This page is produced by Andy Shallice – Area Co-ordinator for Burngreave Area Panel.
Pear trees and window boxes
Up at Parkwood Springs, just above the helipad, a new sign proudly announces that this small patch of land is ‘Little Pear Tree Field Nature Reserve’.
Thanks to the sterling efforts of local residents in the Parkwood Springs Action Group, supported by Sheffield Wildlife Trust, about £20,000 has been raised to clear the land of debris and extraneous species; construct a path; maintain the wetland area; preserve the native moorland in the reserve – particularly the moorland heathers – all to encourage people to cherish a bit of wildness so close to the ‘inner city’.
The Group found out from an old 1790 map that the ground had been known as Little Pear Tree Field. Now, thanks to the Community Forester and Action Group member, Jean Armstrong, three pear trees now form a small entrance into the reserve. Jean isn’t resting on her laurels though:
“We want everyone to know about this ‘secret’. So we’re having a launch event on 20th April 2006 with local schools and Cllr Steve Jones saying a few words. We hope that children from St Catherine’s, Firshill, Shirecliffe and Busk Meadow will all want to come back again and again.”
Hanging baskets
Over in Page Hall, it’s the opposite of a nature reserve. Twelve months ago the residents resisted the demolition of their neighbourhood, and won over the Council to improve the area with the East Regeneration team providing the cash. Everyone is agreed that the ‘greenness’ of the area must be improved – it’s been recently judged as one of the ten worst neighbourhoods in the city for the quality of its environment.
The residents’ group asked for their street tree pockets to once again have trees in them; and for more houses to have hanging baskets and window boxes. The Community Forester provided a solution to worries about trees blocking out light by suggesting mountain ash, more in keeping with the terraced streets than the large trees seen in the past.
Spring flowers
In mid-March, children from Owler Brook School, local residents, Green City Action and Parks & Countryside staff set to, digging, planting and mulching – both trees and spring flowers. Local forester Tim Shortland said:
“We closed the street off for a morning and the encouragement we got was grand. One person was a bit worried about trees being planted but after explaining that the species will fit with the street, and won’t be too tall or shady, they agreed. If this enthusiasm can be maintained, Page Hall can start to look a treat – window boxes, flowers, trees, shrubs…”
Future work in and around Burngreave and Fir Vale this spring will hopefully encourage more brightness, more colour and more wildness. Little Pear Tree Field is having a ‘launch’ with local schools on 20th and 21st April 2006; Green City Action’s annual environment day in Abbeyfield Park is planned for Sunday afternoon, 21st May 2006 – and watch out for stalls, for planters, troughs and window boxes, around the area. All held together by an entry for ‘Burngreave in Bloom’ for the Lord Mayor’s annual awards.
Lampposts
And look on the lampposts on Burngreave Road. Posters designed by local women based on Islamic designs publishing the amazing exhibition on ‘Palace and Mosque’ at the Millennium Galleries in town (until 17th April 2006).