New community fruit orchard in Oxley Park

THANKS to National Lottery players, and a partnership initiative between Stocksbridge Town Council and Bradfield and Ecclesfield Parish Councils, Oxley Park now has a new fruit orchard including apple, pear and greengage.

Last Saturday, local people came along for a day of woodland themed activities including a nature walk, LumberJills talk and tree planting with the Steel Valley Project.

Attendees on the walk found out the many amazing practical and medicinal uses of nettles and the benefits of blackberry brambles in supporting a healthy woodland.

At the LumberJill talk everyone was amazed to find out that we had our very own local LumberJill, Dorothy, in the audience.

Stocksbridge Mayor, Catherine Ward, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed today’s event- it was fantastic to find out we had a Land Army girl in the audience and lovely to be involved with the Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership who put this event on.”

Keith Tomkins, Sheffield Lakeland Project Manager, said: “It’s great to be working with these three councils as they demonstrate their commitment to woodlands and the wider environment.

“Next weekend it is the turn of Ecclesfield, where people can find out more about the historical importance of woodlands from Mel Jones.”

On Saturday September 14, the woodlands of Ecclesfield will be celebrated with children’s activities in Greno Woods and a talk about the woods by Professor Melvyn Jones at the Reading Rooms.

Both are free, but please book if you can via Eventbrite or contact n.willis@wildsheffield.com