HISTORIC woodlands in Grimethorpe ravaged by antisocial behaviour will receive a new lease of life later this month thanks to the Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership.
Historic West Haigh Wood, which dates back to the 14th century, and neighbouring Lady Wood became a magnet for illegal off-road bikers last year but a new multi-agency approach is hoping to reverse the trend.
The Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership held the first of its public consultation events at Lady Wood Primary School earlier this year, which encouraged residents, parents and children to have their say on what they would like to see happen at the woodlands.
And now two events spawned from that consultation have been announced, with an adventure day including environment-based talks scheduled for May 29 and a minibeasts hunt a day later.
Project leader Roseanna Burton said: “The DVLP’s woodland engagement project hopes to enthuse, educate and empower the local community to make the most of their local woodlands by encouraging them to take an active role in helping to protect and enhance what’s special and unique about them, exploring the local wildlife and heritage.”
Coun Allan Hampson, who attended the consultation event, said the village’s youngsters were key to the woodlands’ futures.
“I’m very much in favour of what the groups are trying to achieve as both are important woodlands,” he said. “Not many villages have two areas which could be brilliant learning tools for local children.
“People of all ages daren’t go in as the quads and bikes have made both a dangerous place, so hopefully this consultation will get more involved in trying to make them safer.
“The kids are the key - if we can get them enthused from an early age, that will have a knock-on effect for years to come.”
The sites form part of the North East Area Council’s project to create a wildlife corridor, which is expected to run north to south from Rabbit Ings at Royston to Littleworth Lane at Lundwood, and west to east from Athersley Memorial Fields to West Haigh and Lady Wood.
Primary schools have already expressed an interest in taking part in the project, which could see schools ‘adopting’ an area in which it is responsible for looking after, while the upcoming warmer months will see events being scheduled in at nature reserves such as Carlton Marsh and Rabbit Ings.
Caroline Donovan, the area council’s manager, added: “It is proposed that the routes included in the wildlife corridor will be improved and areas will be adopted by volunteers to look after.
“This will help promote the council’s vision of working together by getting local people active and involved in their green spaces through volunteering.
“There are significant benefits with regard to health and well-being, and the proposals to increase volunteers’ opportunities will help to reduce social isolation, improve fitness and provide a sense of achievement and team spirit.”
