It outlined Sheffield’s natural resource and site designations, together with the current legislation and council policies relating to nature conservation and the protection of the green environment. In response to the problems facing nature conservation, the Nature Conservation Strategy set out the City Council’s policies and procedures to implement them.

Using the inner city habitat survey and the results of the Phase 1 habitat survey of South Yorkshire (1980), several habitat types were identified as priorities within the Sheffield area including broadleaved woodland, unimproved grassland, heather moorland and peat bog.

The Sheffield Nature Conservation Strategy aims to ‘Protect and enhance Sheffield’s natural heritage and promote its enjoyment to the public.’

Nature Conservation Strategy objectives:

• To protect and enhance the best geological and wildlife sites in Sheffield.

• To survey and monitor wildlife and its habitats in Sheffield.

• To establish a network of green spaces and wildlife corridors throughout the city.

• To promote the creation of wildlife habitats and features in new and existing development.

• To enhance the ecological value of open space and derelict or undeveloped land.

• To encourage community involvement in nature conservation.

• To ensure that all residents have reasonable access to suitable sites with wildlife interest.

• To promote interest in, and understanding of, nature conservation and related environmental issues. (Sheffield City Council 1991).

 

Sheffield City Council has taken its commitment to sustainability and nature conservation one step further by producing a Countryside Strategy in 1999, which provides a framework for tackling the problems that exist in Sheffield’s countryside. A group of representatives from the City Council and a range of partner organisations, with an interest in Sheffield’s countryside assess progress every 6 months.

The Sheffield Nature Conservation Strategy (SNCS) lists the city’s policies on nature conservation, describes Sheffield’s natural resource and methods for implementing the policies. It includes lists of possible site designations and describes criteria for the selection of conservation sites. The following is a very brief summary of the site designations.

This is a statutory designation made by English Nature as is used for ecological or geological sites of national and international importance.

This is a designation made by the local Planning Authority after consultation with experts and the regional office of English Nature. It is used to identify sites of local importance which complement nationally designated areas and represent the majority of Sheffield’s wildlife resource.

To designate a site as a C.W.A. it need not be of S.S.I. quality but it must have a commitment to long term community involvement, promotion for wildlife and associated educational and recreational uses.

An L.N.R. must be owned or leased by Sheffield City Council. Sites chosen for this designation are usually S.S.S.I.’s or S.S.I.’s, of high ecological value and also usually of high educational and recreational value.

These are sites which require special consultation prior to changes in land use or management.

These are sites of relatively recent origin with wildlife interest. The council aims to save as much of these sites as it can but accepts that some will be lost to development.

Sheffield City Council currently has no process in place for examining new site designations proposed by the public. However, as a part of the ongoing review of the Unitary Development Plan, Sheffield Wildlife Trust is working with the council and looking at ways of identifying and designating important local green space. If you think an area near you should be designated then contact:

S1 2HH