Owlthorpe Heritage & Nature Trail To see the extent of work carried out in building Owlthorpe Heritage & Nature Trail, please click twice to zoom into the interpretation boards numbered 1 to 5 in Welcome to our Online visitors guide to Ecological Owlthorpe. |
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Roger Marsh, helped found Owlthorpe Community Forum, and was Chair from 2008 to 2012. In 2012 he also formed and chaired Owlthorpe Local & Natural History Group. After receiving £67,455 Section 106 monies (retained by the builder of Woodland Heights housing development at Owlthorpe for 10 years) Over the next 15 years numerous environmental projects took place in Owlthorpe in conjunction with Sheffield City Council (SCC). These projects have created a green oasis, in an increasing urban development, for the local residents and visitors to enjoy the green lungs of Owlthorpe. The extent of the work carried out can be seen in the 5 interpretation boards. |
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(1) Double click here: https://www.ecological-owlthorpe.org/images/Heritage.jpg to obtain a large online readable version of the interpretation Board regarding the Ochre Dyke & Woodland fringe https://www.ecological-owlthorpe.org/owlthorpenaturetrails.htm The British trust has records of surveys going back to 1988. The walks have been timed to coincide with the spring and Autumn bird migrations. As a result of these surveys the species count for birds in Owlthorpe is 78. |
(2) Owlthorpe Grasssland & grazing Project https://www.ecological-owlthorpe.org/owlthorpegrassland.htm Between 1980 & 2002 Sheffield lost 75.5% of its unimproved grassland, therefore our grasslands are a valuable environmental resource. The project's objective is to manage our grasslands and safeguard the wildflowers and wildlife for future generations to enjoy. The Grazing project is part of a programme of strategic planting to link up the green corridors of Sheffield. |
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(3) Coal Mining in Owlthorpe
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(4) Double click here: https://www.ecological-owlthorpe.org/images/Enterance.jpg to obtain a large online readable version of the interpretation Board regarding Moor Hole Lane Trail. 795 Local school children were involved in the project that provides environmental education to raise awareness and enjoyment of the local countryside. |
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(5) Double click here: https://www.ecological-owlthorpe.org/images/Farm.jpg to obtain a large online readable version of the interpretation Board regarding Moor Hole Farm & Hanging Lea Woods The name Owlthorpe is derived from the Old English word Alor for the Alder Tree while Thorpe is a variant of the Middle English word thorp, meaning hamlet or small village. Therefore, Owlthorpe means the hamlet where alder trees grow. They are most commonly found next to a body of water such as the Ochre Dyke. |
Link to Video:Nature Trail Summer |
The Land management has taking place under the monitoring of Natural England by their Higher Level Stewardship Scheme, 12,243 trees & hedgerow plants planted also 64,000 bulbs & 1,500 square meters of wildflowers seed sown. |
The significant environmental improvements made in creating the Trail include: 1.3 kilometers of new surface path created as part of the Trail, 22 acres of land fenced and grassland brought back under management using grazing by Highland Cattle to benefit wildflowers and local wildlife.
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Link to Video:Nature Trail Winter |
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New wooden footbridge installed across the Ochre Dyke 156 meters of dry stone wall restored & 800 metres of old hedgerow traditionally laid to conserve historic boundaries. |
Also New wooden steps installed. Wild orchard created using trees grafted, by local volunteers, with stock from the ancient orchard at Beighton. Regular public walks and practical conservation skills training. |
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The photo to the left shows some of the 795 local school children that have been involved in this project that provides environmental education to raise awareness and enjoyment of the local country side. Unique historic 3-way stone stile locally listed. New wetland created & large scale litter clearance undertaken. |
The award winning Owlthorpe Heritage & Nature Trail is a rural Oasis in the urban southeast of Sheffield , England 's fourth largest City. The photo to the right shows the trail being opened with an official event on March 16th 2012 by children from three local primary schools assisted by Clive Betts MP for Sheffield South East, David Caufield and Sheffield City Councillor Helen Mirfin-Boukouris. |
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The map shows Hedgerows, Ditches and Grasslands of high environment value. Please read our editorial in the Yorkshire Bylines. Please help save Owlthorpe Heritage & Nature Trail by signing our petition to Sheffield City Council: https://chng.it/6vXHqcGG4S also our petition to Parliamentary Ombudsman: https://chng.it/FPc7X4Nq
Although planning permission to build on plot (F) Owlthorpe Grass Land Grazing Project, was originally refused, it is very disappointing to see that Sheffield (LPA) have now reintroduced plot (F) with a proposal to build 150 new properties. Plot (F) is situated on Moor Valley opposite Diamond Cottages.
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