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Documents Our constitution and policies are listed here and are downloadable for you to read. Theres is also a statement about our Public Liability Insurance Constitution Privacy Safety Safeguarding Volunteers Conflict of Interest Finance Complaints Insurance - PLI As a registered charity we are required to hold Public Liability Insurance. ​ It provides cover for slips, trips and falls, and injuries suffered by third parties as well as claims made against us for accidental damage caused to someone else's property. The 'blame and claim' culture combined with tough economic times has seen the number of claims (genuine and 'speculative') rise at a fast pace and for many years our trustees have elected to have public liability insurance to protect themselves and the Friends of the Porter Valley against allegations of negligence, including any legal fees or expenses should a case need to be defended in court. ​ Volunteers Importantly however, 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.

Endcliffe Park The park is owned by Sheffield City Council and is one of the most used facilities in the City, often hosting circuses and other events in the summer - most notably our Easter Duck Race every Easter Monday. A playground was refurbished in 2008 by the Friends of Endcliffe Playground, and with a donation from the Friends of the Porter Valley includeded many attractions for children. In 2014 a parkour training facility, funded by the Sheffield Parkour Movement and a donation from the Friends of Porter Valley, was created. ​ The park features three monuments dedicated to Queen Victoria. Near the entrance is a statue of Queen Victoria and mid-way up the path towards Whiteley Woods is an obelisk also in honour of Queen Victoria. Both originally stood at the top of Fargate in Sheffield city centre. The third is an engraved boulder near the playground. ​ There is also a memorial stone marking the crash site of the USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress "Mi Amigo". On 22 February 1944 the aircraft was returning, heavily damaged by defending Me-109 fighters, from a bombing mission over Aalborg, Denmark. Around 5pm it crashed in the park with the loss of all 10 crew. An annual memorial service organised by the Royal Air Forces Association is held at the site on the Sunday closest to 22 February. ​ In 2019, a flypast was arranged to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the crash. Early Days Endcliffe Park, owned by Sheffield City Council, occupies approximately 38 acres of land situated 2 miles south-west of the city centre. The park is bisected by the Porter Brook with open space to the south and an area of ancient woodland to the north. Land containing 3 water wheels was bought in 1885 from Francis Otter, a beneficiary of the will of Robert Young of Greystones Hall. William Goldring, a landscape gardener, was commissioned to design and layout the land for public use with the condition that the dams should be incorporated into his plan, one for wildlife, one for ice-skating and one for public bathing. The Extended Park A further 9 acres of adjacent land was bought in 1887 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria and incorporated into the park. ​ Since that time many new features have been added and this continues to be the case. The children’s play area was refreshed in 2008 and the Parkour training facility was installed in 2014, both with a donation from FoPV. Work mornings by FoPV volunteers ensure the park is well maintained and kept litter free. ​ The Refreshment Pavilion close to the Hunter’s Bar entrance to the park was opened in 1892. The original building included refreshment rooms, closets, urinals and rooms for a caretaker and a policeman and was made into a park keeper’s house in 1936. Queen Victoria The Jubilee Obelisk, just up the path from the café was commissioned in 1887 for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, and originally stood outside the Town Hall. It was moved to its current position in the park in 1904. ​ There is also a Jubilee Monument, across from the playground, which consists of natural rocks enclosed in a wrought-iron railing. The inscription on the top stone refers to the purchase of the additional land in 1887. ​ The Queen Victoria Statue, at the Hunter’s Bar entrance, was created after her death by Alfred Turner in 1904 and originally stood outside Sheffield Town Hall. It was transported to Endcliffe Park in 1930 to enable road improvements to take place. The Cafe The current café building opened in 1908 and replaced a temporary rustic structure which had been erected in 1890 and was dilapidated and beyond repair. The café opens daily and is a popular place for refreshments and meeting people. On 30 November 1969, a memorial stone marking the crash site of the American B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft ‘Mi Amigo’ was unveiled in the wooded area behind the café. The plane came down on February 22nd, 1944 with the loss of all ten crew members on board. Ten scarlet oak trees were also planted in 1969 to honour the crew.

Donate Thank you for considering a donation to FoPV. You can make a secure donation to our activities or events, or to one of our campaigns. ​ Just click on the relevant box below and follow the instructions. Thank You. All payments are powered by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) Bank. General Funds Help us continue to Conserve, Protect, and Restore our part of the Porter Valley Donate Make Bingham Park Great Help the Bingham Park Community Group make improvements to the Sport facilities in Bingham Park. Donate Forge Dam Playground Help us continue to make improvements to this playground Donate Shepherd Wheel Help us continue to keep this educational facility open Donate

Contact Us If you have not been able to find the information you were looking for on our website, or if you simply want to contact us then please use the form below. Please note that we are a voluntary organisation and that it may take a while for us to get back to you during holiday periods. Name FoPV Membership Status Full member Non member Email Message Submit Thank you for contacting us. One of our volunteer members will be in touch as soon as possible.

FoPV Reference Links Provided here are links to other organisations or groups who are involved with FoPV, or provide specific interest relating to our work. ​ The Rivers Trust Specifically the page which highlights how much pollution is discharged into the River Porter. ​ Don Catchment Rivers Trust Our local Trust who's ambition is to reconnect people, communities and decision makers back to our rivers and their rich natural, cultural, built and industrial heritage. ​ Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust SIMT is funded by Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield and are partners with FoPV at Shepherd Wheel ​ Forge Dam Café Details about this Cafe ​ Endcliffe Park Café Details about this Cafe ​ The River Sheaf A dedicated site all about one of our neighbouring rivers. ​ The Round Walk The Sheffield Round Walk passes through the Porter Valley, this link explains about its route as it passes through. ​ Sheffield Astronomical Society A group of astronomers who meet at the Environmental Centre in the Mayfield Valley. ​ Rivelin Valley Conservation Group A similar group to FoPV looking after the interests of the neighbouring valley of Rivelin. ​ Sheffield Moors Partnership Project Approximately 56 square kilometres of upland landscape in public sector or charitable ownership on the western edge of Sheffield. ​ Hallam Community & Youth Association Details of activities and events organised by this group. ​ Sheffield Kids A website to find something to do in Sheffield with the kids. ​ JG Graves Woodland Discovery centre Set in the extensive and beautiful Ecclesall woods, the Woodland Discovery Centre is the perfect indoor and outdoor facility for a spectrum of events and a visit to the woods.

Planning Consultations Sheffield City Council regularly contact the FoPV regarding planned works within the valley. They also provide us with various documents for some of the works which explain thier plans, and what work is due to be carried out. Where possible we provided links to these documents for your information. Planning Applications We sometimes receive requests from members, and non members, asking us to support them in objecting to local planning applications. ​ FoPV doesn’t usually raise objections unless the proposal will damage special landscapes (for example the Mayfield Valley). We are an environmental charity and Trustees are very careful not to make assumptions about what 800+ members might think about specific developments around and outside the perimeter of this large and very varied parkland. Some members might take the view that specific applications seem to be a reasonable proposal in the light of recent similar planning applications in a particular area. ​ We do however have people on the committe who take an interest in planning applications and developments within the valley, or at least the section we refer to as 'our patch'. These are discussed at committee meetings and where we feel it is necessary we encourage our members to consider adding their voice via the Sheffield C ouncil Planning Portal .

Water Power on the Porter There was a great deal of small scale industry which used the power of the Porter. ​ John Gath has done a lot of research into water power along the Sheffield Rivers, and has has produced a great website which gives details of all of the 20 Mills and Ponds that operated in the Porter Valley. ​ We are grateful to John Gath who has kindly allowed us to link to his site. ​ Click here to see more about Water Power on the Porter ​ Please note the following pages are not part of FoPV.org.uk. Any queries about the content should be sent to the contact shown.

The Endcliffe Park Toad Donations To make a donation to the Endcliffe Park Toad renewal project, please do so here via our secure donations page. Donate Now Our toad is sad and falling apart. He replaced his old papa in 2012 and loved his time in Endcliffe Park meeting all the children. We will miss him. ​ We want him to rise again in 2024….. just as lovable and climbable, but in metal to live a little longer. The sculptor Jason Thomson’ s 2 previous wooden Toads in Endcliffe Park have inspired countless children to play and seek out stories over the years, and it is important that their replacement is created in a more durable form. ​ PLEASE visit the sculptor beside the Endcliffe Park playground at this year’s Great Easter Duckrace on 1st April: Jason will recreate his iconic sculpture ready for a launch in summer 2024 and would love to tell you about his work. His public art has become part of the fabric of Sheffield’s parklands, see his 'CHAIR' in Rivelin Valley. ​ All proceeds from the Duckrace will go to this artwork so please buy a duck online, or from Endcliffe Park Cafe.