Wildlife Trust moves to buy ancient woods
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Wildlife Trust moves to buy ancient woods
Extract From Sheffield Telegraph By Peter Kay
ONE of Sheffield's ancient woodlands is set to be bought by a charity with plans to make it rich in wildlife and more attractive to visitors.
The Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham is preparing to buy 420 acres of Greno Woods, between Grenoside, Chapeltown and Ecclesfield, within the next two years.
It is one of the largest and most wildlife rich ancient woodlands in Yorkshire, but described as "tired", and the trust wants to introduce a management programme to return the site to its native former glory, .
One of the spin-offs will be the production of woodchip fuel for heating boilers in homes in South Yorkshire.
The forest has been taken off the open market after being purchased by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and a private investor on behalf of Silvapower Ltd, which already supplies renewable heat to Sheffield
The wildlife trust has two years to raise £1m to take it over and to improve its condition. Grants will be sought from the Heritage Lottery and charities, and there will be a public appeal.
Chief executive Nigel Doar said: "We're looking to actively restore the forest to create an inspiring, climate change resilient and people friendly, wildlife and heritage rich centre for woodland and heathland-related things in the north Sheffield for the people of Sheffield and Barnsley."
A spokesperson for Esmee Fairbairn and Silvapower said: "This is going to make a real difference to local people and will be a huge improvement for wildlife in the area, not just for this generation, but for the generations that follow."
It is the first time the local trust has bought land, and its ambitions include promoting traditional skills such as coppicing and charcoal making, improving the forest for mountain bikers, horse riders and orienteering groups, encouraging projects with schools and other groups and improving wildlife habitats.
Already horse riders, dog walkers, joggers and wildlife lovers visit the woods, but not as much as the trust would like. Mountain bikers have commandeered the old quarry sites, and the Trans Pennine Trail runs through the middle of the woodland.
Management will extend to thinning some trees and restoring paths, walls and healthland. The trust is working with Silvapower, which will buy timber from the conifer plantation to be turned into woodchip fuel for heating boilers in homes owned by local authorities in South Yorkshire.
Greno Woods has supplied Silvapower with timber in the past, but it had to be transported to a farm in Barnsley, stored, chipped and then returned to Sheffield.
The trust says the woods are an important part of a national 'Living Landscape' vision of joining up outdoor spaces.
Safari Maiden- Posts : 3392
Join date : 2010-05-05
Age : 53
Location : Midlands
Re: Wildlife Trust moves to buy ancient woods
Interesting read - thanks for posting SM
Lai
Lai
Laikipia- Moderator
- Posts : 16153
Join date : 2010-05-13
Age : 64
Location : Cheshire
Re: Wildlife Trust moves to buy ancient woods
Am I being a little thick here on one hand they say they want to restore the woodland etc and help the wildlife then they say they want mountain bikers etc scrambling throught the forest land. Then they are thinning trees to make paths and then using trees for timber for heating????? i'm muddled about this, it sounds like a big venture to raise money for the company Silvapower and to make it look as if Sheffield is doing something for the conservation of wildlife and Flora and Forna when it sort of seems as though it's a big con and what they are actually doing is creating a pseudo woodland/Heathland to raise money and they are capitalising on the wildlife and Flora and Fauna.
Sorry but I am not too sure about this one but maybe I am just pesimistic and confused
littlewid-x-
Sorry but I am not too sure about this one but maybe I am just pesimistic and confused
littlewid-x-
littlewid- Admin
- Posts : 10464
Join date : 2009-12-28
Location : West Sussex
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