The first part of the old Norton Nurseries site to be restored back to parkland by the Friends of Graves Park, Chantreyland Meadow is now a protected and nationally recognised wildlife area.
In 1805 it was labelled as “Plantation”, which is woodland. The land was bought by J. G. Graves in 1935, to be gifted to the people of Sheffield forever. This woodland, described as mature woodland consisting mainly of oak, sycamore and chestnut, was cut down and cleared in the mid to late 1950s, to extend Norton Nurseries for greenhouses to grow plants for the city. The old pet cemetery is now underneath the site of these greenhouses. Restoration to parkland began in 2006 and the wildlife area is now well established.
Detailed records of all flora and fauna on the site are kept each year. Some of the plants re-emerging are signs of the woodland that used to be here.
Friends of Graves Park volunteers work in the wildlife area every week. Once a year the meadow is mown, to keep the site as a wildlife meadow. Plants which support the wildlife are encouraged.
The total area is about 1000 m2, backing on to cow fields to the north and Serpentine Walk at the southern edge. Mature trees located in the northern square of the site, in the eastern boundary with the park and along the southern boundary. Young sapling trees were introduced along the wire fence that creates the eastern boundary with Norton nurseries. The central area defined by the path is primarily sewn with a summer meadow mix largely composed of Black Knapweed, Oxeye Daisy, Selfheal, Ribwort Plantain, Red Clover, Ribbed Melilot, Wild Carrot and Meadow Buttercup. The borders contain a more diverse selection of flora that have either been introduced or have self-seeded over the years that the site has been in existence. At least 78 species of flowering plant were identified within the whole area during 2006. In addition, nearly 30 tree/woody shrub species were also noted.
AGM Report July 2020
A clearance was made of overgrowths from the bird thicket surrounds.
The Parks Department flail mowed the site at the end of January which enabled the FOGP to remove unwanted willow self-sets from the area.
Cowslips emerged as if by magic from a wet boggy grassland site and festooned the area in a display of yellow flowers.
This is now continued on with blue geraniums, meadowsweet and black knapweed (recovering from a devastation of beetle larvae).
The gorse, berberis Darwinii and cotoneasters around the information board produced a wealth of flowers; five additional berberis Darwinii have been planted and an attempt to control the mare’s tail has been made!
Frog Ponds
All the ponds filled to overflowing and flooding during the wet period, frogs laid their eggs and the ponds dried out.
FOGP will need to install a liner or bring in some puddling clay to seal the bases if the frog scheme is to be successful.
The outlet land drains and manhole chambers are blocked with root and silt but this is a major undertaking and may be beyond the capacity of FOGP!
Generally the both areas have proved successful and many more people are finding their way round to see and admire; some vandalism is occurring but is currently manageable.
October 2020: Chantreyland Meadow Arboretum Extension
Plan to Restore the 3rd Section of the Former Norton Nursery Site to Parkland
Download the PDF below for more details: