© Crabtree Ponds © Sarah Sidgwick © Crabtree Ponds © Sarah Sidgwick © Crabtree Ponds May 2013 by Sarah Sidgwick © Mallard at Crabtree Ponds by Sarah Sidgwick Crabtree Ponds Crabtree Ponds is Burngreave’s hidden gem. Open View more images of Crabtree Ponds Bats Urban Oasis Pond life Crabtree Ponds is Burngreave’s hidden gem. In a very urban area, surrounded by roads, this handsome nature reserve brings much-needed green space. As part of a larger nature reserve and mainly used for recreational purposes or as a cut-through by local residents, this reserve is ideal for relaxing and enjoying the scenery. Please keep dogs on leads and always follow the Countryside Code. Respect, Protect, Enjoy your local green spaces. Dogs on our nature reserves and farmland policy Location On the northern edge of Sheffield city centre off Barnsley Road, Crabtree Lane, Burngreaves, Postcode S5 7BJ. OS Map Reference SK361 899 View on What 3 Words ///brush.insect.duke Know Before You Go Size approx 2 hectares Entry Fee – Free Parking – On-street parking is available on Crabtree Lane. Grazing Animals – No grazing animals Walking Trails – Accessibility – There is a good unpaved path network through the woodland of the reserve, including a boardwalk along one side of the pond and links to Roe Wood and Little Roe Wood. Parts of the path network away from the main boardwalk may become muddy or more challenging to navigate during wet weather. Step-free access is available from the Crabtree Close entrance. Facilities – No facilities Dogs – Dogs on a lead are permitted on the reserve. Other Information: Camping is not permitted at this reserve. Barbecues and campfires are not permitted at this reserve. When To Visit Opening Times – Open at all times. We recommend allowing at least 30 minutes to relax by the pond or explore this reserve. Best Times – Visit in spring and summer for birds and amphibians. Summer puts on a show of bats and dragonflies. In autumn you can find fungi, or maybe even spot a hedgehog. Directions Public Transport Bus numbers 1, 2, 3a, 20, 88 and 97 all stop nearby the nature reserve. Find more details on the Travel South Yorkshire website. By Road From Sheffield city centre take the A61 heading towards Bridgehouses Roundabout and take the second left on to Chatham Street and across the junction on to Pitsmoor Road. Continue on to Barnsley Road (A6135) for 1 mile then turn left at Norwood Road, then take the first right onto Crabtree Road. Follow the road then turn right at Crabtree Lane. About Crabtree Ponds Nature Reserve Crabtree Ponds is Burngreave’s hidden gem. In a very urban area, surrounded by roads, this handsome nature reserve brings much-needed green space. As part of a larger nature reserve and mainly used for recreational purposes or as a cut-through by local residents, this reserve is ideal for relaxing and enjoying the scenery. Crabtree Ponds started life as an ornamental pond for Crabtree Lodge in the 19th Century and is now a large area of standing water abundant with aquatic life such as rudd, roach, perch, crucian carp, sticklebacks and even eels. Several species of local biodiversity priorities, such as hawker dragonflies, smooth and palmate newt, frogs and toads can also be found here. The dense shrub layer provides ideal habitat for fungi, shelter for hedgehogs and an ideal home for many insects. Pipistrelle, Daubenton’s and Leisler’s bats all flit over from the nearby Roe Woods to feed at the ponds. In the woods where sycamore, poplar and ash predominate, bird boxes have encouraged nesting blue tits and great tits, with treecreepers, nuthatch, wrens also breeding here. If you would like to get in touch about Crabtree Ponds or any of our other nature reserves, please email us or call 0114 263 4335. © Image used with permission from Sheffield Local Studies Library www.picturesheffield.com Back in time at Crabtree Ponds Community Ranger Rachel Stevenson has been investigating the history of this urban nature reserve. Species Treecreeper Rudd Roach Perch Carp smooth newt Stickleback eels hawker dragonflies palmate newt, Common Frog Hedgehog Pipistrelle bat Daubenton’s Leisler’s bat Blue tit Great tit Nuthatch Wren Habitat Woodland Scrub Freshwater pond Contact If you need to get in touch with us about Crabtree Ponds or any of our other reserves, please email us or call 0114 263 4335. More information Seasonal Highlights In spring the woods where sycamore, poplar and ash predominate, bird boxes have encouraged nesting blue tits and great tits, with treecreepers, nuthatch, and wrens breeding. Smooth and palmate newt, frogs and toads can also be found here. In summer and early autumn you may see hawker dragonflies, while Pipistrelle, Daubenton’s and Leisler’s bats all flit over from the nearby Roe Woods to feed at the ponds. The dense shrub layer provides ideal habitat for fungi, shelter for hedgehogs and an ideal home for many insects. History The tranquil pond at Crabtree Ponds nature reserve has a fascinating history, beginning as the grand ornamental lake of Crabtree Lodge. Built in 1834 for Mr Rotherham and expanded by prominent local figures over the Victorian era, Crabtree Lodge was an impressive three-storey mansion featuring terraced gardens, a central fountain and three and a half acres of pastureland. Following the Second World War, the empty property fell into disrepair and suffered demolition in 1946, leading to a period of use by the Territorial Army and later municipal developments by Sheffield Council. In 1989, Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust took over management of the surrounding woods and waters to establish an urban nature reserve, preserving the original Victorian lake for local wildlife and visitors to enjoy today. Read this deep dive int0 the history of Crabtree Ponds from issue 106 of Kingfisher, our member’s magazine. Updates Volunteer Work Days Maintenance days with members of the local community are normally held on the first Monday of every month, from 10am to 12.30pm, but you can drop in whenever is convenient. Tasks include litter picking, habitat management, planting, and infrastructure repair. Tools, gloves, hot drinks and biscuits are provided – all help gratefully received! Find details for the next volunteer work day on our events page. Find out more about volunteering with Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust. Thank You Together with our members and volunteers we take care of 15 nature reserves, including Crabtree Ponds, spanning almost 600 hectares, across Sheffield and Rotherham. These are places where you can enjoy nature and where our conservation work helps the wildlife you love to thrive. For a deep dive into it read this feature from issue 106 of Kingfisher, our member’s magazine. Your donations make it possible for us to care for Crabtree Ponds nature reserve. Thank you! Downloads Salmon Pastures and Crabtree Ponds leaflet1 MB Crabtree Ponds map90 KB Crabtree Ponds Management Plan 2016-2025464 KB Explore our other amazing reserves Agden Bog A classic example of a type of bog that has now mostly disappeared from our landscape. Blacka Moor Blacka Moor is the largest and most spectacular of our nature reserves. It contains 181 hectares of breath-taking scenery and forms part of a much larger internationally important wild landscape. Carbrook Ravine A small but varied reserve nestled amongst the urban landscape. Carr House Meadows A patchwork of flower-rich meadows, perched above the Ewden Valley. Centenary Riverside From steel works to wetland wildlife haven. Fox Hagg A recently extended patch of heathland and woodland, neighbouring Wyming Brook. Greno Woods An ancient woodland, rich in wildlife and full of historic interest. Hammond’s Field One of the few remaining areas of unimproved farmland around the moorland fringes. Kilnhurst Ings A post-industrial washland on the River Don. Moss Valley Woodlands Majestic beech trees tower overhead in these beautiful ancient woodlands. Salmon Pastures From post-industrial wasteland to a vital green corridor. Sunnybank A scenic short-cut for people and wildlife. Woodhouse Washlands A mosaic of wet and dry grasslands, swamp, wet ditches, ponds and scrub. Wyming Brook A little bit of wilderness on the western edge of Sheffield.
Blacka Moor Blacka Moor is the largest and most spectacular of our nature reserves. It contains 181 hectares of breath-taking scenery and forms part of a much larger internationally important wild landscape.