Acerca de Amigos de Porter Valley
VisiĆ³n
Nuestra visiĆ³n es conservar, proteger y restaurar la ecologĆa, el paisaje y el patrimonio cultural de los valles de Porter y Mayfield para el disfrute de todos y el beneficio de las generaciones futuras.
ā
La GeografĆa y la naturaleza del Valle
El Porter Brook se eleva en los pĆ”ramos sobre Sheffield y fluye 10 km hacia el este hacia el corazĆ³n de la ciudad. Su El valle forma un corredor verde natural que conduce a los pĆ”ramos abiertos del Peak District. Parque Nacional y la vivienda adosada y carreteras congestionadas alrededor de Hunters Bar. En el curso de su descenso, el Porter cae unos 340 metros a travĆ©s de un paisaje en constante cambio. Une la abruptamente valle inciso y boscoso de Porter Clough a un paisaje agrĆcola mĆ”s suave de laderas verdes con pastos tradicionales y construcciones de piedra. entonces pasa por los restos arqueolĆ³gicos de nuestro primitivo patrimonio industrial (vertederos, millponds, millraces y presas) y en mĆ”s antiguo y bosques seminaturales. Desciende a lo recreativo y ornamental. parques en Bingham y Endcliffe que fueron creados con fines sociales en el siglo 19. Luego, el arroyo ingresa a las alcantarillas subterrĆ”neas a lo largo de Ecclesall Road y fluye hacia el este pasando el cementerio general hacia Centro de la ciudad de Sheffield para unirse al rĆo Sheaf debajo de la estaciĆ³n de tren. Los "Amigos de Porter Valley" se establecieron en 1994 para preservar y mejorar las caracterĆsticas naturales e histĆ³ricas de Porter Valley para beneficio pĆŗblico
ā
ā
Aspectos ecolĆ³gicos
Unos 5 km de la El fondo del valle y los tramos superiores de su afluente, el May Brook, fueron designados "Ćreas de interĆ©s de historia natural" en el Desarrollo Urbano. (UDP) porque el valle contiene un importante capital ecolĆ³gico. BotĆ”nicamente, estas comunidades comprenden varios bloques de bosques de robles antiguos con exhibiciones espectaculares de flores de primavera y hongos de otoƱo; matorral seminatural, ribereƱo y estanque hĆ”bitats; 'enjuagues' hĆŗmedos en las laderas del valle que contienen especies raras; viejos prados ricos en flores de un tipo que estĆ” desapareciendo rĆ”pidamente del campo y pastizales Ć”cidos que en otoƱo brillan con hongos venenosos. La secuencia estanques de agua conocidos localmente como āpresasā tambiĆ©n contribuye significativamente a la ecologĆa del valle aunque se encuentran en mal estado de conservaciĆ³n con varias con fugas y todas llenas de sedimentos.
Los cursos de agua soportan una abundante fauna de reproductores de patos, mirlos, martines pescadores, garzas, cangrejos de rĆo y otros invertebrados de agua dulce, mientras que los prados y setos son el hogar de muchas especies de mariposas y polillas. Los Ć”rboles sostienen muchas aves, incluyendo visitantes de verano como la curruca de sauce y el chiff-chaff, y durante todo el aƱo familiares como dos tipos de pĆ”jaros carpinteros, trepadores de Ć”rboles, trepatroncos, carboneros y cĆ³rvidos, incluida una colonia de larga data en Forge Dam. Los mamĆferos incluyen varias especies de murciĆ©lagos que destacan revoloteando sobre las presas, zorros, campaƱoles de agua y varias comunidades de tejones. Al identificar y administrar adecuadamente aquellas partes del valle que desempeƱan un papel clave en la provisiĆ³n de esta biodiversidad, nos gustarĆa asegurarnos de que los usuarios de todos los tramos del valle de Porter continĆŗen encontrando una variedad memorable. de la vida silvestre Esto incluye Ć”reas alejadas del fondo del valle a las que se puede acceder por la red de senderos y carriles tranquilos.
ā
Amenity and recreational value
Urban parks were created throughout Britain in the 19th century as a response to the often appalling urban environment brought about by industrialisation and rapid population growth. They are still a vital amenity in our 21st century lives. The whole Porter Valley, except for Endcliffe Park, lies entirely within the Green Belt. It also forms a significant part of the Sheffield Round Walk and a Strategic Cycle Route out to the Peak District. Because the valley provides a direct link between the city and the countryside it is used extensively by people from all over the city and beyond. Its accessibility and unique atmosphere appeal particularly to the communities along its flanks, to Sheffield schools, ramblers, cyclists, and nature lovers. There are several frequently used access points from the roads and footpaths that border on, or run across, the Porter. Half a million people may use the Valley every year; and over 30% come from parts of Sheffield other than the nearby relatively affluent wards of Broomhill, Hallam, and Ecclesall.
ā
Archaeological Aspects
Man has inhabited this Valley since Palaeolithic times but the most obvious evidence of human impact is the sequence of dams. In the 18th century the Porter Brook was one of Sheffield’s intensively used industrial streams and drove 20 mills mostly for the manufacture of cutlery, hand tools and other metal products. All but 6 of the original 20 millponds have disappeared over the years as their original industrial use declined and the valley became a focus for leisure. What remains is an attractive linear amenity and wildlife habitat studded with features of exceptional historic interest.
The dams provide a compelling thread of interest to the linear valley walk. Unusual features are that the mills were constructed for the metal (e.g. cutlery) trades and not preceded by corn mills. Forge Dam impounds the full flow of the stream, whereas all other dams use the by-pass system. Wire Mill once had the largest diameter wheel in Sheffield. Many of the remaining monuments and buildings in the valley have listed Grade II status and Shepherd Wheel, a water-powered grinding hull and dam, is a scheduled Ancient Monument. A conservation area encompasses Fulwood Chapel, Forge Dam and Wire Mill Dam.
The UDC map also shows an “Area of Special Character” on the northern slopes of the valley from Harrison Lane down into the brook bottom. In 2001 Endcliffe Park was included in the South Yorkshire county volume of English Heritage’s Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest as a grade II site. The whole Valley was given grade II listing by English Heritage in 2002 in recognition of its unique mosaic of features.
It is a landscape that has appealed to English Heritage’s interest in “the engine room” of our 18th and 19th century heritage. Neil Cossons, a former President of English Heritage, recognised the importance of the national heritage of waterways, mills, and workers’ cottages. The Porter Valley retains examples of this heritage.
The Porter Valley is also recognised as linear parkland of particular and historic interest. Patrick Abercrombie’s 1924 civic survey for Sheffield City Council describes the Porter Valley as follows “The Porter Brook Parkway, consisting as it does of a string of contiguous open spaces, is the finest example to be found in this country of a radial park strip, an elongated open space, leading from a built–up part of the city direct into the country, the land occupied being a river valley and so for the greater part unsuitable for building. As compared with the finite quality of an ornamental park of more or less square shape, there is a feeling of movement in a continuous park strip …….the human being ….is lead onwards until the open countryside is reached.“
