Story: Graham Jones
Crabtree Ponds is Burngreave's best kept secret and an important local green space. The local nature reserve around the ponds is managed by Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust.
Crabtree Ponds started life in the 19th century as an ornamental pond for Crabtree Lodge, since demolished. It is now a large area of standing water abundant with fish such as rudd, roach, perch, crucian carp, sticklebacks and even eels. Hawker dragonflies, smooth and palmate newts, frogs and toads can also be found here.
Bats and birds
Pipistrelle, Daubenton's and Leisler's bats all flit over from the nearby Roe Woods to feed at the ponds. In the woods, where sycamore, poplar and ash predominate, bird boxes have encouraged nesting, with treecreepers, woodpeckers, wrens and several tits seen. There are a wide variety of invertebrates and fungi around the site. Funding from Awards for All (£7,750) allowed the Wildlife Trust to replace the flights of steps, plant native shrubs and ground cover (hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, holly, oak), and native bulbs around entrances (bluebells, snowdrops, daffodils, wood anemones).
Volunteer work
The volunteer maintenance group have also done some experimental wetland planting, with yellow flag iris, cotton grass, water plantain, sweet galingale, spikerush and reed canary grass.
Other work done by the volunteers includes repair of the boardwalk, cutting back vegetation and spraying Japanese Knotweed. In these ways, local volunteers have given their time and a huge amount of effort to keep Crabtree Ponds safe, tidy, enjoyable for local residents and of value to wildlife – their efforts are really appreciated! These maintenance days are open to anyone who wishes to come along and lend a hand and the volunteers are always happy to see new faces.
For more information about Crabtree Ponds, visit the Wildlife Trust website at http://www.wildsheffield.com.
Maintenance days are held on the first Monday of every month (9.30am – 12pm)- drop in whenever convenient. Tasks include litter-picking, habitat management, planting and infrastructure repair.
Tools, gloves, hot drinks and biscuits are provided. All help is gratefully received.
Crabtree Ponds Reserve Advisory Group
The next Reserve Advisory Group meeting for Crabtree Ponds will be held at St. James's Church on Scott Road, on Monday 12th January 2015 at 6pm.
For further information, please contact nature.reserves@wildsheffield.com or ring Sarah Sidgwick, Community Wildlife Ranger, on 0114 263 4335.