Category: Updates

Botany Evening – Thursday 20 June 

Ten of us met Gerry Firkins, a member of the Sorby Natural History Society, in the Nature Park lay-by on a lovely still evening to have a look at the plants in the meadow and also other areas of the Nature Park. Gerry is a specialist in identifying grasses, and many grasses were just at their best, so we learnt quite a few names. The names themselves are fascinating; Cocksfoot, Foxtail, Crested Dog’s-tail, Yorkshire Fog, Timothy, and many more. There were not many flowers out in the meadow, as it was rather early in the season for this meadow, but

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Monday 22 July

Thirteen in all attended today. Five of the bench building team worked up at Stone Cross Field to repair the damage to the east and west benches caused by vandals during the weekend. The damage wasn’t too bad and was soon repaired. They then completed the benches to coverband, and finally added and cemented in the top stones. The four benches are now all complete providing seating around the sycamore tree to the north, south, east and west. We received many compliments and thanks from dog walkers. Eight went to the Nature Park and trimmed around the fruit trees in

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Monday 15 July

Fourteen of the Group arrived today We began by welcoming a new member, who went with nine others to Carole’s Copse. Where we trimmed around the saplings and cleared much of the encroaching bracken. We need to return to finish the bracken clearance and attack the brambles at the top. The Bench Team were up at Stone Cross Field, where four of them made somewhat slower progress this morning on the E and W benches. They are trickier being on sloping ground. Nevertheless, with one more layer we’ll be at coverband level – ready for the top slabs. 

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Monday 8 July

Fourteen today, with ten turning up at the Hamlet and four at Stone Cross Field. The four of us at Stone Cross Field moved all the stored stone from Wayside to Stone Cross Field and continued building E and W benches. At the Hamlet, three went to the Dam area and cleared Himalayan Balsam, while the others finished clearing the paving and cobbled area by the Manager’s House. The ‘grassy’ area in the photo is how it all looked two weeks ago (also see photo from last week). We have now made a feature of the cobbles. There is still

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Visit to Beauchief Hall – Wednesday 3 July 

The owners of Beauchief Hall once again welcomed BEG members and friends to visit their lovely garden and grounds. About twenty-five gathered in the Fountain Garden and were met by Hora and Amin. The weather was a little unkind at first, so the group was invited to take shelter in the Hall where they partook of the lovely refreshments which had been so generously provided. After the rain had stopped, the group was able to go outside to look around the garden and grounds. We wish to express our sincere thanks to Hora and Amin for hosting such a lovely

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Monday 1 July

Twelve workers in total today. The two stonewallers collected a big pile of walling stone for Paul White to transport to Stone Cross field. Then they did the small repair of coping stones at the entrance to Lady Spring wood the top of the deer park, which had been pointed out as needing doing. The other ten had a very satisfying Morning at the Hamlet: Two went round to the Dam side and cleared away some Balsam. The rest cleared the new Car Park area was of more debris, before the Tree Survey is done on Wednesday 3rd July. We also

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Annual Balsam Bash – Saturday 29 June

This year’s expedition to tackle the invasive species threatening the banks of the River Sheaf as it flows through Ladies Spring Wood took place on Saturday 29th June. A team of four met at Dore and Totley Station, and one other joined us from the direction of Beauchief Golf Course. We were fortunate to have a fine day with mainly dry conditions underfoot. A surprise awaited us as we approached the first area where the Himalayan Balsam plants are found. It was clear that another group, judging by the many hundred plants that had been attacked, had already demolished huge

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Monday 17 June

All thirteen of us, today, went to the Nature Park. While one spent a short time clearing around the base of the Jubilee Tree, the rest went to the pond to finish the job started last week. Joined by the other, we covered the exposed Liner with Turf/Soil, we will not know how much is exposed on the sides till it is at maximum capacity, we will then have to consider what to do, if anything. The other two ponds are also now dry, so the liner [Bentonite] put in has failed in all three cases. The other two will,

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Monday 24 June

The twelve of us who arrived today split into three tasks. Seven met at the Hamlet and began the clearance of the rough area at the back of the car park. It had become a dumping ground and shortly there is to be a tree and soil survey, prior to it becoming an extension to the car park. Four of us laid out the orientation of east and west benches in Stone Cross Field, cut the turf, levelled the trench bottoms and put in the footings for two rectangular benches. Easier for being rectangular rather than curved but more challenging

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Monday 10 June

The ten folk that arrived today all met at the Nature Park pond, where we distributed the sand that was delivered, at 10.00 am, and began excavating Turf & Earth from the area to lay on top, as requested.This was a large job and we need to return to complete it, next week.Whilst there, we spotted Newts swimming in it and Mr & Mrs Mallard descended with great aplomb.

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Monday 3 June

Eleven workers met today, with nine at the Hamlet and two at the Driving Range. The Hamlet View Point was finished with all weeds and grass finally cleared from the cobbles, the edge of the top Car Park was also cleared of weeds and a number of flagstones , on the site,  were replaced or repaired. There is more work to do, so we intend to return.   The Driving Range path clearers used scythes and shears to cut back vegetation encroaching on the path alongside the driving range, between Bradway Road and Little Wood Bank, receiving several positive comments from

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Environment Weeks event – Saturday 25 May 

Nine people came along on a fine afternoon to our Environment Weeks event. We set off from Beauchief Abbey to walk up Beauchief Drive and couldn’t help noticing the Cow Parsley growing in the hedgerows on either side of the drive was prolific this year, and looked absolutely magnificent. The trees were in full leaf and looked beautiful. We went first to Gulleys Wood Meadow where Pignut was in flower everywhere and there was a great display of Buttercups and Yellow Rattle. We then went to the Nature Park noting plant species along the way. It was a lovely walk. 

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