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Bingham Park ​ Bingham Park is owned by Sheffield City Council and is a grassy and wooded area just west of Endcliffe Park. The higher parts have views across the valley to Ranmoor. The Park is next door to Whitley Woods where Shepherd Wheel can be found. The park also has tennis courts, a bowling green, plus an Astroturf court commonly used by local footballers. Original Owners ​ In the mid 19th century, the land we now know as Bingham Park was owned by Robert Younge of Greystones Hall who bequeathed it in his will of 1875 to his nephew, Francis Otter of Ranby Hall, Wragby. ​ Sir John Bingham and his wife, Maria, had a good view of the wooded hillside from their home across the valley, next to Ranmoor Church. One day, whilst looking out of their window, Sir John said to his wife, “Would you like a very fine set of jewels or would you prefer to give that beautiful gem over there to the children of Sheffield?” Lady Bingham answered that she would rather Sheffield had the jewel and so Sir John bought the 11 acres of land and in September 1911, at the opening ceremony of the park, he handed over the deeds to Sheffield’s Lord Mayor. Sports ​ Whiteley Wood Bowling Club was formed in 1910 and had one small flat green down at the bottom of the hill. The 2 greens you can see today half way up the hill were laid out in 1914 and 1915 which was when the old pavilion was built and opened by the then president, Sir john Bingham. The current pavilion was opened on April 22nd 1972 by the then Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Alderman Hebblethwaite. The land at the top of the hill was bought by the Council in 1912 to link Whiteley Woods with Bingham Park. The golf course is marked on the 1935 map and it is still possible to see where the greens were. Photos of the area in 1950 also show allotment plots here and very few trees. Remains ​ Further down in what is now a wooded area below Bingham Park Road is an octagonal concrete base above the path. This was the base for a shelter, a simple wooden structure, like a summer house, painted royal blue. It was built when the land in front of it was open and before the trees blocked the view of John Bingham’s house, next door to Ranmoor Church. ​ The allotments behind the houses on Rustlings Road have been here since 1905 when the previous site, between Hunters Bar and Psalter Lane, was needed for building. On the southern side of the allotments lies an area of ancient oak woodland. Over 400 years old, this is an important wildlife habitat where it is possible to hear woodpeckers and enjoy swathes of bluebells and wood anemones. Restoration Works ​ ​ The Bingham Park Community Group was set up in November 2016 to encourage the community to take an active part in the redevelopment of facilities in the Park. The area had declined and needed major work to improve the facilities. With help from FoPV, funds were raised to repair walls and resurface one of the old tennis courts. Sheffield City Council in conjunction with the Lawn Tennis Association provided a couple of pay to play tennis courts which are very popular. The AstroTurf court has been repaired and some of the old tennis court areas have been landscaped, and new benches installed around the park. Work continues to develop the remaining tennis courts and a netball and basketball court are being considered. If you would like to help the Bingham Park Community Group please let us know. Bingham Park Community Group (BPCG) Sadly parts of Bingham Park have seen better days and we are supporting a small group of enthusiastic residents of this area with plans to renovate and upgrade parts of the Park. Bingham Park Community Group wants to raise funds to improve the facilities in Bingham Park (including the football and tennis courts, bowling green, golf course and surrounding green areas). Two tennis courts have already been upgraded and there are plans to turn another old court into a netball/basketball court. The group is also working on plans for a small skatepark. One old court has been resurfaced and can be used for a range of activities, e.g. for children learning to ride scooters/bikes, frisby, tai-chi etc. If you would like to get involved in helping with these renovations please let us know via the Contact us link below. The group also has an active Facebook page - search for ‘Bingham Park Community Group’. ​ Update from Bingham Park Community Group If you would like to make a donation towards the work of the Bingham park Community Group and the improvements to the sporting facilities please click the button here. Donate Good news for Bingham Park in 2019 and plans for 2020: Court 1 is now resurfaced and can be used for bike riding, skateboarding etc. Courts 4 and 5 have been completely refurbished - The Lawn Tennis Association provided funds for the upgrade of these two tennis courts. They are managed as pay-to-play courts which you can book online. This system is already running successfully at Hillsborough, Weston Park and Millhouses.For more info see: https://parkstennis.co.uk/sheffield The remaining area (old courts 6-9) have been landscaped and seeded with wild flowers. The astroturf has also been repaired this year. There are new goal posts and holes in the astroturf have been patched. The wall has been repaired.We want to keep improving things through 2020. The plan is to turn the old court 3 into a netball/basketball court and the group is also now looking at designs for a small skatepark, possibly alongside the wildflower area between the new tennis courts and the astroturf. We are keen to do more for local teenagers - encouraging them to make more use of the facilities.Bingham Park Community Group will continue to improve the attractiveness of this piece of land after years of neglect. We meet every three months and are always on the look out for new members/volunteers. Find us on Facebook (search ‘Bingham Park Community Group’) and get updates about meetings and events.

Porter Clough ​ Crossing Woodcliffe at Carr Bridge, close to the confluence of the river Porter and the May Brook, a path enters the Porter Clough section of the Porter Valley. A stone near the entrance records the gift of the land to the city by the J G Graves Trust in 1938. ​ To the right is a small hamlet, Carr Houses, typical of the settlements in this part of the valley. The original, left-hand end of the terrace dates back to 1675 and in 1707 was a small public house. As you walk up the path, across the fields to the right are a cluster of buildings on the site of the former Fulwood Corn Mills, the highest water mills in the valley. The lower mill was demolished around 1950 and both the dams filled in. However, the main buildings of the upper mill are still occupied. It was at this mill that buttons and snuff boxes, produced lower down the valley at the works of Thomas Boulsover, were given their final buffing and polishing. After crossing Mark Lane, the main path continues uphill and is easy to miss as it runs parallel to Clough Lane. It closely follows the course of the Porter Brook as it crosses to either side a couple of times, as the gradient begins to increase. The Waterfall ​ Known affectionately as The Porter Falls, this is the only natural waterfall on the river. At only four metres high they can be a spectacular sight after heavy rain. A small bridge across the brook bears a plaque in memory of Oliver Gilbert, a renowned ecologist and Friend of the Porter Valley who inspired the restoration of the bridge. Jacobs Ladder ​ Not far above the Falls, and to the left of Clough Lane, is a very steep path straight up the hillside known as Jacob’s Ladder. This was once the site of a ski lift operated by the Sheffield Ski Club and the slope is still a popular place for winter sports. From here, the main walk leaves Clough Lane and enters a deep wooded ravine containing many beech trees. The path becomes narrow with very steep, dramatic sides as it reaches its steepest gradient. ​ The surrounding landscape is rural in character and the clough itself is informal, with natural woodland along what is the narrowest section of the valley. ​ Hares can be seen throughout the clough, and birds of prey such as kestrel, buzzards and sparrow hawk are regularly spotted as are crows, rooks and ravens. Source of the Porter ​ At the top, on Fulwood Lane there is a Toposcope, or orientation cairn, as shown at the top of this page. Built in 2005 and funded by local Rotary Clubs, it indicates the direction and distance to notable features which can be seen on a clear day. ​ Across the road the path continues through the open fields to the old Brown Edge Quarries which were well known for producing high quality sandstone roofing slates. ​ The source of the Porter is beyond the quarry where a boundary fence marks the start of Hallam Moors, a sphagnum bog on the watershed above Ringinglow. ​ A wooden footbridge gives access to a gate that leads you onto Rud Hill where you can enjoy panoramic views back down the valley.

Meet The Team Ann Lesage - Chair David Young - Treasurer Glynis Jones - Secretary Les Greenwood - Newsletter Chris Nicholson - Nature Dave Clegg - Work Mornings Lyndon Porter - Walks & Work Mornings Glyn Mansell - Bingham Park Mike Halliwell - Media & Membership

Forge Dam Proposals The 'Forge Dam Heritage & Habitat Improvement Project' is a partnership of the Friends of the Porter Valley, Sheffield City Council, and other interested parties. Its purpose is to restore the dam as an amenity for the people of Sheffield, and as a wildlife habitat. Our plans include: Trees Clearing trees and shrubs from the spillway and dam wall. This may be unpopular, but we will keep the public informed so that they will understand that the work is necessary to protect the structure of the dam so that it may last for another 250 years. The Island Reducing the size of the island, and removing the trees, as this was the most popular option (as opposed to removing the island completely, or leaving it as it is) when we conducted a public consultation. Boats Many people remember the rowing boats, which used to be on Forge Dam, with great affection. However there are NO plans to return these as part of these proposals. Silt Reducing the amount of silt reaching the dam, by building a 'training' wall along the original brook route to encourage through flow. Also working with landowners upstream. However, the major part of the project, and most costly, will be removing the silt currently in the dam which will have to wait until the funds have been fully raised. ​ Forge Dam Works In January 2021 the Council approved the restoration proposals, including: 'silt removal, the insertion of a discreet wall to direct the brook over the spillway and address the longstanding problem of silting, and the creation of an attractive open body of water with a variety of depths, a reconfigured island and planting on perimeter banks in order to improve the habitat for wildlife'. ​ Practical desilting is now planned to start in the autumn of 2021 and in the intermediate months the practical foundations for the restoration were laid, meaning that a partnership agreement was signed by both parties, FoPV will donated £267,000 to the Council, specifications and tenders for the various specialist works were issued, and the habitat improvement plans were drawn up. ​ In May, ‘Sanctus Ltd‘, an environmental engineering specialist was appointed. Their team has excellent relevant experience of projects like ours, were named the Best Green Business in the 2020 Business Leaders Awards and will deliver the restoration through to completion. ​ The formal scope of works can be downloaded here, and a PDF document showing the Plans for Forge Dam and the valley above it. History

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Forge Dam Playground ​ Our current major project is the Forge Dam Playground improvements. It all started of course with consultation of playground users in the early Autumn of 2022. We'd like to thank everyone who contributed to that as it will be very helpful for the sub team who will be taking this project forward. ​ The original plan to revamp the playground was reviewed with the Council Parks Department in 2023 and for 2024 we hope to continue with piecemeal improvements within the current footprint as funding permits. The Council is short of staff and has not yet clarified whether the playground could be expanded to embrace the adjacent rough parking area. The existing footprint is too small to absorb any new equipment or enable a reorganisation, but there is scope to replace and increase the number of swings. In 2018, using generous donations from the public, The Friends of the Porter Valley arranged for much needed improvements to the playground. There are however plenty of other jobs that need doing and opportunities for replacing more of the equipment. To do that we need to raise more money so if you would like to help please consider making a donation using the button below, or catch us on our many work mornings which we organise twice a month. If you would like to make a Donation towards the Forge Dam Playground please use the button here: Click Here to Donate to the Forge Dam Playground To find out the latest news about progress, please take a look at our blogs below. Apr 10 1 min Forge Dam Playground Update - April 2024 Feb 16 3 min Projects Update Jul 15, 2023 1 min Playground communications board

Whiteley Woods - Lower ​ Whiteley Woods, acquired by Sheffield Corporation in stages in the early years of the 20th century, is a narrow linear park which occupies an area of c11.5 hectares. The Porter Brook runs through the centre of the park with fairly steep, well-wooded valley sides to the north and south. The area inside the park, close to the Rustlings Road entrance, is formal with grass areas and shrub and tree plantings. There is a gradual transition in style from here towards the less formal character higher up the valley. The lodge at the park entrance was erected in 1908 at a cost of £640 and consisted of 2 rooms and a scullery on the ground floor, 3 bedrooms, a shelter and conveniences. Woods & Dams ​ To the left of the main path is Trippett Wood, an area of ancient woodland, dating back to at least 1600. Woodpeckers, jays, tree-creepers and nuthatches are commonly seen in the woodland, whilst dippers and wagtails are resident near the river. A short distance into Whiteley Woods is the Ibbotson Dam, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is sometimes known as the Upper Spur Gear Dam, the name originating from the arrangement of the Wheel’s gear drive and different to that used on other wheels in the area. The Wheel and dam were bequeathed to Francis Otter in 1875 by his uncle, Robert Younge, owner and resident of Greystones Hall. Francis Otter sold them to Sheffield Corporation in the early 20th century. Mills ​ Walter Charles Ibbotson was a grinder who leased the Ibbotson Wheel in the 1890s but by the turn of the century he had diversified as the area became more attractive for leisure activities. ​ His advertisement in the Sheffield Independent of 1896 states “PORTER GLEN, TOP OF ENDCLIFFE PARK – Visitors will find Good Accommodation for Hot Water; Teas Provided, Schools and Parties Catered for; Boating, Swings; a large play ground -W C IBBOTSON” ​ The Wheel was in good order in 1930 when it was suggested that it could become an industrial museum similar to Shepherd Wheel. Nothing came of the idea and the Wheel was demolished in the 1950s. Armchair Bridge ​ There are the remains of a dam between Highcliffe Road and Whiteley Wood Road and the main path follows the goit. This was the site of the Leather Wheel, built in 1754 and shortly afterwards incorporated into the works of Thomas Boulsover. Sometimes alternatively known as the Nether Wheel, it ceased operating around 1900 and was demolished in 1907. ​ A bridge, stone-built with seating niches and ornamental copings, across the Porter on Whiteley Wood Road, is known as the ‘armchair bridge’. Photos from the early 20th century show the sides of the bridge as being made of wooden lattices. These have now been replaced with stone.

Make an Online Donation If you would like to make a donation to our Make Bingham Park Brilliant please do so here.

Work Mornings As one of nearly 90 Friends' groups in Sheffield, we work in partnership with Sheffield Parks Department to ensure that our green spaces are well-used and maintained. Sheffield boasts one of the largest numbers of 'Friends Of' groups in the UK in comparison with other major cities. ​ To help with that we meet with the Parks Department at the start of each year to discuss what we can do to help and organise Work Mornings where those tasks can be undertaken. These take place on the 2nd Thursday and 4th Tuesday in each month, staring at 10am until 1pm If you would like to join us please contact the organiser shown on the calendar entry for that day. See the calendar on the home page for dates and meeting points. We meet up with the Rangers and get involved with whatever practical tasks need doing; Clearing brambles, Cutting back undergrowth encroaching on paths, Litter-picking, and many more activities. Please see the Blogs below to read about our previous Work Morning activities. ​ If you have any further questions please contact us via the link at the top of this page. PLI Insurance The cover we have with our insurer also covers our volunteers whilst taking part in any of our organised activities, irrespective of their membership status. You can see our full statement about our PLI on the 'Documents ' page Work Morning Blogs Keep upto date with all the activity we have been upto on our work mornings by looking through our blogs below. 7 hours ago 3 min FoPV Work Morning Roundup - Thursday 9th May 2024 53 Post not marked as liked Apr 29 2 min FoPV Work Morning Roundup - Tuesday 23rd April 2024 107 Post not marked as liked Apr 15 2 min FoPV Work Morning Roundup - Thursday 11th April 2024 174 1 like. Post not marked as liked 1 1 2 3 4 5

Friends of the Porter Valley Conserving - Protecting - Restoring Become a Member Member Sign In Conservation Preservation Restoration What's On Details of our events and activities are provided here. Click on an event for more information. Our latest projects The Endcliffe Park Toad The Endcliffe Park Toad has seen better days, even in its second incarnation. We are raising money to replace it in metal so that it will last longer. Please help us raise replace the Endcliffe Park Toad in 2024. For more information see our dedicated Toad Page or click on the Donate Button here. Donate We are currently looking at improvements to The Forge Dam Playground In the Autumn of 2022 we completed a consultation of playground users and everyone with an interest in the Forge Dam area, and were pleased to receive nearly 180 suggestions and comments. We are working with those suggestions and comments, and are implementing as many as posible as and when funds permit. Details of updates that we have made can be found on our blags about the playground. Take a look at that section for up to date information. We are of course accepting donations via our own secure donation page. Donate Guided Walks About Us About the FoPV Find out who we are and what we do Find Out More The Rivers Trust We are assisting the Rivers Trust in monitoring the sewage being put into the Porter. Nature Counts Your Sightings Contribute to the Nature Counts initiative with your sightings in the Porter Valley Donate Make a Donation Click on the this link for a list of our current projects, or sign up to easyfundraising below to get online shops to donate to us. Help Raise Money for FoPV with 'easyfundraising' If you shop online you can get the shops you use to make a small donation to us without any cost to you. By signing up to easyfundraising using the link below, you can download a reminder onto your computer which identifies shops you are about to shop with as ones that will make a donation to FoPV after you place your order. There is also an App for your phone if you prefer. ​ Thank you

About Friends of the Porter Valley Vision Our vision is to conserve, protect and restore the ecology, landscape and cultural heritage of the Porter and Mayfield Valleys for the enjoyment of all and the benefit of future generations. ​ Meet The Team The Geography and nature of the Valley The Porter Brook rises on the moors above Sheffield and flows 10km easterly into the heart of the city. Its valley forms a natural green corridor leading to the open moors of the Peak District National Park and the terraced housing and congested roads around Hunters Bar. In the course of its descent the Porter falls some 340 metres through a constantly changing landscape. It links the steeply incised and wooded valley of Porter Clough to a gentler, farmed landscape of green hillsides with traditional pasturage and stone buildings. It then passes through the archaeological remains of our early industrial heritage (weirs, millponds, millraces and dams) and on to more ancient and semi-natural woodlands. It descends into the recreational and ornamental parklands at Bingham and Endcliffe that were created for social purposes in the 19th century. The stream then enters underground culverts alongside Ecclesall Road and flows eastwards past the General Cemetery into Sheffield City Centre to join the River Sheaf below beneath the railway station. The “Friends of the Porter Valley” was set up in 1994 to preserve and enhance the natural and historical characteristics of the Porter Valley for public benefit. ​ ​ Ecological aspects Some 5km of the valley bottom and the upper reaches of its tributary, the May Brook, were designated “Areas of Natural History Interest “in the Urban Development Plan (UDP) because the valley contains considerable ecological capital. Botanically these communities comprise several blocks of ancient oak woodland with spectacular displays of spring flowers and autumn fungi; semi-natural scrub, riverine and pond habitats; wet valleyside ‘flushes’ containing rare species; old flower rich meadows of a type that are fast disappearing from the countryside and acid grasslands that in autumn are bright with wax-cap toadstools. The sequence of millponds known locally as “dams” also contributes significantly to the ecology of the valley although they are in a poor state of repair with several leaking and all becoming silted up. The watercourses support an abundant fauna of breeding ducks, dippers, kingfishers, herons, crayfish and other freshwater invertebrates, while the meadows and hedgerows are home to many species of butterfly and moths. The trees support many birds, including summer visitors such as willow warbler and chiff-chaff, and all the year round familiars such as two types of woodpecker, treecreepers, nuthatches, tits and corvids, including a longstanding rookery at Forge Dam. Mammals include several species of bat which are conspicuous flitting over the dams, foxes, water voles and several badger communities. By identifying and managing appropriately those parts of the valley that play a key role in providing this biodiversity, we would like to ensure that users of all stretches of the Porter Valley will continue to encounter a memorable range of wildlife. This includes areas away from the valley bottom that can be accessed by the network of footpaths and quiet lanes. ​ 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. ​ 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.“

Make an Online Donation If you would like to make a donation to our Endcliffe Park Toad please do so here.