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Greno Woods

Coordinates: 53°27′N 1°30′W / 53.45°N 1.50°W / 53.45; -1.50
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Greno Woods
Signpost in Greno Woods
Map
OS gridSK329954
Coordinates53°27′N 1°30′W / 53.45°N 1.50°W / 53.45; -1.50
Area178 hectares (440 acres)
Managed bySheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust
Websitewww.wildsheffield.com/reserves/greno-woods-reserve/

Greno Woods is a 178 hectares (440 acres) area of ancient woodland and nature reserve located north of Grenoside village, a suburb of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.

Plantlife

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The woodland existed as early as 1600,[1] some its oldest trees include oak, beech and sweet chestnut.[2]

Scots pine and larch were planted when the woods were used for commercial forestry in the 19th century.[3] Non-native conifers were planted in the 1950s[2] but Sheffield Wildlife Trust now have a program of felling the conifer plantations and encouraging more of the native broad-leaf trees.[4] 24 disease-resistant English elms were planted in 2018, as part of an initiative to combat dutch elm disease.[5]

Wildflowers including bluebell, ramsons and greater stitchwort are also found in Greno Woods.[2]

Wildlife

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A spring 2015 survey by RSPB observed a variety of birds in Greno Woods including wrens, robins, chaffinches, blue tits, great spotted woodpeckers, great tits and spotted flycatchers. The woods are also a habitat for badgers, roe deer, brown hares and common lizards.[2]

Uses

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Greno Woods was used for quarrying of Grenoside Sandstone, as a hunting ground for deer and for commercial forestry in the 19th century.[3]

Modern day uses are mostly recreational: Greno Woods being a popular spot for walking and jogging,[3] it is located on the Trans Pennine Trail and features many footpaths and bridleways.[1][6] In 2018 an "Enchanted Forest Trail" was constructed with the intention of encouraging toddlers and young children to explore nature.[7]

Greno Woods hosts a popular mountain biking event, Peaty's Steel City Downhill, founded by professional biker Steve Peat.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Greno Woods Nature Reserve". The Woodland Trust. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Greno Woods". Sheffield Local Group. RSPB. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Rotherham; Rose; Percy (2012). "The Dynamic Influence Of History And Ecology On The Resoration Of A Major Urban Heathland At Wharncliffe, South Yorkshire". Wild by Design & Ploughing On Regardless. Papers from the Landscape Ecology Forum. pp. 22–35. ISBN 978-1-904098-39-3. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Paths for Communities - Project summary sheet: Greno Woods" (pdf). Natural England. 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Disease-resistant English elms planted in Sheffield". BBC News. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Greno Woods". Welcome to Sheffield. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Enchanted forest trail offers Sheffield children chance to explore nature". The Star. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Peaty's Steel City Downhill returns to Sheffield post-lockdown". BBC News. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2024.