History 

​How and Why the Owlthorpe Environmental Projects Began

Copyright © Roger Marsh (January 31, 2025)

 

In 2008 Owlthorpe was being subjected to an unacceptable level of vandalism and anti-social behaviour. These problems took several forms. There had been several arson attacks on conifers in resident’s gardens, some of these had set fire to wooden fences and threatening to spread to wooden huts and other properties.

 

Several youths were regularly picking up hands full of stone chipping used for ballast around the Supertram tracks. Windows had been smashed, cars had been damaged, residents had been in their gardens when the missiles had come over and several roof tiles had been smashed.

 

Litter was a problem on the road leading to and in the green spaces around Owlthorpe Medical Centre. There was evidence on the side road to the Medical Centre of drug taking, drinking, people throwing fast food litter and used condoms from their cars.

 

They were also causing damage to the ancient woodlands of the Ochre Dyke Fringe with drinking dens and building earthwork jumps for skateboards and bicycles.

The earthwork built up against the bottom of trees eventually kills them.

 

This was why the Forum supported the construction of the Skate Park adjacent to the Hackenthorpe Supertram stop.

 

Another problem was illegal off-road motor-biking in the green spaces of Owlthorpe to the detriment of the local flora and fauna.

 

Litter and fly tipping was also a blight on the environment of Owlthorpe.

 

The residents of Owlthorpe sent a letter of protest regarding the criminal and anti-social behaviour problems experienced by the residents of Owlthorpe to Clive Betts the local MP.

 

Clive Betts the local MP carried out an investigation and found that more than 60% of the residents told him they had been the victim of or had seen incidents of vandalism or anti-social behaviour. Reports began to appear in the local press.

 

On Friday, February 15, 2008, a public meeting was held in the Church Hall, Christ Church, Hackenthorpe. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss with Clive Betts MP his response to the letter and to see what actions could be taken to deal with the problems.

 

Sheffield City Councillor Helen Mirfin-Boukouris encouraged the residents to form the Owlthorpe Community Forum.

 

The Owlthorpe Community Forum was constituted in March of 2008 to combat the antisocial behaviour taking place in the urban areas of Owlthorpe.

 

The Forum working together with the local MP, local city councillors and the local police inspector were successful in greatly reducing the vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

 

The Forum spent 2008 in networking and fund raising.

 

The Forum started regular litter picks and health walks that still take place to this day.

 

In early 2009 discussions took place between Roger Marsh the then chair of the Owlthorpe Community Forum and Sally Pereira, Sheffield City Council’s Landscape Planning Officer regarding the derelict agricultural landscape of Owlthorpe. These discussions allowed the communities vision for the area to be formed into a practical plan.

The plan that was formulated was for Owlthorpe Community Forum to work with Sally Pereira, Sheffield City Council’s Landscape Planning Officer and Sheffield Countryside Conservation Trust to put the derelict agricultural landscape of Owlthorpe back into management to create a living landscape and in doing so preserve its remaining rural features for the benefit of its residents and local wildlife. Amongst the aims was the conserving of Owlthorpe’s ancient hedgerows and drystone walls.