This is the temporary home for SGSF General meeting minutes -
Annual General Meeting Wednesday 17th January 2024, 7pm, Arts Tower.
Chair Ted Talbot opens the meeting and presents the role of parks in the 5 Ways to Wellbeing.
We then had a discussion in groups: Are you promoting/ could you promote 5 Ways to Wellbeing? What are you looking forward to in 2024? (here are some excerpts):
South-east (1 group): model of how to organise as part of a LAC. Species survival funding bid is being applied for covering Shirebrook Valley, part of Owlthorpe fields and other places. A turning point in spending money strategically with a view to look larger. Kestrels at Shirebrook Valley eat the worms at Birley Spa. Nature has no boundaries.
Working at Birley Spa has been both the most uplifting and demoralising of experiences. Engaging with nature is so important – recently had good news: Stoneface Creative will be creating a sleeping giant which will be part funded by the LAC.
North East (4 groups) – Looking forward to developing connections – picking up where we left up. Groups will be at the Sheffield Heritage Fair. Some tree planting and fruit planting. Dead hedges being created at Tongue Gutter. The time is now to do some clearing while it is winter. Firth Park – an Ash tree was felled due to Ash Dieback.
North East (3 groups) – 7 people now on Friends of High Hazels Park!! There will be some new facilities in the park. Gardening group at Hope Allotments.
North – (6 groups) Looking forward to getting council involvement (after storm damage), connecting with schools, lots of people still up at Loxley and Wadsley Commons. Still a challenge to get new people, especially young people. A theme for next meeting?
Central – (7 groups) Looking forward to reinvigorating themselves! Great spread of groups in the area. Wardsend cemetery got a £20K grant from Northern Power Grid. Fabulous news!!
South East (5 groups) The importance of the café and green space walks. Connecting groups together – LAC funding could help with signage etc. Getting wildflower seeds could be something to go to the LACs for funding might be a good idea too.
South (2 groups) – important to link up with the larger scale organisations: Sheffield Environment Groups and Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. Really important to make the connections. Greener Greenhill did a connected short walk which took into account benches and cafes.
“Steal with pride” says Ted! We are all in the same game – if you see a good idea, steal it and apply it in your own patch.
Ted mentions how we has met with Tom Hunt, leader of the Council who is presenting a spirit of working together to get things done. Download the city plan.
Cllr Bernard Little – reminder that we’re a city in no overall control, meaning that all the parties work together so no one voice is dominant, there are many voices and we are all in this together. Come along to the Council meetings.
Also look at Sheffield City Goals.
Update from Sheffield City Council: Rowan Longhurst and Simon Ross which included a personalised and big thank you to Friends and community groups around the city from the Parks and Countryside team.
Mike Hodson, Friends of Millhouses Park, gave us an update on the situation with the lease arrangement around the beer garden for the Waggon & Horses pub where there has been a lot of miscommunication from the Council. Contact Mike for more details.
The Parks Department’s Building Better Parks programme has been around for a long time and there was a lot of discussion at the time of BBP (now Better parks) being developed focusing on working with ethical organisations and having sound agreements. But Mike reports how this has not happened at Millhouses Park.
Q: Is there a framework to help guide groups in that process on council and groups working together?
A: could we work with LACs to identify assets for ‘disposal’ and how they can be protected/ highlighted for community involvement.
Just A Minute
Could SGSF organise a hustings in light of the upcoming election? Nicky Rivers talks about how the Wildlife Trust did this at the last election.
Ollie, Sheffield Fruit Trees – they aim to put more fruit trees in public spaces and to support groups to apply for grant funding. SFT have the trees, can provide pruning, orchard workshops. SFT need the groups like you! www.sheffieldfruittrees.co.uk
Dave, Sheffield Environmental talks about the Sheffield Steel Wheel, an Active Travel route around the city taking in 70 or so miles. Dave talks about different spokes of this wheel which connect loads of the city’s green spaces. For more info: https://www.sheffieldenvironmental.net/sheffsteelwheel Ted reminds us of other long-standing examples of city connections: Five Weirs Walk and the Blue Loop.
Dave, Sheffield Environment Weeks – it’s the 40th anniversary this year. 27th April – 5th June. Probably the last one. Go to sheffieldevironment.org
Bridget, Tree Wardens group – all woodchip from Amey is shipped out of the city, perhaps even abroad. Bridget talked to Amey and they ask if any groups have space in the city where Amey can put this and people can take it this, rather than shipping it out of the city?
Next meetings:
Weds March 20th, 6.30pm for 7pm start - The Arts Tower.
Weds May 15th, 6.30pm for 7pm start - Sheffield Botanical Gardens.
Weds July 17th, 6.30pm for 7pm start - Ecclesall Woods Discovery Centre.
Weds Sept 18th, 6.30pm for 7pm start - venue to be confirmed.
Weds Nov 20th, 6.30pm for 7pm start - The Arts Tower. AGM