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Take a look, through some of the common species of wildlife that live in the South Yorkshire area around Sheffield and Rotherham.
A recently extended patch of heathland and woodland, neighbouring Wyming Brook.
Our Acorn Fund is a pot of money allocated specifically to help release money from the Landfill Communities Fund. Your donation can be the key to unlocking funding worth thousands of pounds to make a huge difference for local wildlife.
Unveil the hidden world of insects in Sheffield & Rotherham with the newest issue of Kingfisher magazine.
Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust are calling upon the government to commit to a plan to finally halt and reverse the trend of declining nature.
The new Planning and Infrastructure Bill has reached the final stages of debate before becoming law. Last week, the House of Lords voted for a new amendment to the Bill – Amendment 130.
Currently, developers need to assess and address environmental impacts of developments on legally protected habitats and wildlife. Part Three of the P&I Bill would change this process by removing the foundations of our nature laws, such as the need to avoid harm to nature first. We, along with other environmental organisations and the Office for Environmental Protection, agree that the Bill weakens the protection of nature.
We recognise that there is a housing crisis and a way to address this is for new homes to be built. However, we feel it is important to build homes in a way that helps wildlife. We know that this is possible and that it helps boost the health and wellbeing of communities.
In its current form, the Bill introduces a generic approach to addressing the impacts of development on nature – this simply doesn’t work for most protected species. Amendment 130 was proposed, which calls for protected species and habitats to not be included in the framework that allows developers to pay into a fund to replace lost habitats elsewhere (Environmental Delivery Plans).
The Amendment was voted in favour by the House of Lords at the end of October, and will now return to the Government to vote on. Amendment 130 wouldn’t hinder house building, as protected species aren’t causing major delays – bats, for example, were behind just 0.8% of planning refusals that were appealed in 2024.
If Amendment 130 is voted for by the Government and becomes law, protected species will have more protection. The vote is happening soon – this is our last chance to influence the Bill before it is passed into law. Please call on your MP using our email form today.
The last General election was incredibly important for wildlife and wild spaces across the UK – the Government will now be responsible for reversing nature’s decline.
You can ensure nature is given the priority it deserves. Find out all you need to know about The Wildlife Trusts’ priorities and how you can act with nature in mind, below.
Please complete the Wildlife Trust’s Satisfaction Action to let us know how satisfied you are with your local MPs surrounding the issues highlighted on this page, or with a conversation you’ve had with them.
We can use this feedback to shape future conversations with local MPs and elected representatives to push our 5 priorities for nature (see below).
Your data will be used to identify your constituency, and to provide you with updates around this action (should you opt in):
Leading wildlife organisations including The Wildlife Trusts recently published a landmark State of Nature 2023 report. It shows that nature is continuing to decline at an alarming rate across the UK, which is already one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
These findings are reflected in Sheffield and Rotherham, with the near disappearance of important species including white-clawed crayfish, turtle dove and willow tit from Sheffield and the complete loss of some species, such as water vole from Rotherham.
In view of the nature crisis, Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, along with colleagues across all UK Wildlife Trusts, have identified five priorities for the current government:
Priority 1:
The UK Government must work across departments to put nature into recovery by protecting and restoring at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. Species like the long lost Beaver should return to Sheffield and Rotherham, and a nature recovery network should join up wild places, from our neighbourhoods to the countryside.
Find out more at The Wildlife Trusts.
Priority 2:
With the UK among the worst countries in Europe for water quality, the Government must sufficiently fund enforcement agencies to do their job. No river in Sheffield and Rotherham is in good overall condition. By 2030, nutrient pollution from farming, sewage and development must be halved, and more wetlands should be created to tackle flood and drought.
Priority 3:
The destruction of nature and impacts of climate change are the biggest threats to food security in the UK. Farmers must be supported and incentivised to help wildlife recover by creating more space for nature, significantly reducing pollution, and halving harm from pesticides by 2030. The budget for nature-friendly farming should increase to at least £4.4 billion a year. Leading by example, Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust are planning to test and learn a nature friendly farming approach at Ughill Farm; a low grade marginal farmland site on the western edge of Sheffield.
Priority 4:
Evidence shows that a thriving, wildlife-rich environment benefits people’s physical and mental health. People with nature on their doorstep are more active, mentally resilient and have better all-round health. Wild at Heart, a locally based project run by Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust brings people together to explore and learn about wildlife and learn new skills while also building social connections. Recent analysis found that for every £1 invested in this programme there is £1.19 of additional benefit in terms of reduced costs to the NHS. The UK Government must support the creation of more greenspace in neighbourhoods, fund and integrate green prescribing into community-based health services and enable all children to access outdoor learning opportunities.
Priority 5:
Nature can make a huge contribution to achieving net-zero targets if habitats are restored because peatlands, woodlands, and other wild places store carbon. Additionally, the UK Government must integrate climate adaptation strategies across all departments, create a nature recovery network and invest more in nature based solutions, such as the Sheffield Limb Brook demonstrator site.
In June, Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust, along with a number of other wildlife and environment groups, supported and attended a march to Parliament Square in London. The event was a celebration of nature and had one simple demand to the new Government: to ‘Restore Nature Now’.
If you attended this event and would like to share feedback, or are interested in supporting or attending future activities, please contact takeaction@wildsheffield.com.