Sheffield park friends group call for independent scrutiny of council-run charity

A Sheffield park friends group is calling for independent scrutiny of the council-run charitable trust that oversees the city’s biggest open space.

A petition launched by the Friends of Graves Park on the website change.org already has 203 signatures.

A picture taken today, March 16, 2026, of the Sheffield City Council parks depot at the former Norton Nurseries site in Graves Park. Supplied by Friends of Graves Park

placeholder image — A picture taken today, March 16, 2026, of the Sheffield City Council parks depot at the former Norton Nurseries site in Graves Park. Supplied by Friends of Graves Park

The group have come into conflict with Sheffield City Council several times, most recently over Norton Nurseries. The former park nursery with glasshouses is currently used by the council as a depot for the storage of parks department vehicles and parks waste.

The friends have raised money to restore the area to parkland in stages and they have twice successfully reported the council to the Charity Commission, which has forced the council to look for alternative sites or the depot.

Picture from the Friends of Graves Park, showing a restored arboretum in the Sheffield park, on part of the former Norton Nurseries site

The Charity Commission ruled that the council was not acting in the best interests of the charitable trust, which are not the same as the interests of the council.

The council is sole trustee of 41 charitable trusts, which are principally for parks and open spaces gifted to the city.

Preserved

The petition states: “Graves Park was generously gifted to the people of Sheffield by JG Graves, with the clear intention that it be preserved and maintained as public access parkland for the benefit of the community.

A Google Maps image of Graves Park in Sheffield, the city's largest park. It is owned by a charitable trust whose sole trustee is Sheffield City Council

“The sole trustee of the Graves Park Charity is currently Sheffield City Council. In this role, councillors are legally required to act exclusively in the best interests of the charity, setting aside all other considerations.

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“However, an inherent conflict of interest can arise where the interests of the council as a local authority differ from the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries.

“This conflict has previously resulted in findings of breach of trust by the Charity Commission, which has suggested that the inclusion of independent trustees would strengthen governance and decision-making.

“We therefore respectfully petition that at least one independent trustee, who is not a council employee, be appointed to the board of trustees of the Graves Park Charity.

This step would help ensure that conflicts of interest are properly managed, governance is strengthened and the long-term interests of Graves Park and its beneficiaries are protected.”