Enterprising Communities and Urban Woodlands

Enterprising Communities and Urban Woodlands
24 June 2019
Sheffield Hallam University (Owen Building)

SYBRG have been awarded an ‘Awards for All’ grant to work with a range of stakeholders, local communities and individuals to look at ways of economically and sustainably managing overlooked or neglected urban woodlands. The project arose out of discussions at the Shire Brook Valley Steering Group with local conservation/ friends of groups, the community forum and heritage group about the long-term management of urban woodlands planted in the Valley in the 1980s and 1990s. The Shire Brook Valley is a post-industrial former coal mining area; part was created a local nature reserve 23 years ago. There is now a pressing need for the woodlands to have proper sustainable management to ensure they develop into biodiversity rich mature woodland which can be enjoyed by local communities around the Valley. This situation mirrors many other such woodlands which have developed or were planted around the same time on other post-industrial / reclaimed sites.

The project will be formally launched with a series of presentations and discussion on 24 June at Sheffield Hallam University Owen Building) in Sheffield city centre. Following the launch there will be several workshops and visits to different sites and local enterprises to look at the practicalities of managing these woodlands.