Everything is linked to everything; the backstory to your mobile phone battery.

A guest blog by Karine Nohr This column has previously written about the links between Sheffield  Environmentalists and Congolese Environmentalists. This relationship started in 2021 when the UK hosted the annual global environmental COP meeting. Because the Congolese contributors were denied visas to attend the COP, some Sheffielders platformed their perspective for them, and haveContinueContinue reading “Everything is linked to everything; the backstory to your mobile phone battery.”

What is Sheffield doing on this map?

Annie O’Gara Last week I wrote about the murky connections between the oil and gas industry, Rishi Sunak and the war in Palestine. At the same meeting at Central URC Church, Annie O’Gara from the Sheffield Coalition against Israeli Apartheid explained how the Israeli state is also waging war on the environment. She told usContinueContinue reading “What is Sheffield doing on this map?”

Concern at felling of 1000 trees in Wyming Brook

There is much concern about the felling of around 1000 Larch trees and some other species at Wyming Brook. Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust explain the situation here. This has been featured on the front page of the Sheffield Star and a petition of nearly 5000 people asking for the felling to be stopped isContinueContinue reading “Concern at felling of 1000 trees in Wyming Brook”

“There was substantial harm caused to people who campaigned against the Streets Ahead programme”

I was surprised to find this apology in my inbox this morning. It is good that the City Council have moved on, and now has a much more satisfactory tree policy. I really hope they have learned the lessons from the Lowcock Report. For those not familiar with what happened in the tree dispute, doContinueContinue reading ““There was substantial harm caused to people who campaigned against the Streets Ahead programme””

Bringing back Beavers to our area will reduce flooding risk.

I am delighted to hear that the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee has granted Sheffield Council £96,000 to examine the prospect of reintroducing beavers within the city boundary. So much so, I booked myself on a Beaver Enclosure Tour at a wildlife centre near Retford. The Idle Valley Nature Reserve is the home ofContinueContinue reading “Bringing back Beavers to our area will reduce flooding risk.”

A major cause of species loss, and one that is within our grasp to end, is the continued application of pesticides and herbicides.

A guest blog by Jane Houldcroft Each week this paper reports on the excellent work being done across the city by individuals, schools, friends groups, charities and communities to try to stem and reverse the devastating decline in biodiversity. Most often cited is the loss of bees and other insects which play such a vitalContinueContinue reading “A major cause of species loss, and one that is within our grasp to end, is the continued application of pesticides and herbicides.”

Tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, and hidden heritage in Graves Park and beyond

I am delighted to share a blog this week by Professor Ian Rotherham Climate change and biodiversity extinction are two of the frightening environmental challenges that we, our children, and their future face. However, despite the scary, almost apocalyptic coverage in many media, there remains the need to actually respond and address the issues andContinueContinue reading “Tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, and hidden heritage in Graves Park and beyond”

The looming reality of Doncaster-on-Sea

A guest blog by Bryan Hopkins. A few weeks ago I picked up my grandson from school and on the way home he asked me if I knew the names of the rivers that flowed through Sheffield. “Well,” I said, “there is the Sheaf, the Porter, the Rivelin, the Loxley and they all flow intoContinueContinue reading “The looming reality of Doncaster-on-Sea”

Sheffield Street Tree Inquiry Report has been published and we should expect resignations.

The Tree Inquiry Report has been published but it is a long read. I am going to use this page to catalogue the varied coverage of the report. The tree campaigners have been completely vindicated. Sir Mark said that initially developing and adopting a flawed plan “was a failure of strategic leadership” with responsibility restingContinueContinue reading “Sheffield Street Tree Inquiry Report has been published and we should expect resignations.”

If you like to eat it is time to get serious about the climate emergency.

Shoppers have been struggling to find fresh salad and vegetables in the supermarkets recently. Some have blamed this on Brexit, others on extreme weather in Spain and North Africa. The truth is a mixture of both. Extreme weather in Spain and North Africa has badly affected the crops so climate change is now impacting ourContinueContinue reading “If you like to eat it is time to get serious about the climate emergency.”