Owlthorpe Fields Action Group - the fight goes on . . .


 -  see News & Events Page on Fencing on the Fields -


  Owlthorpe Fields Action Group

. . . The fight goes on . . .


  We need your help to protect this wildlife habitat

for the wildlife who have no voice

 



Owlthorpe Fields Action Group (OAG) is a not-for-profit, non-political community group set up to stop the destruction of the green space known locally as Owlthorpe Fields near Sheffield. It was formed to protect Owlthorpe Fields from any housing development. Originally greenbelt farmland, it is now designated as a greenfield site, attractive to wildlife, resulting in increased biodiversity.  It has become a species rich wildlife habitat, with maturing trees and many birds (some on the RSPB red and amber lists), mammals and invertebrates.

Our aims:
  • To campaign against any proposed housing development on Owlthorpe Fields
  • To work with similar groups in the area to protect our community and the wildlife habitat of Owlthorpe Fields
  • To campaign to maintain the green open fields and woods of Owlthorpe Fields
  • To monitor, scrutinise and challenge proposed developments in the area
Now, more than ever, residents value and cherish this wild space - we have no local park or other usable green open space. It provides a place for outdoor education, for birdwatching and to learn about flora and fauna. It provides a place to walk, to run, to spend time alone, or with family and friends, providing physical and mental health benefits, offering peace and tranquillity.  It's a wonderful resource for the community, for our children to grow up in and enjoy for many years to come.

But there is still a problem...

Although not one councillor voted in favour of the planning application from Avant Homes and the vast majority of local residents oppose the development - and now - our wishes have been overturned by the Public Inquiry Decision given on March 2nd this year.

OAG understands that new houses are needed, but in our opinion, they should be built on brown field sites where a real biodiversity net gain could be achieved.  This idea fits in with national and local planning policy in the rest of Sheffield.
We are liaising with other groups, and with Sheffield City Council on the creation of a Wildlife Corridor - click the link below for more information on this idea.
Read more
Photo credit: Lydia Fretwell-Smith

Woody the green woodpecker says, "I prefer trees to tarmac".
The Planning Department chose to use this outdated photo of our Fields. It’s noticeable how few trees there were back then, in contrast to the recent photo at the top of this page.

Site E was the subject of the rejected Planning application, but also included a children’s playground on Site C and a large drainage pond and associated pipework on Site D – profoundly affecting the whole landscape.

The application would mean the felling of all maturing oak, ash, alder, hawthorn, hazel, elder and willow in these areas, decimating wildlife across the Fields as well as the adjacent Local Wildlife Site (LWS).

Interestingly the yellow field with rapeseed which was earmarked as a District Park shows darker patches where, on old maps, there were trees between Hanging Lea Wood and Westfield Plantation - top left in the photo.

Owlthorpe Fields during the pandemic

Local residents have valued Owlthorpe Fields for decades. From dog-walkers to nature-lovers, from children on school visits to NHS funded walking groups – and all the while it’s been returning naturally to being a wild landscape.

Many of us have only now realised, during these days of lockdown, the true value of Owlthorpe Fields.  Where would we have walked and enjoyed being out in the fresh air, if not for this open green space?

We’re told this pandemic and others are likely to burden us in the future.  Where would we take our exercise and find peace of mind if this land is taken from us?  This is the question we must put to those who still maintain this land must be built on, because it was ‘earmarked’ as building land decades ago, when climate change was not the issue it has now become.
Owlthorpe Fields. . .  an increasingly rare and biodiverse landscape, valued by the community and a home for wildlife.

JUST ASK LOCAL PEOPLE

They'll tell you how much they value this natural open space:

“Regarding Owlthorpe Fields, we moved out here in 1986 and the Council gave us a booklet showing the longer-term plans for the area. It did include some housing and a school and shop, which never came to fruition. In view of the climate emergency, surely after 33 years, the plans should be changed and the Council should be planting trees, not digging them up and desecrating a lovely Site like Owlthorpe Fields?”

“This beauty cannot be destroyed! The Covid-19 lockdown has highlighted the lack of suitable green space in our neighbourhoods.”

“Heart-breaking that this wonderful place is to be destroyed in such a vile way”

“It’s such a special and beautiful place to walk.”

“The birds are happy in their Owlthorpe Habitat. We go walking around Owlthorpe Fields every day as we have for some years now."

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