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I have been lucky enough to see wild deer quite a few times, including on Loxley Common before the trees were felled. The Roe and Fallow deer I have seen have always been in or on the edge of woodland, not surprising given that they need the safety of tree cover. They are unlikely to return to the top of Loxley Common given this need for cover and suitable food. They do not eat heather or bracken so there is nothing there for them. In fact Bracken is poisonous to them, as it is to all grazing animals (wild and domestic, so grazing on the commons is now a non-starter). In fact they used to be far more numerous in this country but numbers decreased as a result of forest clearance. When you start interfering with nature all sorts of things go out of kilter. J.G.
The comments from KD regarding the release of carbon into the atmosphere when mature trees on the common are felled simply does not make sense. The whole point about the commons is that the trees are not being allowed to regenerate, so how can the process be carbon neutral? 2000 mature trees were felled and burnt thus releasing CO2 into the atmosphere and many more are earmarked for future destruction. Left alone these trees would have locked up this carbon and also continued to absorb CO2 in the years to come. Natural regeneration is not being allowed to take place so no other trees will grow to take over their role. The comment about not knowing about the particular site is a very telling one. F.G.
It is true that in a natural landscape, succession will occur in a fashion allowing high biodiversity, after all, that biodiversity evolved in a natural landscape in the first place. But the commons are not such a landscape. In nature, heathland would be maintained by the presence of grazing animals including deer and historically probably other large ungulates (perhaps bison or wild sheep still present in parts of Europe) eating young trees and saplings and preventing shading, as well as ground-disturbing animals such as boar eating bracken and digging up the soil. England has no boar, and while deer are present in the landscape, the common is extremely busy during the daytime with people and dogs, and it is unlikely these shy animals will want to spend time there. Thus heathland that in a natural landscape would be maintained by grazing is rapidly overtaken by trees, and this is what the management plan seems to be seeking to address. It is not an ideal solution, an ideal solution for the land is one where people and dogs are banned and wild grazing animals maintain a mosaic of habitats (AND on a landscape scale wolves, lynx and bears keep the numbers of those animals in check). But we don't have that, and in the absence of natural ecosystem engineers, maintaining biodiversity can require us to act in their stead.
What’s happening to the car park surface on the rural lane entrance – I contacted the Ranger Service several months ago, particularly after the installation of recycling containers and the huge lorries accessing the car park. The Rangers promised to contact the Highways department to fix the problem but all they did was to fill the pot holes with crush and run – after the rains last night (5th June), most of the crush and run ended up on Middlewood Road, or blocking the gutters along the way – is this just ‘another promise’? We hear about the City Council/Ranger Service listening to local people, but they only seem to listen to those who sing their song! Very frustrated. S.L.
I absolutely love the trees on the Commons, each has its own shape and stature. The Commons can be many different things to many people, to me I love the wildness but at the same time the sanctuary when Im up there – to me the trees are my protection, but there’s also a link to the past. They provide the peace and tranquillity – it takes you somewhere else. I have walked the Commons for many years and before the management plan they managed themselves, yes it was different but that’s evolution for you – nature has a habit of managing our environment. Why not ask the Rangers to put benches elsewhere there are many different view points where you can see across the city – lets save the trees and do our bit for the climate too! J.E.L
There are many places on the Commons from which you can view the landscape in any direction you choose. Why not just enjoy the view of the beautiful trees and enjoy the birdsong from 'your' particular bench. You can still enjoy the view if you make the effort to walk a little further. Why destroy living things just for your convenience, not to mention increasing global warming. P.H.
One of our great pleasures is to walk on the Common and enjoy the wonderful view which overlooks
Re the issue of motor bikes on the commons.
We have had the same problem except that the boys in question were quite aggressive when we confronted them and took a photograph of them. As soon as we got home we contacted the rangers and sent the photograph; they eventually got back to us to say not to tackle the offenders again in case the boys turned on us. The ranger did give us details of the police officer whose job it is to tackle the problem. We emailed this person and attached the photograph. The response was to say much the same as the ranger had and to contact him if it happened again. The photograph was ignored. We did ask if we could pass on his contact details but he declined because he would be inundated with complaints. It would be a good idea if you contacted both the rangers and the police because it looks as if they need lots of complaints before anything is done. We have to hope that nobody is hurt in the meantime. P. & M.R.
I visit the commons every day with my dog, and really value it as a safe place for me and my dog to enjoy nature and meet friendly people and dogs. However on a couple of occaisions recently (usually saturdays) there have been teenagers racing around on scooters or motorbikes. This is so dangerous as there are so many dogs and young children running around that could be hurt or worse. There were tyre tracks running throughout the common, especially on the playing field. Can anything be done before a person or animal gets hurt? I confronted one of the boys and he said he was sorry and he knew he shouldn't have been there (from his age I'm sure he shouldn't have been riding a scooter) but they didn't leave, and they have been back since.Can anything be done before a person or animal gets hurt? Should I call the local police if I find them there again? H.J.
It appears that the Rangers are planning another 'Working Day' slap bang in the middle of the bird-nesting season. What happened to the rule about not disturbing the birds? A.R.
Has anybody else noticed that amongst the pathetic remains left behind after the recent 'volunteer' event there were clearly oak branches. Does the felling licence cover oaks? F.G.
So much for the suggestion that Rangers are nature lovers. According to their own information boards the Commons are Access Land and as such should be left undisturbed during the nesting season (1st March to 31st July). Not content with carrying felling trees on this land for SIX WEEKS after 1st March they were on there last Tuesday 15th July i.e. TWO WEEKS before the end of the nesting season, with a huge tractor and trailer dragging out tree stumps. That is a total of TWO MONTHS of disturbance in one season! The real irony is that one of the reasons they are carrying out all this destruction is supposedly in order to encourage ground-nesting birds! The excuse given for the work is that the stumps were unsightly. Perhaps they would be if they could be seen, but the massive invasion of bracken caused by the tree felling meant they were totally hidden. Why could they not have waited another two weeks? What matters more, appearances or conservation? M.R.
It is now clear to see the devastating impact the tree felling has had on the common, the areas once covered with lovely mature siver birch trees are now over ran with bracken. J.B.
Has anybody else noticed the dying oak saplings? They appear to have been poisoned. By whom and why? Until we know more it would be wise to keep well away from them, pesticides can be very dangerous. M.R.
One of the latest pieces of mis-information to be disseminated by the rangers is that "50 years ago there were no trees on the commons". This is utter rubbish! There are many people alive today who visited the commons 50 years ago and like RP remember the trees that played amongst. If readers are not happy to accept their reminiscences perhaps they would like to scientifically test the assertion for themselves. Go onto the commons and look at the many large tree stumps. Count the rings and see how many of them have 50 or more rings. The truth will out! F.G.
As an ecologist I find G.S.C.'s comments amazing. The growth of Silver Birch is part of a natural process of species progression. Felling trees cannot reverse this progression, only at best delay it. I understand that Silver Birch have been described by the Rangers as "weeds" and even as foreign interlopers, this suggests either ignorance or deliberate misinformation. They are valuable trees which provide light shade which in turn encourages the growth of bilberry and heather. They support many species of mammals (including Roe Deer) and birds. They will be followed by other species until the most suitable flourish in conditions that are suited to them. This happens in any environment unless people try to meddle with nature. One of my current concerns is the fact that the much of the current round of felling was carried out long after it should have stopped for the nesting season. This is hard to reconcile with the comment that the Rangers are 'nature lovers'. It really is time that there was an INDEPENDENT evaluation of this special area and its management. V.T.
How refreshing that the people running this website are willing to publish views which are not in accord with their own, unlike WALC! J.G.
I am sure that the people who oppose the management of the common are doing so out of a love of the natural beauty of the place, but do they realise that this is a unique habitat which is in danger of disappearing because of overgrowth of silver birch trees? Silver birch will take over any land which is left 'wild' and will crowd out other types of trees and plants and will make the area less attractive to wildlife and birds. Felling of excess silver birch will enhance the environment and encourage diversity of birds and other wildlife. I truly believe that the Ranger service is doing an important job up on the common. They would not do the sort of job they are in for the sort of pay they get if they were not nature lovers themselves and cared passionately about the environment. Other like-minded people, who understand what they are aiming to do,support them. I suspect there are many more of them than the complainers. G.S.C
I was amazed when I walked across the common earlier this week (after not having been there for some time) to see what looks like recent destruction caused by a JCB. I thought that the area was access land and therefore protected from disturbance during the ground bird nesting season (1st March to 31st July). As an RSPB member I am horrified. Whoever is doing this will ensure that no birds will be nesting there this season. B.C.
I took a friend for a walk on the common last week she was absolutely appalled at the devastation. Birds and animals are making nests etc in the chopped down trees. J.B.
You may be aghast at how dismissive the conservation industry is of people who object to their activity. Firstly, they cannot conceive that ordinary people can disagree with them - they assume that it is question of your ignorance or a lack of the understanding that they have. Secondly they are unused to being challenged - aren't conservationists always the good guys?! Thirdly, they will denigrate alternatives in an outrageous fashion ("birch trees are weeds that have no wildlife value") as a poor argument for supporting their privileged choices. M.F.
I was brought up in Worrall and now live in Wadsley I have known Wadsley and Loxley Commons all my life. I have enjoyed this space as a wild environment and have always felt a sense of freedom and well being up there. That is until just recently the sight of all those slaughtered trees all but destroyed my memories of a well loved place and time. These people carrying out this destruction are apparently trying to save the area in my mind they leave Him upstairs to tend his garden and they should look after the access road and car parks. D.L.
I now live in Manchester but was brought up in Sheffield where my parents still live. On a recent visit home I decided to take a walk on the Commons – I could not believe the destruction and devastation before my eyes. The Commons now look more like they are being turned into a park not the wildlife haven I remembered as a teenager. Even the gorse had been cut back it was awful. There even seems to be less heather than before – what can I do to help stop this vandalism? S.D.
I have been walking the Commons since moving to Wadsley from Hillsborough - the last 20 years and I know every inch of them. My husband grew up with the Commons.
I keep a daily diary of what I see, the birds, the first bud, the first leaves to fall and was looking forward to finding the first bud this year - but to my dismay some of the trees which were a favourite site of long-tailed tits have now been felled.
I was particularly distraught last year when one of the large oaks was felled it was so sad.
There used to be two very beautiful silver birch just in the middle of the commons on the way up to the top car-park.. On walking the Commons one day last year, I was just thinking how handsome they looked standing tall against the clear blue sky when two men just hacked them down - I had to turn and walk away it was heartbreaking. I am all for bio-diversity, saving the planet - but first and foremost I want to save our commons!! S.L.
I am 73 years old and played on the commons as a boy. At that time there were plenty of trees, including silver birch, growing on the commons. When I walk on the commons today I find the wholesale destruction heartbreaking. R.P.
Has anybody seen the discussion about the Commons on Sheffield Forum? www.sheffieldforum.co.uk As well as the opportunity to read other peoples views you have the chance to have your say. There is also a poll about the felling. As this is written (14/02/08) the voting is 80% against the felling! F.R.