Get Involved
With local organisations
Throughout Sheffield there are various organisations looking for people to support their work be it actively on the streets, in the field or from the comfort of your own home. The aim of this page is to show people some of these organisations so that they can get involved with them or attend educational and fun events that they put on from time to time. Not all of these organisations want you to do any work, some of them like us exist to help you discover great places close to your home.
Discover your patch
Campaign Groups
There is a wealth of wildlife to be discovered in and around the Sheffield Region, many of these species can be discovered in the city's Green Spaces. Jenni and Laura of the Sheffield Park Project have made it their mission to get around all of the city's parks, you can follow their progress on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and their website. They are also putting an app together that shares the information they have collected during their quest.
Practical Conservation Organisations
These organisations provide the opportunity to carry out practical conservation management work on nature reserves and wildlife sites around the Sheffield area. From the Peak District to Sherwood Forest and Humberhead Levels. As many of these organisations are responsible for the land that they allow you to volunteer they often provide the opportunity for carrying out surveys of the wildlife populations. For organisations that are soleley dedicated to wildlife surveys see the "Wildlife Groups" Section further down the page.
The Don Catchment Rivers Trust are a local charity in South Yorkshire working to protect and restore the rivers within the River Don Catchment area. Constructing fish passes on industrial weirs and hydropower prohects are just part of what they do.
The Sheffield Conservation Volunteers meet on a Sunday morining in Barker's Pool, Sheffield before travelling to their site to help that organisation improve their respective green area.
Use the links below to find out more;
The Sheffield Landscape Trust opperates from the Wood Lane Countryside Centre and at many sites across Sheffield on behalf of Sheffield Parks & Countryside amongst other local organisations. They have some great facilities at their base and always want volunteers to help, see their website for more details
Part of a family of third sector organisations working to improve the environment in the Manor & Castle wards of Sheffield. Originally a partnership between the Manor and Castle Development Trust (MCDT), Sheffield Wildlife Trust (SWT), Sheffield City Council (SCC) and many other organisations. Subsequently the programme became known as the Green Estate.
The Peak Park Conservation Volunteers (PPCV) programme enables people of
all ages and backgrounds to take part in conservation projects within
the Peak District National Park. Volunteers carry out a wide variety of projects that would not normally
be done by the National Park's own staff, local craftspeople or outside
contractors. See official pages for more;
all ages and backgrounds to take part in conservation projects within
the Peak District National Park. Volunteers carry out a wide variety of projects that would not normally
be done by the National Park's own staff, local craftspeople or outside
contractors. See official pages for more;
The River Stewardship Company provide environmental maintainence and improvement on the rivers and waterways in and around Sheffield with the help of various local volunteer groups.
The Eastern Moors Partnership is a joint initiative between the National
Trust and RSPB, managing an area of the Peak District for people and
wildlife.
Trust and RSPB, managing an area of the Peak District for people and
wildlife.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust "are dedicated to conserving Yorkshire's amazing wildlife with the help of our members and volunteers." Tweets and posts come from a whole host of the team, Potteric Carr is their biggest Sheffield area nature reserve.
The official RSPB pages for the Midlands - tweeting & posting news, comments and photos from Oxfordshire's wetlands to Sherwood forest. They have many opportunities from inside visitor centres and on nature reserves to in the offices.
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust protects all wildlife and habitats in Nottinghamshire.
West Yorkshire branch of the RSPB and are responsible for a number of reserves including Fairburn Ings.
RSPB's Official Site
Wildlife Groups
These organisations don't have specific nature reserves like the larger conservation organisations, whereas they may own a small garden area their main purpose is to monitor selected species in the Sheffield area within their demographic.
Sorby, Sheffield's Natural History Society; a forum for naturalists of all ages and abilities to meet, enjoy natural history, collect, store and share information.
Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire Branch; Recording and conserving butterflies, moths and their habitats from VC61 to VC65.
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is the only charity dedicated wholly to
saving the UK's bumblebees. We are the independent voice for
bumblebees.
saving the UK's bumblebees. We are the independent voice for
bumblebees.
Sheffield Bird Study Group is for birdwatchers in and around Sheffield with an active interest in ornithology, formed 1972. Working with University of Sheffield to operate the Sheffield Peregrines Webcam stream
South Yorkshire Badger Group are the county's affiliated member of the Badger Trust, working to protect local badgers from persecution.
South Yorkshire Bat Group are the county's affiliated member of the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT). They undertake regular bat surveys around South Yorkshire.
RSPB Sheffield Local Group aims to support the RSPB in the local community and to involve RSPB members and the wider public in the Society's activities.
They have regular indoor meetings and walks and field trips throughout the year.
They have regular indoor meetings and walks and field trips throughout the year.
Sheffield Woodland Connections are
a group of University of Sheffield Landscape Department Alumni who run guided walks in Ecclesall Woods. Their aim is to help people to improve their woodland identification and ecological skills supporting the Woodland Trust's 'Tree Charter' Campaign at a local level.
"Friends of" Groups
Groups of people brought together to care for part of their community in a group of volunteers often known as a "Friends of" or "Community Action Group."
The Friends of the Blue Loop are a voluntary community group which aims to get more local people
enjoying & caring about the River Don & Tinsley Canal. The Blue Loop is made up of the Tinsley Canal toepath and the 5 Weirs Walk, both routes run from the city centre to Meadowhall.
enjoying & caring about the River Don & Tinsley Canal. The Blue Loop is made up of the Tinsley Canal toepath and the 5 Weirs Walk, both routes run from the city centre to Meadowhall.
Sheffield Parks & Countryside are responsible for the management of Sheffield Council's Parks and Open Spaces. Employing the Rangers team who work with most of the Friends of Groups operating around the city. Use their website to find details of "Friends of Groups" near you and ways to get involved with the Sheffield Rangers Department.
Sheffield Green Spaces Forum is here to represent Parks and Green Space
volunteer groups in Sheffield. With forum meetings on a bi-monthly basis in the Arts Tower.
volunteer groups in Sheffield. With forum meetings on a bi-monthly basis in the Arts Tower.
If you'd like to join a campaigning organisation that's fighting to make a difference, we're lucky to have a few in Sheffield. Some like the Wildlife Trusts are conservation organisations that lobby government for change, the others work to engage people primarily for driving political action at a local and national level.
The Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust are an affiliated member of the Wildlife Trusts Group of Trusts that looks mostly after land in Sheffield. They are always looking for new members and volunteers to help with their work, funding and making their voice as a lobby in South Yorkshire and the wider Wildlife Trusts bigger.
Sheffield Climate Alliance are an alliance of local organisations and individuals in Sheffield who are pressing for fair and effective action to urgently tackle climate change.
Friends of the Earth Sheffield have been campaigning for a brighter cleaner future in Sheffield and beyond for over 40 years as an affiliated member of Friends of the Earth.
Website
Cycle Sheffield campaign for a Sheffield where riding a bike is safe and enjoyable for everyone. They organise the Space4Cycling Sheffield event.
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Greenpeace Sheffield bring Greenpeace campaigns to life in the steel city. New members always welcome - it's time to take action to defend our natural world.
Carbon Neutral University are a network of students, staff, academics and other stakeholders who want to build a University community that strives to be carbon neutral by 2025
Zero Carbon Yorkshire are building a strong, broadly-based alliance dedicated to ensuring that our
region does all it can to contribute to tackling the urgent problem of
climate change.
region does all it can to contribute to tackling the urgent problem of
climate change.
As the UK's largest conservation organisation organisation the RSPB has more than 200 reserves, some of these are in the Dearne Valley in Barnsley & Rotherham near Sheffield. Based at Old Moor in the Dearne Valley RSPB South Yorkshire would always like volunteers to work in the visitor centre, on their reserves and doing various tasks around the area.
The National Trust owns large parts of the Peak District National Park and run serveral properties in the Sheffield area. As with all conservation and heritage organisations they are looking for members and volunteers to help with their work.
Direct Action and Protest Groups
With the Governments around the world dragging their feet on implimenting the cuts to greenhouse gasses they are committed to and that we need to survive. Groups of passionate people have got together specifically to protest take direct action to get the message across. Below are the more prominent groups that are active in Sheffield.
Exctinction Rebellion Sheffield is a Group aimed at promoting non-violent direct action & civil disobedience for action on the climate & ecological crisis: https://rebellion.earth
FrAction (Fracking Action)
A local group of activists specifically taking action against fossil fuels as local partners of Relaim the Power. Organising events and training;
As there are several active anti fracking groups in Sheffield and the surrounding area we have compiled a list on this specially dedicated page. If you object to fracking and would like to find your local group, take a look at our
AntiFrack page.