View of Forge Dam We have been following the recent works at Forge Dam closely and with considerable interest. Over the past few years, since attempts to repair the sluice began at the end of 2023, there has been a mixture of optimism and disappointment for us all. It became apparent that those attempts did not achieve the intended result, and we are saddened to learn that the latest works also appear not to have delivered the desired outcome. Nevertheless, there is one posit

Hello Conservation Volunteers Our recent work morning didn't get off to get a great start. First of all Yorkshire Water had parked all their vehicles and Portakabin in the Wire Mill Dam Park where we were meeting making it a little crowded (the YW workers were a little bemused to see all the FoPV hi-viz-vests descend upon them, maybe thinking we were about to protest?), and then John G turned up with a cut hand needing attention (he had popped along to Forge Dam first to see

Hello Conservation Volunteers It was meadow raking time in the wildflower meadow at Forge Dam for our volunteers this time. The plan was quite simple. Ranger Matt mows the meadow a day before the volunteers turn up, who then rake up the cuttings and move them to the edge. Unfortunately, it didn't quite go to plan for Matt! The brakes on the ride on mower he acquired didn't work (not good on an incline, particularly near water!) and had to resort to hand strimming with a batte

Hello Conservation Volunteers We had been informed of massive numbers of large-leaved avens (Geum macrophyllum), (also known as American avens) in Festival Woodland and had been asked if our volunteers could try tackling the invasion, which of course we accepted the challenge! We were joined by local botanist, Gerry Firkins, who told us that Sheffield is a hotspot for these particular avens (along with some areas of Wales and Scotland), and as yet they hadn't spread into Derb

Hi all, our task was the restoration of the dead hedge adjoining the bridleway above the hibernaculum, which had been systematically dismantled to allow a short cut through to Forge dam. It was a pleasant day but quite muggy which seemed to encourage a swarm of flies. Maybe it was just me. We were pleased to welcome new volunteer Rob, especially as he is tall. Being young and strong also helps of course. The reason for the dead hedge is to protect a line of hawthorn whips whi

Hello Conservation Volunteers With temperatures of 32-33C forecast our most dedicated volunteers still turned out for our work morning up the Mayfield. Our task was to venture back to where the gigantic balsam grows. A small group had visited for part of the previous session and done a little pulling, but we were back to have a full session for only our second year in this area. Spread over the sides of the Mayfield and steep valley side the 12-foot monsters were in places di

Hello Conservation Volunteers It was a bit of deja vu for our latest work morning as we were back in the Wet Woodland for a little more balsam pulling, although the weather was slightly cooler than our previous couple of sessions. Our focus was again on the same area we had targeted last time at the top end of the WW to remove what was left. There were many small plants scattered around, not in flower and more difficult to spot, but our conscientious volunteers spread out loo

The goal is to address the leakage rate and thereby retain more water within the dam’s water body, especially during drier spells.

A brief summary of the works taking place at Forge Dam over recent years. On the face of it this project achieved what it set out to do, and more because of the DEFRA additional environmental grant: •. 5000 tons of silt was extracted as planned, and used as green material to rejuvenate a brownfield site in Beighton. •. The training wall to channel the river was installed and functioned as planned, albeit with some criticism of the visibly uneven top in places. •. The base of

Hello Conservation Volunteers For some more Himalayan Balsam pulling in the Wet Woodland we were joined by the five girls from IQVIA for their annual volunteering stint with us. It was another hot and sunny day so a good time again to be in the cooler shade of the trees..... We made for the high and drier entrance into the WW to locate the large area of balsam we had spotted during our exit on our last session but as we passed the boggy section a balsam alert was shouted out

Hello Conservation Volunteers Having endured 9C and rain at Porter Clough on the previous session we were back to a hot and sunny 30C again for our latest work morning around Forge Dam! This was our first foray of the year into the Wet Woodland for Himalayan Balsam pulling. On venturing into the WW across the low point of the river the usual patch of balsam which used to first meet us was not there, just the odd one or two, duly dispatched as we made our way further in. The b

Hello Conservation Volunteers What barmy weather at the moment - for our previous work morning it was 30C, and for our planned rescheduled session of the one cancelled at the end of January due to torrential rain it was 9C up at Porter Clough.....with persistent rain (fortunately not torrential!) But a little rain doesn't stop the hardy volunteers who turned up at Porter Clough suitably attired for the weather..... Tasks for the morning were to tackle drainage and cutting bac

Hello Conservation Volunteers Due to storms and high winds, we've already had to call off two work mornings already this year, so with the forecast of temperatures around 30C the last thing we needed was to call off another due to too much sun! Fortunately, we had planned this session in the valley bottom surrounded by the dappled shade of trees and cooling water near Forge Dam - and how pleasant it was.... Our main tasks for this session were to repair the dead hedge on the

Hello Conservation Volunteers The task for our latest work morning was in principle quite simple - improve the muddy footpath just down from the Mi Amigo memorial in Endcliffe Park. First of all, there was the provision of 20 tonnes of gravel to be delivered for 9am, an assembly of the Parks team with their equipment of two gators and a tractor loader, Ranger Matt, and not forgetting our very own volunteers who were joined by a large compliment from DWP bringing volunteer num

For our latest work morning our volunteers were on the bridle path down from Forge Dam removing a very invasive and non-native shrub, snowberry, which spreads rapidly and is difficult to remove, requiring digging out by the roots - no mean feat! It was a great morning's work according to John who stepped in at the last minute to lead the session. The main area was all cleared, especially under a pile of logs which had to be dismantled to remove the snowberry and then rebuilt.

Hello Conservation Volunteers Well, having had to cancel due to high winds a month ago, it was back to Forge Dam to meet, collect tools and then have a nice stroll down the valley towards Armchair Bridge for our recent work morning session. Nearby is a small boggy glade where some trees had been chopped down and the remnants had been dumped on top of bittercress which the ecologists wished to preserve so we had been asked to remove all the logs and timber, with the proviso we

Hello Conservation Volunteers There's always a lot of preparation going off this time of year for the annual FoPV Duck Race and this year was no different. The Construction Team had already been out the week before for a gazebo practice session so they are all clued up on how to erect our five brand new gazebos (and take them down!), plus another small group had done a reccy with ecologists and Parks Dept. to identify areas of old ancient woodland flora which we will be cordo

It is the 75th anniversay of Festival Woodland in May so it was apt for some tidying up in readiness. Read the report from John below. We had one of the best days this year, for the first time it really felt that spring was just around the corner. The birds certainly thought so judging by the amount of birdsong. Today 's main task was to clear back to a depth of a metre the main Festival Woodland path of the accumulated brambles and dead growth and remove the soil which had e

Hello Conservation Volunteers After having to cancel our last work morning at Porter Clough due to the weather it was business as usual back at Forge Dam for our latest work morning. (We will re-arrange the Porter Clough session at a later time) This time our main task was to plant hazel whips to block off the desire line on the NW corner of the dam which cuts across a corner of the Wet Woodland. It has previously been blocked with logs but which keep being removed by person

Hello Conservation Volunteers For our first work morning of 2026 we were round and about Forge Dam in rather chilly and icy conditions, where we were joined by three new volunteers, Luke, Jeanne, and David, but there was plenty to do to work up a good sweat! Before Christmas the drain with the FoPV plaque which goes under the goit was partially blocked with water flowing around it rather than through it and was a task for those volunteers who don't mind getting wet and muddy!