Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust

The current focus of The Trust is on Sheffield’s two most abused and hidden rivers – the lower reaches of the Sheaf and Porter, large sections of which remain hidden in culverts and engineered ditches.

WHY NOW?

Reasons include accelerating climate change, more frequent flood events, a chance to reverse the loss of local bio‐diversity, and Sheffield’s increasing number of city centre residents, who have little relaxing, communal open space.

There will be new opportunities for non‐polluting, healthy, cycling and walking, making sports and pastimes usually associated with the countryside, accessible on the doorsteps of city residents as part of Sheffield’s Outdoor City offer. While some rivers will remain hidden, there are opportunities to remove culverts and weirs which are structurally unsafe or form part of a redevelopment

The Trust will;

• press for rivers to be accessible and visible, especially where they flow through public spaces like Broadfield Road or Heeley Millennium Park
• start regular clean‐ups combined with a renewed campaign against tipping and abuse
• work with river bank owners to extend existing sections of walk and cycleway
• mobilise public support for the Council and the Environment agency to fully implement their policies on river deculverting and public access where development takes place
• organise walks and talks to explore the rich natural and human history of our rivers including more of the very popular urban caving tours
• work with Network Rail and East Midlands Trains to install light‐wells into the station culverts to improve bio-diversity and commemorate the hidden rivers
• seek river corridor improvements as part of the multi‐million works planned for HS2 and other riverside development
• mark the course of hidden rivers through art and interpretation
• work with others to raise around £1.4 million pounds to create the Sheaf Field pocket park at the confluence of the Sheaf and Don, at the heart of a regenerated Castlegate where Sheffield was born 900 years ago.