Your thoughts on Sheffield's Parks and Countryside Service

Our last survey in 2021/22 followed a challenging year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Your feedback gave us valuable insight about what you thought about our Parks, Woodlands and Green Spaces and how sites were used during lockdown. Below is a summary of our findings

Summary of findings from the 2021/22 survey

2.1. Overall Picture

Overall, the results showed that most people appreciate having access to our parks woodlands and green spaces. Many see it as beneficial to their health and wellbeing and embrace our spaces as a valued community resource for all. Frequency of outings to our sites is high with 85% of respondents visiting our parks, woodlands and green spaces at least once a week.

2.2 Parks Woodlands and Green Spaces COVID-19

Encouragingly, 78% of people said they valued our sites more than before lockdown, for some it gave people an opportunity to:

Reconnect with nature

• Yes, appreciated nature and wildlife and the well being the open space gave me
• We've walked more and explored all the routes, becoming more aware of the natural wonders so close to our home.
• I have come to value nature more, e.g. Just stopping and wondering at the magnificence of the mixed colours of Autumn leaves on the path

Have a space to exercise

• Very much appreciated the availability of the park for exercise, fresh air, social interaction
• They have been crucial to my wellbeing. I've benefited hugely from exercise and interest in natural world. I've used them as basis for art work and writing too.

Improve health and wellbeing

• Yes, they’re definitely appreciated more which is why we need to look after them and get more people using them. They’re great for mental health and wellbeing.
• Yes. I've really come to appreciate how important these spaces are to physical and mental wellbeing.
• It made us go out more to help ease the tension within the home. We felt we needed fresh air to breath and exercise too. The worries of COVID put a lot of pressure on our emotions and tempers and mood swings. We had no social life and were running on survival mode. Going outside was a distraction and change of scenery.
• I have always valued open spaces, including parks and woodlands. The COVID pandemic reinforced my long-held view about the health benefits of being in nature. I saw that many more people were using open spaces during lockdown and some have continued to do so. I would therefore strongly urge local and National governments to prioritise the creation and maintenance of green areas in future budget discussions.

Discover the local area

• Yes. During lockdown I walked much more in my local area and explored new parks and open spaces that I hadn't previously visited. All good!
• Only that I learned to appreciate them much more because of the travel restrictions and that it's often simpler and easier to look for things to do on your doorstep than travelling further afield.
• I appreciated more spaces closer to home, we used a lot of parks and open spaces prior to lockdown, but discovered much more closer to home and now use a mixture.

2.3 Locality of Respondents

The majority of respondents live in the North, South and South West of Sheffield and there was a representative number of responses from all areas across the city. Most people visited a site close to where they live. Some comments raised concerns over more money being spent in certain areas:

• They are hugely valued but we see areas with more money clearly receiving more spending than poorer areas. It is a shame to be able to see the disparity.
• Well obviously I'm not satisfied with the park, there's nothing in it. Money needs to be spent, but there is no money apparently. Especially for poor areas - is this not the reason they ended up poor? No investment for decades. Hmmmm.
• Instead of pouring money into the parks in the more affluent areas, I'm sure that some basic facilities would be a welcome start.

2.4 Encouraging comments and high scores were given to:

• Feels safe to visit (especially daytime),
• Trees nature and wildlife
• Impact on health and wellbeing

The sense of safety is reinforced by the fact that 78% of respondents felt safe visiting our sites.

2.5 Neutral comments and areas that scored OK:

• General level of maintenance
• Wildlife friendliness
• Need for investment in certain areas

2.6 Comments raising concern and low scores were given to the following:

• Lack of visitor facilities – especially toilet and café
• Anti-social behaviour
• Community engagement
• Lighting (evening safety)
• Footpaths

2.7 Issues which divided respondents

There were several key features in the survey which split consultees, with responses falling either positive or negative and little in the middle. These were:

• Dogs - In particular dogs off lead and dog poo – not surprisingly many people value our sites as safe open spaces for off lead dog walking, whilst others find it spoils their visit
• Cycling - There were mixed comments about cycling across our sites. Some were keen to see better provision for cyclists and others wanted more restrictions on cycling in parks.
• Facilities – Some are keen to see more provision for play and sports equipment and others would prefer a more naturalistic environment.

The full report as well as the 2019 report can be accessed from the documents section featured at the right hand side of this page.

You said, we did... just a few highlights from a number of projects we have been working on over the last couple of years

Litter

Litter across our City is an issue and became more widespread across our sites during lockdown. To try and combat this Sheffield City Council teamed up with artist, Luke Horton to encourage people visiting our gorgeous parks and green spaces to take their litter home. More information about the litter campaign can be found on the Councils newsroom site: Tek it ome this summer

Parkwood Springs - improved access and footpaths

Access to the site has been improved for all, with a particular focus on increasing active travel and cycling routes into and from the site. There is wider work taking place to make the site more accessible from the City Centre and surrounding areas. There is also great public transport provision to Parkwood Springs.

Work on site

Phase 1. Completed, Trails, Mountain Bikes routes and path infrastructure

Phase 2. Currently under development kiosk & toilets, expected to be open in 2024.

Whirlow Brook Park - café

The Shelter Café opened in August 2023, in a refurbished old public toilet and bus shelter in the beautiful grounds of Whirlow Brook Park, a popular beauty spot for walkers, local people and families. More information about the venue is available on the Councils newsroom site: New café for Whirlow Brook Park

Wildlife and Biodiversity