Celebrating 40 wild years!

Today marks an incredible milestone – the 40th anniversary of Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust!

We couldn’t let this moment pass without saying a huge thank you to you – our wonderful supporters – for everything we’ve achieved together for nature over the past four decades.

It all began on 17th April 1985, when a passionate group of ecological enthusiasts*, including Mike Wild, lecturer in Environmental Studies at Sheffield City Polytechnic, formed the Sheffield City Wildlife Group. Their first success was the transformation of a tiny, derelict site at Sunnybank into an urban nature reserve.

With support from Sheffield City Council Planners, Councillor Dave Skinner, and a team of dedicated volunteers – including residents of nearby council flats- Sunnybank became a wildlife haven right in the centre of Sheffield.

A black and white image showing 3 peopole using spades to dig out the original pond at Sunnybank
Digging the original pond at Sunnybank nature reserve, 1988 – photo courtesy of Roger Butterfield

In 1991, we welcomed our first full-time Chief Executive, Ros Stokes, marking our transition into a full Wildlife Trust affiliated with the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. Under Rob Stoneman’s leadership from 1997, the Trust expanded rapidly through urban regeneration projects to improve the quality of the natural environment for wildlife and give people better access to it.

From 1998, we negotiated leases for 11 nature reserves and secured £1 million in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, thanks to Nigel Doar, who later became Chief Executive in 2001. That same year, we moved into our headquarters – an old church hall, now surrounded by a flourishing community wildlife garden.

The garden at Victorai hall, Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife trust's HQ
Our headquarters on Stafford Road – Victoria Hall, affectionately known as Vicky Hall

Fast forward to today, under the inspiring leadership of Liz Ballard, we’ve continued to grow. Our community now includes over 5,000 brilliant members. We’ve taken bold steps for nature – from purchasing Greno Woods in 2012 and then Ughill Farm in 2024, to saving precious places like Smithy Woods from development. And we’ve built incredible partnerships that bring people together for wildlife, well-being, and a wilder future.

From all of us at the Trust, thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to the next 40 years of standing up for nature in Sheffield, Rotherham, and beyond!

Thank you!

*Including Cristine Bradley, Sheffield University Landscape Dept; Mike Wild, Sheffield Polytechnic Environment and Recreation Dept; Dennis Patton, freelance at Peak District National Park and Greenpeace; Keith Clarkson, Peak District National Park; Oliver Gilbert, Sheffield University; Caroline Essery, Ecologist; Mel Banham, RSNC; Roger Butterfield, Sheffield Conservation Volunteer Coordinator.