Welcome to friends of Ecological Owlthorpe

Welcome to Visitor's Guide to Owlthorpe Heritage and Nature Trail

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• Scroll down the page to see points of interest. If you double click on any of the interpretation board photos you will be able to view a large version, which enables you to read online.

• GPS coordinates are available if you wish to visit and see the boards in situate.

• Many parents bring their children and use the interpretation boards to educate them about the wonderful environment we live in.

• Owlthorpe is very steep; the locations show the height above sea level.

• Scrolling down the page we have a number of short videos which you may find interesting.

(2) Double click on the (Notice Board) to obtain a large on-line readabe version of the interpretation Board regarding the Grazing Project.

You can read in detail the project's objective is to manage our grassland and safeguard the wildflowers and wildlife for future generations to enjoy. The grazing project is part of a program of strategic planting to link up the green corridors of Sheffield.

Approx.: 387ft above sea Level 

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33765,-1.38189

(32) Grassland Servey's

Click on the photo to see the full report, regarding the vast quantity of invertebrate's living on phase 2 of the Grassland project.

Many species live in Phase 2 of the Grazing project all year round, some migrate to other areas. It is hard to believe how many species live in the Grasslands of Owlthorpe Heritage & Nature Trail. 

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33798,-1.38319

(34) Ladybirds

Huge numbers of Ladybirds basking in late March sunshine on trunks of small trees. In a survey of Phase 2 Grassland Grazing project 1139 were counted.

The assumption is that Phase 2 is an important hibernation site for Ladybirds and an important spring basking site. The requirements appear to be the presence of small trees in a warm, sunny position.

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33804,-1.38371

(24) Watch the Video of Owlthorpe Nature Trail

What a pleasure it is to enjoy a summers walk watching the squirrels at play as they run up and down the trees in Owlthorpe Heritage & Nature Trail

The area is used by dog walkers familys taking their children to enjoy the wonderful walks Owlthorpe Heritage & Nature Trail has to offer.

Approx.: 320ft Above sea level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33988,-1.37676

(45) Video of Ochre Dyke flooding

The colouring of the water is ochre that has been washed out of the old mine workings that flows under Owlthorpe the Ochre Dyke then passes behind Crystal Peaks shopping complex. .

Approx.: 178ft Above sea level


GPS Co-ordinates 53.340838,-1.352346

(1)Double click on the (Notice Board) to obtain a large on-line readable version of the interpretation Board regarding Owlthorpe Heritage

The British Trust has records of surveys going back to 1988. The walks have been timed to coincide with the spring and autumn bird migrations. As a result of these surveys the species count for birds in Owlthorpe is 78.

Approx.: 346ft Above sea level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.3389,-1.38056

(4) Double click on the (Notice Board) to obtain a large on-line readable version of the interpretation Board regarding Moor Hole Lane

795 Local school children were involved in the project that provides environmental education to raise awareness and enjoyment of the local countryside.

Approx: 453ft above sea Level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33588,-1.38116

(29) Ochre Dyke Opposite Royston Av. .Water cascades off the Grazing project and joins the Ochre Dyke opposite Royston Av. Some of the water is washed underground, the rest continues down the mainstream.

Approx.: 378ft above sea level.

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33933,-1.38263 

(48) Video of Culvert

The culvert carries water under Moor Valley from the header waters of the Ochre Dyke which is situated in Birley Woods at the side of the Golf course.

The Ochre Dyke passes close to the Birley Moor Pit. When in operation water had to be pumped out to stop the miners from drowning. It is the Ochre from the pits that gives the Ochre Dyke its name.

Approx: 420ft above sea Level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33822,-1.385700

(3) .Double click on the (Notice Board) to obtain a large on-line readable version of the interpretation Board regarding Mining.

There are a number of coal seams running under Owlthorpe: Sitwell Thin Coal, Sitwell, Rawmarsh and Silkstone. History shows that coal in Owlthorpe has been mined by a number of pits including the Birley group of pits. Brook Lane Opencast mine:

Birley Moor closed in the late 1960s.

Moor hole lane  Colliery closed in 1932.

The interpretation board stands

Approx.: 407ft Above sea level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33712,-1.381610

(45) Video of Nature Trail Winter

This walk is enjoyed by dog walkers and people just enjoying our oasis.

GPS Co-ordinates 53.34,-1.37515

(46) Video of Water Pretension

This video shows the amount of water stored in Owlthorpe stopping Downstream flooding.

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33828,-1.3775 

(6) 3 Way Stile

Quite a hike up the hill but the views are spectacular. The stables for the pones that worked down the pits were housed at the side of the stile. Ponies were taken acros Owlthorpe to the blacksmith at Hackenthorpe to be re-shod.

Approx: 502ft above sea Level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33296,-1.37566

(14) Owlthorpe Wetlands

The Owlthorpe Wetland was created as part of the overall project to support and enhance the ecology of Owlthorpe.

The wetlands have been neglected and are completely overgrown.

Approx: 260ft above sea Level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.34012,-1.37069

(28) Colliery Drift Capped off

The photo shows Moorhole Colliery pit head now capped off.

There was a tramway which ran under Moor Valley and down to the Colliery drift.

Approx: 382ft above sea Level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33889,-1.380750

(36) Dimond Cottages

Many of the miners that worked down the pits lived in the cottages. The cottages got their name from the diamond shaped window pains.

The cottages remain just the same as they where when the miners lived their.

Approx.: 423ft above sea Level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33765,-1.385460

(5) Duble click on the (Notice Board) to obtain a large on-line readable version of the interpritation Board regarding Hanging Lea Wood

The name Owlthorpe is derived from the Old English word alor for the Alder Tree while Thorpe is is a varient of the Middle English word thorp, meaning hamlet or small village. Therefore Owlthorpe means the hamlet where alder trees grow. They are most commonly found next to a body of water such as the Ochre Dyke.

Approx: 412ft Above sea level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33602,-1.378730

( 35)Bumblebee's

Bumblebee's have now colonised Grazing plot 2 and are nesting. Plenty of hive bees also present on this site

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33763,-1.38393

(50) Orange Tip Butterfly

Excellent numbers of Orange tip Butterflies seen in Grazing plot 2.

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33835, -1.38432

(38) Header Waters of the Ochre Dyke are situated in Birley woods at the side of the Golf cause.

As children we explored Birley Woods, in the header waters of The Ochre Dyke we found frogspawn, tadpoles, frogs and newts.

Approx. 648ft above sea level.
GPS Co-ordinates 53.336862,-1.394311 

(27) The Steps Owlthorpe Nature Trail

The steps lead up to the caped of mineshaft of Moor hole Pits.

Approx.: 382ft Above sea level


GPS Co-ordinates 53.33889,-1.380750

(18) Owlthorpe Surgery + Pharmacy

The surgery provides all our medical needs to keep us in good health.

Approx: 312ft Above sea level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33840,-1.376120

(23) Squirrel

The squirrels in Owlthorpe are very friendly this one decided to let me take his photo

Approx.: 307ft above sea level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33998,-1.37624

(39) Looking across Owlthorpe Fields

You can see that the field has completely rewilded, bosting many maturing trees.

Approx.: 307ft Above sea level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33418,-1.37085

(11) Bridge Westfield Plantation

The bridge over the Ochre Dyke leads to Westfield Plantation. 

Approx: 253ft Above sea level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33975,-1.36422

(10) Westfield Plantation (Gate)

The plantation boasts many types of  trees and is a haven for Owls.

Approx.: 258ft Above sea level


GPS Co-ordinates 53.33828,-1.36697

(8) Kids playing football on the recreation grownd in Owlthorpe Forest Settings.

Aprox: 266ft above sea level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33949,-1.37062

(9) Bridge to Forest Settings

This bridge leads over the Ochre Dyke and up to the playing fields of Owlthorpe Forest Settings.

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33997,-1.370050

(16) Owlthorpe Fields

Can you spot the bee in this photo.

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33937,-1.37423

(51) The Higher-level Stewardship map shows the Hedgerows, Ditches, Grassland and Wetlands that are of very high environmental Value. Between 1980 and 2002 Sheffield lost 75.7% of its unimproved grasslands, therefore our grasslands are a valuable environmental resource.

The project's objective is to manage our grasslands and safeguard the wildflower and wildlife for future generations to enjoy. The grazing project is part of a programme of strategic planting to link up the green corridors of Sheffield.

(21) Children helping on the project

A big thank you to the hundreds of Children who helped in the construction of Owlthorpe Heritage & Nature Trail.

Approx.: 300ft above sea level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.34001,-1.375

(33) Highland Cattle

Highland Cattle and other animals such as alpaca's can sometimes be seen on the Grazing plot 2 in Owlthorpe Heritage & Nature Trail.

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33764,-1.38254 

( 31) Gate to Grassland Project

Visitors often see animals from Graves park animal farm. As they take their vacation.

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33775,-1.38199 

( 17) Buzzard

(18) The buzzards can be seen all over Owlthorpe. Gliding on the thermals they provide a spectacular aerial display.   

(47) Swift

The swifts are so agile as they feed on the wing swooping over the grassland and Grazing project.

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33837,-1.38302

(13) Eden Thorp PlayGround

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33947,-1.36879

(37) Dent (Birley Wood Pits)

The workings at the colliery face were always in orange coloured "Ochre Water" due to the iron deposits in the workings, the water being continually pumped from the pit.

Approx.: 454ft above sea level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33815,-1.38877 

(25) Walking on Nature Trail.

We have some wonderful specimens of Trees in Owlthorpe Heritage & Nature Trail.

Approx.: 314ft above sea Level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33967,-1.37755 

(30) Tree in Ochre Dyke Woods

This tree lives up in the area between the colvert and the caped of mine shaft. Most of the year this area is flooded.

GPS Co-ordinates 53.33898,-1.38394

(20) The destruction of Plot E.
To see evidence, we supplied to the Planning Inspector click here
https://www.ecological-owlthorpe.org/publicinquiry.htm
We are not happy with the decision made by Inspector O S Woodwards. Formal complaint has been made to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

GPS Coordinates 53.33921,-1.37542

(41) Timeline Sculpture Mosborough

Well worth a visit the notice boards show the direction and distance to many cityies around the world.


GPS Co-ordinates 53.32775,-1.37361 

(42) Ochre Dyke behind Crystal Peaks

The collaring of the water is ochre that has been washed out of the old mineworking's that run under Owlthorpe the Ochre Dyke then passes behind Crystal Peaks

Approx.: 178ft Above sea level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.340838,-1.352346

(43) Beighton Flooding

After the flood waters receded it was not only the damage to property but also Ochre was found on farmland, which can affect the food chain.

GPS Co-ordinates 53.34726,-1.33538

(44) Fishlake Flooding

The flooding in Fishlake was caused by vast quantities of water cascading down stream from the rivers of Sheffield and the confluence with other rivers in the Don Valley catchment area.

Approx: 18ft Above sea level

GPS Co-ordinates 53.610770,-1.012479

Interpritation Boards

Interpretation Board

Showing the extent of conservation work carried out.

Owlthorpe Grazing Project:( No. 1 Phase 1), (No. 1A Phase 1A), (No 2 Phase 2)

(No 3 Moor Valley A616)----(No 4 Donetsk Way A57)

(Supertram Station)----(No 5 Moss Way)

(No 6 Moorhole Lane)----(No 7 Ochre Dyke)

(No 8 Hanging Lee Wood)----(No 9 Westfield Plantation)

(No 10 Owlthorpe Forest Setting)----(No 11 Owlthorpe Wild Orchard)

(No 12 Owlthorpe Wetland)----(No 13 Owlthorpe Medical Centre)

(No 14 3-Way Stone Stile)----(No 15 Bridle Way)

The grasslands of Owlthorpe are very steep and hold back millions of gallons of water stopping downstream flooding. If they are destroyed to build New Housing, flooding downstream will increase.

Please read our editorial in the Yorkshire Bylines. The hyper-links provide backup evidence, supporting Sheffield campaign calling for protection of upstream environments to stop downstream flooding.

Please help save Owlthorpe Heritage & Nature Trail

Sign our petition to Parliamentary Ombudsman: https://chng.it/FPc7X4Nq

also, our petition to Sheffield City Council: https://chng.it/6vXHqcGG4S

Click here to see a map showing what is at stake:

Public Inquiry Information supporting Ecological Owlthorpe as an upstream nature based solution protecting the environment from downstream flooding.