Is sledging allowed in Sheffield? Lockdown rules after hundreds head to Meersbrook Park

The city’s parks were filled with snowmen, and sledgers took advantage of Sheffield’s naturally hilly landscape.

And while the parks were busy and some people raised concerns about crowds, it appears that it is legal to go sledging with your support bubble or household, as long as you socially distance from other people.

There have been no reports of anybody being fined or interrupted by police while out sledging in South Yorkshire.

The current rules around going outside state that it is against the law to meet socially with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble.

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It also says you cannot leave home for recreational or leisure purposes (such as for a picnic or a social meeting), however you can leave to exercise.

The fact that people were left to enjoy sledging suggests that it is considered exercise.

The rules state you should minimise time spent outside your home, but you can leave your home to exercise. This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.

You can exercise in a public outdoor place: by yourself, with the people you live with, with your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one), in a childcare bubble where providing childcare or, when on your own, with one person from another household.

This includes but is not limited to running, cycling, walking, and swimming.

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Personal training can continue if participants are from the same household or support bubble. It can also continue if it is one-on-one, although this should only take place in a public outdoor place, and not in someone’s private home or garden.

Public outdoor places include: parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, forests, public and botanical gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them), the grounds of a heritage site and public playgrounds.

When around other people, stay two metres apart from anyone not in your household. This includes the person you are exercising with, unless they are from your household or your support bubble.

People should also take care in the snow. A&E is busy and accidents increase the pressure on the already overwhelmed NHS.