Volunteers needed to save the future of Sheffield heathland group

For the last 27 years the Wadsley and Loxley Commoners (WALC) has been working hard to protect and promote Wadsley and Loxley Common, which is well used by walkers and dogs, by locals and people from all over the region.

Activities that the group has been involved in include conservation work, wildlife surveys, conducting walks, talks, working with other organisations and liaising with local schools.All these activities are reliant on the support of the members of the group.

The main aim of the group is to conserve the heathland habitat of the common. Sheffield Council, which administers the land, has struggled withresources for conservation work, and the Commoners believe the biggest success has been to mobilise volunteers.For the past 18 months WALC has been a small group within the Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership.

This has given access to funding and a lot of expert support from the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust.

That continues for a couple more years, and WALC is already working onprojects with the Wildlife Trust that hopefully will extend beyond that.

A spokesman said: “Recently two long serving committee members left the district and our conservation leader is looking to step down for health reasons.

"This is placing the committee in something of a crisis and new volunteers are desperately needed to come forward.“If anyone feels they could contribute please get in touch.

"No one will be thrown in at the deep end and as volunteers people can withdraw at any time.”

They continued: “With some extra help the Wadsley and Loxley Commoners can continue to make a significant contribution to the common and the local community, as they have been doing for over 27 years.”

For more information about the Wadsley and Loxley Commoners and the common itself visit the website, www.walc.epizy.com, on facebook (Wadsley and loxley commoners) and the contact address is [email protected].

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