Can You Feel It?

There is something in the air, can you feel it? A bit of hope, a bit more happiness, a whiff of change perhaps? 
Fingers crossed we're just about over the worst of the pandemic and life is getting nearer to normal.
The council elections and referendum have shown that people were eager to have the council do things in a different, more inclusive way.
It looks like change is finally starting to happen. Even Alan the Tawny Owl is looking optimistic!

On Friday we joined the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, Sheffield Greenpeace, Owlthorpe Action Group, Wardsend Cemetery and many other organisations and individuals to declare a Nature Emergency for Sheffield. We did this because,

'Nature is in trouble - we are losing our wildlife at a faster rate than ever before. The UK is one of the most ‘nature depleted’ countries in the world. And right on our doorstep, here in Sheffield,
we are losing our wildlife because of:
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Habitat loss and destruction, such as the loss of important sites for housing, or the
burning of our moorlands
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Wildlife being hunted and persecuted, including the mountain hare
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Increasing threats from pests and disease, for example ash-dieback
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Invasive plants and animals squeezing out our local wildlife
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Pollution of land and water, including the excess use of pesticides
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The climate crisis making it harder for all wildlife to survive and thrive
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Limited opportunities for people of all ages to experience, enjoy and connect with nature.'(Extract from Wildsheffield.com)

If you have followed us for any length of time you will know that all of the above are causes close to our hearts and have been part of our goals from the beginning. By the end of Friday Sheffield City Council, in quite a change from their stance pre-election, had agreed to support the declaration. This is very good news, for nature, the environment, and for Birley Spa.

In other exciting news, Sheffield Countryside Conservation Trust are in the process of submitting an application, with our collaboration and the support of Parks Dept, to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for repairs and improvements to the pond and immediate area. Fingers crossed we are successful.

And so to the Bath House, we have a number of meetings coming up, some with the council and some with other bodies regarding the future of the building, of course nothing is certain, but the conversation is getting louder. As we have said previously, the pandemic has proven the case for the building to be a hub for the community, for health and well-being, for education and for nature, our voice is starting to be heard. 

As can be seen from the first photo at the top of this post, our Volunteer sessions have restarted in the grounds. It feels so good to be getting our community involved again and it really impacts on the difference we can make. The next sessions coming up are Tuesday 8th June and Sunday 13th June, both 10am till 12 noon. We would love for you to join us! (Please bring your own gloves)

P.S. Keep an eye on our Facebook page as we have a big event announcement coming out soon!



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