Greno Woods £1 Million Appeal

History of the woods

Grenoside Woodlands have a rich and well documented history. The occurrence of worked Mesolithic (c. 8000 BC) flints found within the woodlands would suggest the area was once used by nomadic hunters with the flint material sourced back to the Yorkshire Coast.

Romano-British (43-410 AD) settlements and field systems have been discovered in both Grenoside and the surrounding woodlands suggesting the early clearance of tree cover. Grenoside village lies to the south of the woodland where there has probably been a settlement of some sort for the last 1,600 to 2,000 years.

The name Grenoside is derived from the Old English and Norse meaning quarried hillside. Quarrying of the Grenoside and Penistone Sandstone for building material has been associated with the area throughout history with numerous workings in evidence today.

Grenoside and the surrounding woodlands were managed from at least as early as medieval times until the late 19^th Century as coppices with standards in 20 to 30 year cycles. Timber from the standards was used in building projects and the underwood for charcoal, clog soles, brush heads and baskets. Two soaking ponds survive today from these activities.

The northern section of Grenoside Woodlands was historically split into Hall Wood, Nether Hall Wood and Low Hall Wood which was, and still is, the more favoured area for growing broadleaved trees by virtue of the soil conditions.

The woods had a history of oak coppicing according to documents written for the seventh Earl of Shrewsbury between 1590 and 1616. A survey of 1637 showed this area of the woodland was virtually the same shape as it is now, including the fields. A map of 1810 shows the areas split into six falls (coupes) indicating coppice felling year and the number of standards within each. During this period oak bark was commonly utilised in the tanning leather industry. Under the directions of the Duke of Norfolk the majority of the wood was felled and planted with beech and larch in the 19^th century as coppicing became less profitable.

The woodland management for the southern section of the woodland is not as well documented. However the presence of ground flora such as heather, bilberry and wavy hair grass indicates low canopy cover prior to the planting of confers during the 1950’s. The adjoining Wheata Woods suffered the gradual clearance of trees to create intakes and allowed cattle to graze within the coppice stands. A similar pattern may have occurred in Grenoside. Charcoal burning was used to smelt iron and later to make crucible steel with evidence of old huts and pits.

The Forestry Commission acquired the woodland from the Norfolk Estate and the woodland became dedicated in 1951 prior to the first major plantings which now represent the oldest coniferous crops. The pattern of larch production continues in Hall Wood with extensive pine planting in the southern area. The current owner purchased the woodland in 1988 for commercial purposes and Fountain Forestry provided management. Since then until they were put up for sale, the woodlands have been managed almost entirely for the purpose of commercial profit.

The purchase of the woods by Sheffield Wildlife Trust means that in future, sustainable management techniques will include timely thinning, track maintenance, footpath creation and the construction of timber loading areas; but will be achieved in such a way that is beneficial to wildlife and people.

Fundraising

Species to look out for

Location