On 12 March 2022, we launched our Climate Change Action Project in partnership with the South Yorkshire Biodiversity Research Group and funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. The first phase of this project has now come to an end. Below is a report from Ian Rotherham and Christine Handley on the activities during this phase and the way forward.
FOWP-Community-Climate-Action-Plan-final
The South Yorkshire Biodiversity Research Group has set up a Resources page for the project that can be found by clicking here.
Wildlife Reporting
We want to know what wildlife there is in Whirlow Brook Park so that we can monitor changes in its management and the effects of climate change. To do this, we need to record some of the wildlife that lives in or visit the Park. At https://friendsofwhirlowbrookpark.org.uk/wildlife-recording/ you will find a form for recording wildlife that you see in the Park. This is at an early stage of development and more species will be added as will photos of the species on the list. For now, photos of some species can be found in a pdf document that also contains a version of the form that can be submitted by hand.
If you spot something not on the list, please use the box below the list to report it. The list covers wild flowers, butterflies, moths, dragonflies, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. You can choose just to focus on one category, e.g. flowers. The form is set up to record sightings in a particular square using a dropdown menu to choose the grid reference. A map divided into grid squares is provided at https://friendsofwhirlowbrookpark.org.uk/wildlife-recording-map/ for you to use to record the location of the species. It can be used in conjunction with one of the several UK grid reference apps that are available for smart phones and tablets.
Identification Guides There are several online identification apps such as iRecord and iNaturalist which can be downloaded to your phone and online guides from Butterfly Conservation, RSPB, Woodland Trust and others to assist you. Simple guides covering a wide range of species are available to buy from the Field Studies Council.
Flood Alleviation in the Limb Valley
Another project related to Climate Change is progressing well across the road from us by the Whirlow Playing Fields. Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust are leading a partnership project with the Environment Agency and Sheffield City Council to develop and deliver an integrated programme of nature-based solutions, designed to reduce the flow of floodwater and provide wider environmental benefits in the Limb Brook catchment area. More information on this project is now available at https://www.wildsheffield.com/discover/nature-based-solutions/limb-brook/.