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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 7.8. Actions in the INDUSTRIAL ZONE 7.8.1. Pocket Parks 7.8.1.1. Little Don (Haywood) Open Space The Little Don Walk runs through this mainly willow and birch scrub site that was once railway sidings. There are also areas of tall herb and dense bramble cover, a small area dominated by bracken along one part of the southern boundary and areas of grassland. The eastern part of this site contains much bare and disturbed ground as a result of recent sewage works by Yorskhire Water and the creation of a play area for their kids by parents living at the adjacent houses. A dead hedge roughly constructed from branches, twigs and brash cut from nearby willow trees serves as a boundary to discourage children playing near the river. Much of the site has been used as a scrambling or mountain biking route, including the stretch of the Little Don Walk running parallel with the north boundary. The compacted, dry cinder ash substrate has helped to maintain paths in a usable condition in spite of this potentially damaging activity. The western end of the site has a serious litter and tipping problem. Project ideas for this site should include involvement of local people to help remove rubbish and litter and to provide a barrier to motorcycle activity. Management of the site should encourage community use. This could be achieved by some scrub, bracken and bramble removal, re-landscaping and the incorporation of terraced features on the southern side of the site (which is higher than the rest) to include some informal seating and the planting of fruit trees, shrubs, bulbs etc. Willow sculptures, pergolas or other arts related features that involve local people in construction and design could add variety to the features of the site. 7.8.2. The nature reserve network 7.8.2.1. Dog Lichen Field An interesting and easily accessible (from the Stocksbridge Steel Valley Walk) south-facing area that can provides good potential as an educational resource ('open air classroom'). The site contains a variety of grasslands and some disturbed ground communities with hedgerows on two sides. At the south western end of this site there is a large drive that has been constructed to facilitate access to an electricity transformer installation but it may be possible to use this as parking for visitors of the site (in co-operation with Yorkshire Electricity). 7.8.2.2. Old Haywoods Although not surveyed because of lack of access, this Corus Engineering Steels-owned site contains a large area of pioneer woodland habitat with much birch and willow and some open heath areas (although these may be disappearing due to succession through scrub encroachment). The wood has developed on spoil from local earthworkings and has an impoverished ground layer with many bare areas and on the western side some dense stands of rhododendron. The site is surrounded on the north and east sides by sheep pasture fields. On the western side there is a lorry park and to the south the steel works railway. The Stocksbridge Steel Valley Walk runs to the north of the site. Electric fencing has been erected on either side of this stretch of the walk. The walk provides a link to Hen Holmes Wood further west. With access so poor this site is a low priority for management or access but there may be opportunities to include it in any programme of woodland site management attracting grant aid. 7.8.2.3. Little Don Acid Heathland This is a relatively small but important site that provides a through route for the Little Don Walk. The site was a former brick yard containing tramway sidings. An area of heather, perhaps 15-20 years old, occupies the centre of the site but is being encroached by vigorous growth of bracken and the saplings of introduced alder originating from larger trees on the southern and western part of site. Birch and willow scrub and bare compacted cover of cinder ash occupy most of the northern part. There has been some cutting of the pole stage alder but cuttings have been left on site. There is also a wet area with rushes and bare ground with mosses and lichens. Some small areas of acid grassland, tall herb with bramble dominant occur. Desire lines into the heather area and along the wet area could be formalised into one through route (possibly as a small nature trail). Fencing could be erected along paths around the heather, wet rush and birch scrub area to reinforce the line of the permissive path that runs through the north part of site. The wet rush area and pond could be developed to encourage more pool and bog-type plants and mosses as well as insects such as dragonflies (part of this could be accessed with a boardwalk). Some tree felling and sapling removal of the alders and bramble would give the site a more open aspect and heather regeneration could be encouraged with cutting and spreading of seed on newly cleared areas. 7.8.3. Heritage sites: 7.8.3.1. Exchange Sidings This complex site is effectively split in half by the steel works railway line that connects with the main rail network to the east of the site. The site is accessed on the south side from two public footpaths off Station Road, Deepcar, one of which provides vehicular access to a hard core parking area some 100m into the wood. Vegetation here is a mainly oak/birch woodland with a ground flora of bluebell and creeping soft grass. There are areas where the woodland has been cleared to allow for the maintenance of electricity power lines and pylons that run through the site. The site has potential to develop its cultural, historical and ecological value. Management could include some coppicing to enhance ground flora and maintenance of heather glades that have been used in the past by nightjars as feeding areas (this is helped by clearance for maintenance of electricty supply lines). Footpath maintenance is probably the main activity as stretches into and out of tunnels are often very wet. Signposting could be improved. Some of the site's footpath network could form part of a wider industrial heritage walk, linking with other routes to Wortley forge etc. Part of the site, on the west above the Stocksbridge railway link, once contained railway sidings. These were laid in the early part of the twentieth century using an elephant employed by the Sheffield engineering company of Thomas Ward. Such details could be conveyed by site interpretation through signs, posters or leaflets There has been a recent resurgence of motorbike scrambling activity (particularly at weekends) in this general area. The footpaths through Exchange Sidings are used as route to reach the crags. Some measures to restrict this activity should be considered but preferably with the aim of providing facilities elsewhere (see 7.8.5). 7.8.3.2. Hen Holmes Wood Occupies the former site of Hen Holmes brick and tile works. Dominated in most places by willow scrub and a dense ground layer of ivy that also clothes shrubs and trees to height in some places. The northern boundary is characterised by increasing transition to open scrub and acid grassland banks. The Little Don River forms the southern boundary of the site. Thinning of the willow scrub and removal of some ivy will enable less competitive ground flora (such as bluebells) to develop and make the woodland more inviting to visit. Along the eastern end new growing shoots of Japanese knotweed were noted. Unless checked, the knotweed may in time threaten this most interesting part of the wood. A public right of way and a large gas supply pipeline also runs along this riverside area. To the north of the riverside footpath the woodland floor rises up abruptly in places to a shelf. All around the ground is very uneven. Many parts contain the pits, hollows and humps that are all that remain of the former Armitage brick works. A route through the site has been suggested as a possible link in an 'industrial walk' and there is scope to feature some industrial heritage interpretation about the brick works and local mining. The slopes above this area show many signs of mining activity (for gannister and pot clay). 7.8.4. Upper Don Centre The area of land (between Manchester Road and Station Road Depcar) is proposed for the development of a tourism and business centre that could create many jobs and opportunities for community involvement. However, there are several obstacles that require to be overcome before plans can be set in motion and these proposals may be best looked at as a long term vision. This site was not part of the survey or audit but its location and potential is unique. Close to the confluence of two rivers valleys, with the stunning backdrop of Wharncliffe Crags to the east, this site offers great potential. It could be used to promote the area's scenery, natural, historic and cultural heritage, sporting and recreational facilities (from rock climbing on the crags, golf at Townend and sailing and fishing in the Ewden). There are also direct links to the Timberland and Transpennine Trails to the north. A Supertram link on the existing rail line could provide a further boost in generating local tourism. The site is also large enough to accommodate a recycling centre or equestrian facilities. This is probably the subject of a further feasibility study at some time in the future. 7.8.5. Scrambling/trail bike course There is an urgent need to divert this activity from sites where damage can be considerable especially on areas of wildlife interest. Potential locations lie on land along the eastern side of the River Don where landfill has been carried out for many years on More Hall Tip. Tipping will soon come to an end and this area is perhaps the most suitable location for a permanent scrambling course. It is essential that development of the area for this purpose must include input on design etc. from the motorbike scramblers themselves. This development could alleviate existing problems of scrambling in Wharncliffe Woods and Crags and any revival of it on Townend Common.
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 |
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