- Work with and support landowners and managers, organisations, groups or individuals through our Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership project and beyond who share our vision for Sheffield’s moors to be thriving and sustainable for both people and wildlife.
- Regularly update and raise awareness with the general public and our members about excessive and illegal wildlife persecution on our moors –through media etc providing factual information and examples wherever possible.
- Promote the use of Snarewatch to the general public as a means for mapping and monitoring the ongoing use of snares and stink pits on our moors.
- Monitor the use of snares and stink pits across our moors, with a particular emphasis on land adjacent to our Nature Reserves, particularly the Moscar Estate bordering our Wyming Brook nature reserve. Where possible, directly contact landowners who are using stink pits and snares excessively and/or not in accordance with good practice to raise our concerns and seek a constructive discussion.
- Actively collate and ensure any evidence of suspected wildlife crime is reported to the police. Act on any reports we receive about potential wildlife crime.
- Contribute to the prevention of the illegal killing of birds of prey by participating in NESTWATCH schemes, promoting ‘sighting’ reporting and raising awareness of what to look for.
- Work with the local Wildlife Crime Unit at South Yorkshire Police. Support strong enforcement of existing wildlife legislation and investment in training, better detection and policing by attending relevant events and raising the issue with the police and relevant partners.
- Initiate or actively promote appropriate campaigns and petitions by others where they coincide with our own position and aims, including Hen Harrier Day.
- Continue to manage Blacka Moor Nature Reserve as an example of good moorland management for people and wildlife and be part of the Sheffield Moors Partnership.
- Celebrate and highlight cases of good practice by local grouse moorland owners and keepers.
- Continue to work with other Wildlife Trusts to influence national and regional policy makers about the importance of the upland habitat, the wildlife they support and their future post-Brexit, especially as changes to agricultural subsidies take place.
On Friday 9th February 2024 we attended and spoke at a public discussion meeting hosted by South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard. Here’s what Liz Ballard, Chief Executive of Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust had to say:
Following a meeting to discuss tackling Wildlife Crime in South Yorkshire, we published an open letter in August 2019 to South Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Stephen Watson detailing the main points and agreed actions and outcomes of the meeting. For more information and to read the letter, click here or download the letter below.
In April 2019 The Wildlife Trusts jointly signed a letter to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for the Environment asking for an immediate and outright ban on moorland burning across all peatland bog habitats. To read the letter, click here or download it below.