Management Plan for Firth Park - MP4-Interreg

Hinde Common Wood is heavily used by the general public. It is used extensively by dog
walkers and also by children, who have created a number of dens, swings and other
structures along the boundaries. However, undesirable activities including fly tipping,
(particularly along the boundaries shared with housing), vandalism and footpath erosion all
occur throughout. There is a comprehensive series of footpaths, although surface quality
varies considerably. There are a number of benches and signs. Access is generally good
as a number of the footpaths were upgraded in recent years.
The boundaries of the woodland are relatively secure. Metal railings (1.5m height) form the
boundary with Firth Park Road. A stone wall (1m height) secures the northern boundary
with Firth Park Lane whilst housing forms the southern boundary. The eastern edge of the
woodland is secured by a chain link fence (1.3m height), although in places, it is in a poor
condition. There are a number of gateways into the woodland, which are in contrast, not
secured. Most could easily be accessed by motorcycles (although no evidence was seen
at the time of the survey).
Hinde Common Wood has been included in the unitary Development Plan as a Site of
Scientific Interest (a non-statutory site of nature conservation interest). An ecological
survey was undertaken in June 2001 (M Bailey 2001).
The results revealed the woodland to be of low botanical importance. It’s small size,
isolation and high levels of disturbance were noted as detrimental to nature conservation.
However the woodland contained a species-rich understorey, a favourable canopy
structure and was found to support a wide range of bird life. Its’ value as an area of
natural ‘greenery’ within a densely populated area was also noted.
Hinde Common Wood forms part of a successful Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Award to
Sheffield City Council, "Fuelling a Revolution; the woods that founded the steel country",
organised in conjunction with the South Yorkshire Forest Partnership. This will provide
£800,000 over the next three years to support a wide variety of positive management
activities within 23 ancient woodlands within Sheffield. £10,230 of this money will be spent
directly on Hinde Common Wood. This will involve various capital and management works
over the next three years, including silvicultural operations, rubbish removal, boundary and
access improvements. Additional grant aid of up to £1,060 may also available for
education and interpretation including interpretation events and written interpretative
material.
Further tree inspections take place in the park during high winds to ensure that the area is
safe to users.
Details of the tree survey and inspections are included as an Appendix to this plan
A programme of tree re placement has been started during the autumn of 2006/7 through
out the park
5.5.5 A Secure Place
The open nature of Firth Park makes it impossible to secure the park so that it can be
closed at night. There are no dedicated street lighting within the park other than around the
First Start Centre and outside the Clock Tower. These two buildings are used during
evenings for community activities and events through out the year.
The First Start Centre. Children’s Playground, and car park at Hucklow Road and the
Bowling Green area Is covered by CCTV system which is operated by the facility manager
during the Day and then linked in to the council’s central security system during night time
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