|
|
|
|
|
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 4.0. THE FINDINGS - INITIAL RESULTS OF ECOLOGICAL SURVEY AND GREEN AUDIT
4.1. Coverage
The ecological survey and green audit covered a total of ninety-seven sites across the four zones. The Inner Zone consisted of the larger share of green audit sites with only one ecological survey. The Outer Zone had 29 green audit sites and four ecological surveys. The Countryside and Industrial Zones had no more than dozen green audit sites but have the major share of ecologically surveyed sites (see Table 1 below for summary of figures). Nearly half of all the spaces covered were in the ownership of Sheffield City Council.
The major types of site featuring in the study (with number of sites in brackets) included: playgrounds (10), recreation and sports grounds, some of which include playgrounds (11), brownfield sites - industrial, retail and housing (4, 3 & 13 respectively), allotments (6), churches and cemeteries (5), school playing fields (4) and formal open green space (21).
Table 1: Ecological Survey and Green Audit coverage
Zone Inner Outer Countryside Industrial
Sub-total
4.2. Ecological survey It must be recognised that this study's ecological survey has a limited value as the time for surveying was less than ideal. Some records of species have been added subsequently but many plants and birds that would normally occur and be easily identified during the spring and summer could not be recorded. A few sites already with previous information filled in these gaps. However, further work should still be done to update the information so far gathered. Many of the sites surveyed contained a diverse range of habitats and species. Some were found to have locally and nationally important habitats such as heathland (3 sites) and ancient semi-natural woodland (4 sites)- but often in poor condition and needing management. Invasive plants such as bracken and rhododendron also threaten interest on a number of sites by dominating large areas and excluding other plants and animals. Use of the sites was as varied as their type and included informal recreation, motorcycle scrambling, fly-tipping and dog-walking. Table 2 below summarises use and misuse recorded. Table 2: Uses and misuse of Ecological Survey sites (total number of sites = 12)
Zone
(& no of sites) Dog
mess/ walking Garden
waste Abandonedcars Invasive
plants= Informal
kids play Fires Litter Fly-tipping Vandalism Motor-cycling Inner
(1) Outer
(4) Countryside (2) Industrial
(5) Total
= Invasive plants recorded were Japanese knotweed, rhododendron & bracken (same for Table 3 below)
4.3. Green Audit The 85 sites covered were very diverse not only in type but also size. Many sites, not unexpectedly, regardless of the zone they were in, had problems in common. Table 3 below provides a summary for some of these. As can be seen litter and flytipping was the major problem reported across much of the area. A number of sites were used for dumping garden waste, usually from adjacent properties. - and other aspects of neglect such as damaged fences or other boundaries were noted. Many sites contained invasive plants threatening native plant communities and artificial planting such of non-native species frequently encountered (reflected to an even greater extent in the ecological sites). Vandalism was limited, although misuse tended to occur more in the post war housing areas and parts of the Inner Zone. A few sites showed evidence of fires, either for burning rubbish or use as a bonfire for Guy Fawkes celebrations. Only two sites contained abandoned or stripped vehicles. A number of small sites were found to have few problems in relation to misuse or abuse but did not fit into any particular zone or area. Table 3: Uses and misuse of Green Audit open space (total number of sites = 85)
Zones
(& nos of sites) Dog
mess/ walking Garden
waste Abandoned
cars Invasive
plants Informal
kids play Fires Litter Fly-tipping Vandalism Motor-cycling Inner
(44) Outer
(25) Countryside
(5) Industrial
(7) Total
Click map to view an area of Stocksbridge in more detail
4.4. Audit of playground facilities An audit of playground facilities is presented in a table on the next page because much interest will focus on how these can be enhanced or improved. Many of the facilities, although very standard were nearly all usable. It is suggested a more thorough inspection of these facilities be carried out before improvements are planned.
Table 4: Audit of playground facilities Location Facilities Additional
comments Smithy
Moor Open Space 4
swings, 1 slide, 2 benches Oxley
Park 4
swings (fenced off by metal railings), 1 slide
mounted on climbing frame. Adjacent
to un-fenced/walled hard surface basket ball
court Rundle
Road 9
swings, 1 slide Adjacent
to road. Surrounded by stone walls on sides with
road. Beechwood
Road 4
swings, 1 climbing frame Adjacent
to road. Partly fenced with metal
railings Spink
Hall Open Space 8
swings, 1 roundabout, 1 climbing frame, 3 benches
(1 vandalised) Glebelands
Road 6
swings, 1 see-saw Adjacent
to road. Surrounded with a dry stone wall
boundary Wood
Royd Road 8
swings, 2 slides, 2 climbing frames, 5 benches, 2
picnic tables Adjacent
to road. Surrounded by metal railings. Carr
Head Open Space 12
swings (4 for older children), 1 roundabout
(removed), 1 slide, 2 benches Don
Field Open Space 6
swings Townend
(new housing estate) Open Space 2
swings (for young children), 1 slide, 1 bench, 4
other miscellaneous items (climbing poles and
see-saws) Play
facilities secured within metal railings in open
space area Total
number of facilities 63
swings 7
slides 5
climbing frames 6
miscellaneous items 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. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Web pages by Map21 Ltd - latest update 24 june 05 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
