Secret Sanctuaries was a partnership project between Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust and Chilypep that aimed to connect young people with undiscovered green spaces around them.
We worked with Chilypep (Children and Young Peoples Empowerment Project) to help young people across North Sheffield discover their local unused green spaces and make them young person friendly. These spaces were signposted as ‘Secret Sanctuaries’ in their communities, places where they could go to connect with nature and have space to think.
Studies show that time spent outdoors and in nature have a positive effect on emotional health and wellbeing. That’s why we worked on this project to increase and improve young people’s awareness of the areas in their local community that can provide them with a safe, peaceful and mindful place to read, think, play or meditate.
Nine sites were identified as beautiful, calming and relaxing Secret Sanctuaries. They are:
Chilyhub – Chilypep Garden , 11 Southey Hill, S5 8BB
The Ancient Woodlands – Greno Woods Nature Reserve, North of Grenoside, S35 8NY
Scream Your Thoughts Out Tree – Wincobank Hill, Sheffield, S9 1AL
The Star Crossed Queen – Wincobank Common, Jenkin Road, S9 1AY
Spring of Life – Parkwood Springs, Cookswood Road, S3 9AA
Nature Awaits – Hillsborough Park, Hillsborough Park, S6 2AN
Mystical Thoughts – Parsons Cross Park, Buchanan Rd, S5 8AL
Robin’s Rocks – Loxley Common, Loxley Rd, S6 6RR
Thinking Fox – Fox Hill Virtual Reality Secret Sanctuary (see below).
The Thinking Fox Virtual Reality Secret Sanctuary
Sometimes it’s not easy to go outside, or travel to a sanctuary. That’s why there is also a Secret Sanctuary virtual reality site where young people can access a 360 degree view of Foxhill Park.
The Secret Sanctuaries project was funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund.