted Heritage Trails as part of
the national curriculum. Eight schools were
involved in providing information. The study
concluded that there was clearly potential and that
each trail could be used to link with specific
areas of the national curriculum. It also
identified a desire for guided trails led by
rangers and a teaching centre facility to promote
the trails. 3.
'How Can We Work Together to Make Stocksbridge a
Better Place to Live?', Steel Valley Community
Partnership, 1996 (available
at STEP office and Stocksbridge Library) Views
obtained from a variety of people at this meeting
included need for a motorbike track. Complaints
also about the only youth centre being closed in
the summer holidays. Restoration of Clock Tower
gardens, overgrown footpaths and litter were other
particular issues identified affecting open
space.
10.2. Other sources of information 1.
Local Agenda 21 Action Plan (1998) by Helen
Pickford & Claire Wilson (available
at STEP office and Stocksbridge Library) STEP
recruited two environmental graduates to produce a
Local Agenda 21 Action Plan. This Action Plan aimed
to investigate and assess the potential for the
implementation of a range of Local Agenda 21
initiatives in Stocksbridge that might lead to job
creation in the area. In this they were supported
by Sheffield City Council's own Local Agenda 21
'Living City Initiative'. The study looked at
issues such as energy, water, waste (including
recycling), transport and housing and conducted
surveys of local people's views through
questionnaire. However, in spite of a mass of
information from many sources and the production of
the Action Plan (really no more than a set of
recommendations) the project made little impact in
the local community. Contributing to this was the
lack of a funding strategy to initiate projects and
poor understanding of Local Agenda 21 among local
people. Some
data was put on a GIS system (using MAP INFO) and
made available on a web site. Because the time that
was available to carry out the study was limited a
number of other issues could not be covered.
Unfortunately this included parks and open spaces.
However, the report is still useful for many
statistics and other data gathered on the subjects
it dealt with. 2.
University of Sheffield studies on sustainability
and landscape (1998) Students
from the University of Sheffield's Department of
Landscape produced two valuable studies as a result
of an invitation by members of the Stocksbridge
community. Working with members of SVCP and STEP
they explored the potential for management of land
and landscape within the built up area of
Stocksbridge on sustainability principles (A
Sustainable Development Strategy for Stocksbridge).
The
second study aimed to provide a landscape strategy
for the future management of rural land in
Stocksbridge without loss of landscape character.
Much
of this work, however, did not remain in
Stocksbridge or Sheffield with detailed maps and
data retrieved by students on their leaving the
University (allowed under official policy of the
University). Fortunately, copies of the finished
reports with some small-scale colour maps were made
available for this study by Anne Beer, an
environmental planning consultant, formerly of the
University of Sheffield, who acted in an advisory
capacity on the student project. 3.
Feasibility Study on 'Ten Thousand Years of Human
History' proposed Heritage Trails by Mel Jones
(Countryside Research Unit of Sheffield Hallam
University), February 1998 (available
at SSVUDP office) This
study commissioned by South Yorkshire Forest
Partnership investigated the potential for
the establishment of a number of Heritage Trails in
the Upper Don zone under one theme that could
attract major funding from the Heritage Lottery.
The study, titled 'Ten Thousand Years of Human
History', proposed ten Heritage Trail routes some
of which are within the SRB5 area. The key aim was
to establish links to a variety of locations with
different historical contexts, some of which have
been interpreted, others not, into one unifying
theme. The study outlined how the trails
could provide the potential to meet a number of
recreational and educational needs. Useful research
was also done on assessing how much visitor
pressure might be generated from such a project by
looking at use of footpaths and carrying out
visitor surveys. 4.
'Ten Thousand Years of Human History' - Wharncliffe
and Upper Don Heritage Interpretation Project,
School Survey for South Yorkshire Forest by Chris
Senior (available
at SSVUDP office) South
Yorkshire Forest also commissioned a study on the
educational potential of the Heritage Trails for
local schools. The study aimed to assess the
potential for schools to make use of the
interpreted trails within the national curriculum
and involved consultation with local schools to
obtain views. 5.
The Pathfinder Project by Dutch students Marco
Teuns and Joris Dresen (assisted by MAP21 Ltd and
STEP. With sponsorship from Avesta and Groene Raad
Horticulture Studio), 1998. (available
at STEP office) Some
general information on parks and open spaces is
included with a series of proposed projects for
development such as the 'Green Centre' (where Knoll
Top project is being developed), 'Safe Walk',
'Green Fingers' (to promote accessibility) and
'Outdoor Activities'. 6.
'How Can We Work Together to Make Stocksbridge a
Better Place to Live?', Steel Valley Community
Partnership, 1996 (available
at STEP, SSVUDP & Stocksbridge
Library) This
was produced as a report of a public meeting
designed to obtain the views of local people on a
range of local issues including the environment.
7.
'Stocksbridge into the new millennium'', Steel
Valley Community Partnership (SVCP),
1999 (available
at STEP and Stocksbridge Library) This
was an audit of the local community produced by
SVCP in early 1999. Part of the audit also included
the publication of a series of action plans
proposed for future implementation by various local
groups under a whole range of different themes from
arts, disability, childcare to environment, history
and leisure training young people and
transport.Under environment details of plans that
have or are now being undertaken include the Newton
Grange Community Orchard and Parsonage Farm Open
Space. 8.
Sheffield Local Biodiversity Action Plan Grassland
Survey, Sheffield Wildlife Trust,
1998-1999 (available
at SWT office, Wood Lane) Survey
work on the state of Sheffield's grasslands was
carried out to update information gathered in a
similar survey carried out in 1979-80. Two
volunteers from the Trust surveyed fields in the
Stocksbridge area. Early indications of many
unimproved fields lost to intensification were
confirmed with database analysis - between 80-90%
loss of unimproved and semi-improved fields since
Phase 1 survey. 9.
South Yorkshire Forest Plan and Map for Upper Don
Zone (1994) and Forest Plan Audit (1999) (available
at SSVUDP and South Yorkshire Forest
Partnership) The
Plan and Map identify the areas where the aims and
objectives of the Forest are to be achieved such as
woodland management etc. The Audit was carried out
as a review of progress and to help target the work
of South Yorkshire Forest in a new updated plan.
10.
British Steel (as Stocksbridge Engineering
Steels) (available
at SSVUDP aoffice & Corus Engineering
Steels) A
landscape consultants report was produced in 1987
which was used for the basis of all environmental
improvement work within land in the company's
ownership. A short-term (six year) landscape plan
was provided. One of the aims of the plan was to
ensure a safe environment for employees involving
planting up of unstable slopes with native tree
species and to integrate works into the valley
landscape 11.
Sites and Monuments Register, South Yorkshire
Archaeology Service (register
held at SCC, 2nd floor Town Hall
extension) The
Register shows details of where remains and finds
of archaeological significance are located and
should always be consulted before any site project
work is undertaken. 12.
Stocksbridge Steel Valley & Upper Don Project
Strategic Plan, Andy Warren, January
1997 (available
at SSVUDP office) A
report giving information on work of the project
and plans for work up to the year 2000. Clarifies
aims and objectives of the project - to make the
countryside in the Upper Don more accessible to
local communities for recreation and to conserve
and enhance wildlife and landscape of historic
importance 13.
Site management plans and details of previous
project work held in SSVUDP office These
provide important information on previous work and
future plans. Some management plans, such as ones
for Pot House Wood and New Hall Wood, need
updating. 14.
Locally written histories about
Stocksbridge (available
at Stocksbridge Library) 15.
Reports and survey data in Sheffield City Ecology
Unit and Local Biological Records Centre
(available
at SCC Leisure Services, Meersbrook
Park) A
range of information on sites from botanical
surveys to more selective in depth surveys (ie
invertebrates and mammals in Ewden) and ecological
studies. 16.
British Geological Survey Geology
of the Country around Barnsley (1947). Contains
much information on mining activity in the SRB5
area 17.
Geological Sites Register Held
at Weston Park Museum 18.
Papers in journal of Sorby Natural History Society
- Sorby Record (on Wharncliffe) and
newsletter In
particular, Sorby Record No 30 (1993), pp 7-20 (The
Natural History of the Wharncliffe Area by
McCarthy, A.J. et al) and No 31(1995), pp 53-8 (The
Legend of the Dragon of Wantley - A Suspected
Methane Outburst by R. F. Grayson) 19.
Archive/Historical sources - Stocksbridge Library
and Stocksbridge & Deepcar Historical
Society Access
was obtained to inspect the local archive
collection at Stocksbridge Public Library to
research the larger sites featured in this
study. 20.
Success In Action - The walking the way to health
initiative produced by the British heart Foundation
(BHS) and the Countryside Agency (September
1998) (available
at SSVUDP office) A
report that describes activities of three national
demonstration schemes to promote 'walking for
health'. 21.
Practical Guidelines for developing Walking for
Health Schemes, Version 1.1 (British Heart
Foundation and Countryside Agency), January
1999 (available
at SSVUDP office) First
edition of guidance on promoting walking for health
using the free resource of the natural environment
around town and countryside. This guidance is based
on 35 known schemes in existence in 1998 and
results of various researches into this
area. 22.
Walks Around Stocksbridge - City of Sheffield
Public Rights of Way supported by Countryside
Commission (1988) A
pack containing details of ten circular walks in
and around Stocksbridge which is still available
from SCC's Public Rights of Way Unit.
Farmland soils are less acidic due to the practice of regular liming especially around Whitwell and Newhall. Slag, a by product of steel making carried out within the Little Don Valley, has been used in the past for landscaping schemes such as the raising of the valley slope at Oxley Park in the 1960s into a series of terraced flat playing fields. Slag is base rich so plants such as birds foot trefoil are frequently seen, especially when the grass is left uncut for long periods. The characteristic feature of this type of pollution is the ochre-coloured deposit laid down on the bed of the stream (otherwise known as 'ochre water'). This 'ochre water' is still a problem in some locations such as Sheephouse Wood and Ewden Beck (northwest and west of the SRB5 area) and within the SRB5 area on land between Station Road and the east bank of the River Don River Don and in dykes along Common Lane, north of Townend Common. The disused Bullhouse Colliery was, until recent remedial action was taken, the major source of minewater discharge into the River Don system.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Anne Beer, Map21 Ltd Gaynor Boon, Geological Section, Sheffield Museums Trust, Weston Park Museum Katrina Chandler, Public Rights of Way Unit, Leisure Services, DEL, SCC Brenda Duffield, Stocksbridge & Deepcar History Society David Fanaroff, Countryside Agency Jim Hendley, Environmental Services, DEL, SCC Alison Jinks, Healthy Sheffield, SCC Tim Kohler, English Nature, Pennines to Humber Team, Wakefield Jeff Lomas, Yorkshire Water John Martin, Parks, Woodland & Countryside (allotments), Leisure Services, DEL, SCC Roger Moss, Corus Engineering Steels Matthew North, Project Manager, SSVUDP Chris Prescott, STEP Dinah Saich, Head of South Yorkshire Archaeology Unit Nick Selwood, Parks Woodland & Countryside, Leisure Services, DEL, SCC Albin Smith, Forest Enterprise Simon Vincent, Strategic Planning, Planning, Transport & Highways, SCC Christine Westcott, Project Officer, Stocksbridge Futures SRB5 Partnership Janet Westnedge, GIS Unit, Sheffield City Council (SCC)
Menu for this Section is in the right hand column
Stocksbridge SRB5 Greenspace Audit undertaken by Jim Flanagan for Sheffield Wildlife Trust - see their Community Action Handbook - full of good ideas for your local site |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Text and Photographs (unless stated otherwise) © Steel Valley Partnership Stocksbridge, all rights reserved. Terms of use: Any involved in education or training may copy the contents of these web pages, with the proviso that they always make reference to the original copyright. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
©The Steel Valley Project Companies House Registration Number 4394953 Charities Registration Number 1095510
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
