Kilnhurst Ings Nature Reserve

Managed by Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust thanks to support from members and volunteers, Woodhouse Washlands nature reserve comprises 53 hectares of grassland, scrub and floodplain grazing marsh. The Washlands’ mosaic of wet and dry grasslands, swamp, wet ditches, ponds and scrub are typical of the landscape which once fringed the River Rother as it passed through its floodplain. During the summer, swallows, swifts and martins can be seen feeding over the area, providing spectacular displays. The nature reserve is managed by a mixture of cattle grazing and periodic maintenance of the ditches, ponds and hedges. Metal sculptures have been installed along the route to represent the industrial history, plants and animals of the area.

Looked after by Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust thanks to support from members and volunteers, Crabtree Ponds is Burngreave's hidden gem. In a very urban area, surrounded by roads, this handsome nature reserve brings much-needed green space. As part of a larger nature reserve and mainly used for recreational purposes or as a cut-through by local residents, Crabtree Ponds is ideal for relaxing and enjoying the scenery. Crabtree Ponds started life as an ornamental pond for Crabtree Lodge in the 19th Century and is now a large area of standing water abundant with aquatic life such as rudd, roach, perch, crucian carp, sticklebacks and even eels.

Managed by Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust thanks to support from members and volunteers, Sunnybank nature reserve is a small but hugely valuable green space where people can find trees and tranquillity, away from the noise of the ring road. Sunnybank nature reserve is particularly important for wildlife as it is the end of a green corridor which stretches through the leafy streets of Broomhill, to the Botanical Gardens and out through Endcliffe Park and Whitely Woods to the Peak District. Sunnybank was the very first reserve created by the Trust (then Sheffield City Wildlife Group) in 1985. The pool is surrounded by aquatic and wetland plants, and is home to several types of dragonfly, pond skaters and the common frog.