Plans & Progress

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Felling and thinning works

For more infomation about our most recent management works, please click here.

Appeal Update

In August 2010 we set out to raise £1million in order to buy and restore Greno Woods, an extensive and well-loved ancient woodland that had been put onto the open market by its private owner.

the woodland was bought as a temporary measure by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and a private investor linked to local social enterprise Silvapower, in order to give us the time to raise the required funds.

Due to the challenge of raising such a considerable sum it became necessary to break the project into two phases:

1. To acquire the largest part of the woodland (143 hectares - for which there was a deadline of summer 2012), whilst undertaking an initial programme of management works, and

2. To purchase the remaining area (of 26 hectares), continue restoration of the woodland and undertake a programme of activities to engage the public more deeply in accessing, enjoying and understanding this special place.

Achievements to date

Phase 1 of the project is now complete and 143 hectares of the woodland is now in the ownership of the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham, marking a major achievement as this is the first nature reserve to be owned outright by the Trust. Work completed to date has included:

Public consultation, engagement of stakeholders and formation of a project management group.
A successful and widely publicised public appeal that (to date!) has raised in excess of £53,000.
The appeal has been supported by local poet Ian McMillan who wrote a poem inspired by Greno Woods in order to help raise awareness, as well as the local MP Angela Smith, former World Champion mountain biker Steve Peat and Michael Palin.
Further fundraising which secured a total of £801,997 from various sources including the landfill communities fund and charitable trusts.
Production of a management plan for the woodland.
Registration of the woodland as FSC certified, ensuring compliance with internationally agreed principles of good forest management.
Support for management works secured from the Forestry Commission under the English Woodland grant scheme.
Completion of two cycles of felling, thinning areas of conifer plantation and replacing these non-native species with native broad-leaved species, such as oak, that support a greater diversity of wildlife.
In partnership with local social enterprise, Silvapower, timber from the woodland has been converted to wood ship to be used to power biofuel boilers in local schools and social housing.
Over 10 public events have been held to raise awareness of the appeal and begin to engage the community in the project: these have included a spring fun day, a family bike ride, several guided walks, events targeted at children and young people and two downhill mountain bike races organised in conjunction with Steve Peat.
The woods also hosted the British Orienteering Championships in May 2011.
12 classes of children from six local schools have been engaged in taster environmental education sessions.

Next steps

We are now working on the second phase of the project. This will include acquiring the remaining 26 hectares of the woodland as well as ongoing management work to increase the whole woodlands' potential for biodiversity by slowly restoring areas of conifer to semi natural ancient woodland. It is also planned to develop a programme of activities to fully interpret the rich natural and social heritage of the woodland and actively engage people in accessing and learning more about this special place.