Saturday 27 April 2024, 10am, meet at Northtown Kitchen, Abbeydale Road – Where is the River Banner?
Back by popular demand, this walk will be led by Mark James. In this walk, we will explore the southern boundary of the NESST area – Bannerdale. The river Banner is one of Sheffield’s “lost rivers.” It exists, but where is it? While searching for the Banner, we will reflect upon the area’s landscape, points of interest, habitat and biodiversity, as well as potential sites for food growing and tree planting. Meet by the North Town Kitchen, 699-701 Abbeydale Road, Sheffield, S7 2BE. The walk will take about 2.5 hours and ends back at the North Town Kitchen.
Thursday 11th April, 6pm, meet at the junction of Chippinghouse Road and Staveley Road – An evening walk around the new street trees NESST has funded in Highfield and Lowfield
Paul Selby will lead a relaxed pace walk around the Highfield and Lowfield streets, stopping by the new trees to both admire them, but also to explain the efforts it has taken to achieve this success. It’ll also be a chance for NESST members to find out more about some of the streets they have perhaps rarely or never walked on before, taking in the many under-loved green and brown spaces that have so much potential.
Tuesday 19th March, 7.30pm, at On the Brink (Brincliffe House) on Osborne Road – All about Swifts with Flora Jeferzade and Chet Cunago
Flora Jeferzade and Chet Cunago of the Sheffield Swift Network will talk about why swifts have captured their hearts and minds! Why our swifts are in trouble, the work the network is undertaking to halt the decline of Sheffield’s swifts, and offer solutions to what we can do as individuals to help. After the talk, Chet will show her film ‘Every Swift Counts’ about her trials and adventures rehabilitating grounded swift at Sheffield Swift Rescue.
Tuesday 13th February, 7.30pm, at On the Brink (Brincliffe House) on Osborne Road – Heat Pumps: Busting the myths with Emma Bohan
Emma Bohan is a resident of Nether Edge and Managing Director of MCS Accredited and Which? Trusted Trader heat pump installation company – IMS Heat Pumps. She is also Vice-Chair of the Ground Source Heat Pumps Association and will be presenting ‘Heat Pumps, Busting the Myths’ on Tuesday 13th February and will be on hand to take any of your questions afterwards.
Tuesday 5th December, 7.30pm, Regather, 57-59 Club Garden Road, S11 8BU – Educational Talk and Festive Social – Winter Flowering Nectar Plants that are good for wildlife, by Fran Halsall
Loyal NESST member Fran Halsall will do a short talk about winter flowering nectar plants. Winter can seem like a barren time in the garden, particularly for any insects that might emerge during mild periods. But there are a range of excellent plants that can help “refuel” those insects and help them survive. As well as brighten up those gloomy winter days. After the talk, we’ll have an informal mingle, a chance to share ideas and successes. To catch up with old friends, and make new contacts.
Tuesday 24th October, 7.30pm, The Psalter Pub on Psalter Lane, NESST Annual General Meeting 2023
The NESST AGM will be a good chance to reflect on NESST achievements this last 12 months as well as conducting the usual formal business. Paul will then give an educational talk about wildlife holidays in Europe. Paul has been on 20 such trips this last 7 years, and will talk about the stunning scenery, butterflies, other wildlife that can be seen.
Saturday 23rd September, 10am (meet outside Northtown Deli and Kitchen, 701 Abbeydale Road) – A re-run of the “Lost Brooks of Nether Edge” Educational Walk
A re-run of the walk in May – a walk around Nether Edge seeking to highlight the five lost streams/brooks in the area, some you may know the names of, some you probably won’t have! The walk will be led by our very own Mark James, who led the highly popular “Where is the River Banner” walk in early March 2023 (and in the autumn 2022).
Tuesday 25th July, 7.30pm, The Psalter pub on Psalter Lane – Plants from an insects point of view – A talk by Fran Halsall
From pollinators to plant-eaters, this 90 minute long session looks at which plants you should include to attract insects to your wildlife garden. The talk will cover plant type, flower shape, flower colour, specific insect plant relationships, and much more. There will be time for questions and a discussion. Come a bit early to get a drink from the bar. Free to all, but donations for the project on the door.
Fran has a Masters in landscape architecture from the University of Sheffield. She specialises in ecological design and management, building upon a lifetime of gardening experience and a deep affinity with nature. She is Garden Services manager at Regather, combining this role with a Research Associate position with the Urban Agriculture Task Force, part of the South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre. She is also the co creator of the Sheffield Woodland Connections project, which teaches people about the importance of trees and woodland. Fran was also the advisor on the wonderful Kenwood Hotel kitchen garden where Nether Edgers grew vegetables for food works during lockdown.
Tuesday 27th June, 7.30pm, The Psalter pub on Psalter Lane – Hedgerows for Nature and Wildlife – A talk by Ian Rotherham
This illustrated talk will introduce the idea of a ‘hedge’, the history of hedges, and why they are so important. Within the countryside (both urban and rural), hedges provide vital linkages in the landscapes and essential wildlife corridors too. Sometimes these older hedges occur in people’s back gardens as remnants of a lost countryside swamped by urban development. Whilst many urban and suburban hedges are poor lumps of the exotic garden privet, beech, or Portuguese laurel, these sometimes mix with older native-species hedges from forgotten countryside. However, even the poorest hedges can easily be enhanced and ‘improved’ for nature and to look better too, and we will find out how. The evening will include a display and sale of selected books, and a short question and answer session.
Monday 22nd May, 7pm, meet at Northtown Kitchen on Abbeydale Road – The lost brooks of Nether Edge
A walk around Nether Edge seeking to highlight the five lost streams/brooks in the area, some you may know the names of some you probably won’t have! The walk will be led by our very own Mark James, who led the highly popular “Where is the River Banner” walk in early March (and autumn 2022).
Tuesday 18th April, 7.30pm, The Psalter pub on Psalter Lane – More Bees Please
Come and meet David from More Bees Please. A bee farmer from Sheffield who will tell us all about the importance of honeybees on the environment, the roles they have in the hive, and more interesting facts about these amazing insects. This is a very informative but fun talk about the bees. David also produces Honey & beeswax products, such as body butters, lip balms, soaps, candles, wax melts etc, which he will bring along for you to look at and try.
Wednesday 5th April, 5.30pm, meet on the junction of Montgomery Avenue and Montgomery Road – The new street trees in the NESST area
A walk around part of the NESST area, led by Paul Selby, stopping off at many of the new street trees to discuss some of the interesting facts about the different species and how they were funded, as well as admiring the difference they make to the street scene.
Tuesday 14th March, 7.30pm, The Psalter pub on Psalter Lane – Habitat creation for butterflies and other pollinators
A special screening of one of the most comprehensive, inspiring and interesting video guides to pollinator habitat creation. Paul Selby will be hosting the 75 minute video lecture presented by Dr Dan Danahar, with a question and answer session at the end.
Saturday 4th March, 10am – Where is the River Banner?
meet outside Northtown Kitchen & Deli (699-701 Abbeydale Road)
As a result of popular demand, this will be re-run of the walk conducted by Mark James on 10th September, for those who couldn’t attend the first one. In this walk we will explore the southern boundary of the NESST area: Bannerdale. The River Banner is one of Sheffield’s “lost rivers.” It exists but where is it? While searching for the Banner, we will reflect upon the areas landscape, points of interest, habitat and biodiversity, as well as potential sites for food growing and tree planting.
Tuesday 21st February, 7.30pm, The Psalter pub on Psalter Lane – Planting trees, not painting trees: Contemporary Art and the Natural Environment
Artist and former art school lecturer Rob Gawthrop will talk about ways artists have made work that engages with the natural world. He will discuss how modern and contemporary artists moved away from traditional methods of making and exhibiting in favour of working critically and conceptually. Richard Long’s walks, Jenny Holzer’s text-based work, Giuseppe Penone’s tree sculptures and the films of Chris Welsby will be considered in relation to paintings by Thomas Gainsborough, Claude Monet, and Paul Nash. He will also set this in the context of political actions that have taken place at Greenham Common, in Paris 1968 and recently by Extinction Rebellion.
image top: Claude Monet Poplars on the Bank of the Epte 1892
image bottom: Joseph Beuys 7000 Oaks 1982
Monday 5th December, 7:00pm – 10:00pm: The Nesst Winter Gathering, in person at Kenwood Hall
7:00pm Greetings, Bar Open and Raffle Tickets on Sale
7:30pm ‘Averting the Insect Apocalypse’ Film and Discussion
9:00-10:00pm Raffle Prize Draw and Festive Holiday Social
All welcome, spaces are limited so RSVP to Sally or Julie (details on poster image). Voluntary donation suggested of £5 or more at the door to help fund our bird nest box campaigns.
Monday 21st November, 7.30pm – ‘Birds in past human societies: can we learn about our future?‘ online talk
A talk by Professor Umberto Albarella of Sheffield University: “Birds have shaped human societies as much as we have modified their aspect, behaviour, and, sadly, chances of survival. We owe them much because they have immensely enriched our lives and they continue to do so. The archaeological evidence of past birds provides us with valuable insights into the relationship between humans and birds and can teach us important lessons about how much we will lose by treating birds merely as commodities. In this talk, I’ll provide some examples of this past relationship – mainly from my own research – and will make considerations about their value for our future”.
Meeting link: meet.google.com/vry-oayd-sns
Monday 24th October, 7.30pm, NESST Annual General Meeting 2022 (online)
We’ll present the progress we have made in our community, in relation to our constituted aims, over the last 12 months, and plans for the next 12 months. As well as the formal business of electing and re-electing members of the NESST organising committee, we’ll make the first reveal of the locations of the 60 additional street trees that will be planted in early 2023.
Members will receive an email with a link to the online meeting. Please do join us!
Saturday 10th September, 10am – Where is the River Banner?
Meet outside North Town Deli & Kitchen, 699/701 Abbeydale Road – In this walk we will explore the southern boundary of the NESST area: Bannerdale. The River Banner is one of Sheffield’s “lost rivers.” It exists but where is it? While searching for the Banner, we will reflect upon the areas landscape, points of interest, habitat and biodiversity, as well as potential sites for food growing and tree planting. The walk will start and finish outside the North Town Deli & Kitchen, 699/701 Abbeydale Road, S7 2BR. We are starting at the bottom and then we will go up and then come back down: it’s easier!
Image credit: Historic England: aerial photo of Bannerdale Road half built in 1950, showing the possible course of the Banner through fields
Monday 20th June, 7pm – An evening walk along the Porter Valley
Meet at the Hunters Bar Entrance to Endcliffe Park – In this walk, we will search a part of the River Porter valley, continuing our exploration of the boundaries of the NESST area. In the 2 hour walk we will visit several sites of significance that will enable us to reflect upon how memory is entangled in a landscape with which many of us are so familiar. We will consider war and loss, the industrial Revolution, recreation and play, flood and risk and finally resistance and emotion. The furthest part of the walk will be the Boating lake just past Bingham Park. Participants should bring suitable footwear and maybe a waterproof. If the weather is inclement, we will go to a local pub at Hunters Bar! After the walk finishes at 9 pm we will go to a local pub anyway!!
Monday 25th April, 7.30pm – The importance of solitary bees – zoom talk
Local wild bees enthusiast Julie Dysart will give a talk about the lesser-known importance of solitary bees in terms of pollination. She will also talk about how specific their nesting needs are, and how the designs sold in garden centres are often unsuitable. Aim to log into the meeting 5 minutes early via the following weblink: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87115231330?pwd=U04ra01vcFV6WTM3eWFCYlQrTUt5dz09
Monday 21st March, 7.30pm – Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust online talk
Andy Buck, Ric Bingham and Kate Lonsdale will give an online educational talk about the Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust. They will aim to cover their purpose and objectives, all their current projects and activities, and their aspirations for the future. This will hopefully provide the basis for a lively discussion and question session at the end. Please aim to log in 5 minutes early using the following link: https://meet.google.com/ngw-azjo-zde
Monday 21st February, 7.30pm – Detroit Urban Regeneration online talk
This will be much anticipated talk from our very own local urban geographer and retired teacher, Mark James. Mark says: “If we think of the image of the image of the ultimate post industrial city we think of Detroit, Michigan, USA. Yet at the same time we can now think of urban gardening. How did the urban gardening movement grow in Detroit from the 1970s to the point today where the cities chief planner can see urban gardening as central to Detroit’s sense of identity. What are the forces at work that now might compromise half a century of urban gardening? In a time of climate emergency what are the lessons for Sheffield as we seek to make our city sustainable?” Please aim to log in 5 minutes early using the following link: https://meet.google.com/jex-zwok-rez
Monday 13th December 7.30pm – A talk about the Sheffield Wheat Experiment
We are delighted to welcome Ruth Levene from the Sheffield Wheat Experiment to talk about this project. In October 2020, more than 200 people took part in the experiment to plant heritage wheat in their allotments, gardens, pots, public spaces or schools. In summer this year, the wheat was harvested and threshed at a communal event which produced 130 kg of grain, some of which has been planted this autumn for harvest next year. The project explores whether we can create a Sheffield ‘landrace’ of wheat, and asks questions around nutrition, climate change resilience, food sovereignty and a local grain economy. Link for the talk on the night: https://meet.google.com/eqr-acta-hdp
Monday Monday 15th November, 7.30pm to 9.30pm – The first NESST Annual General Meeting
An agenda and order of business will be sent out to all NESST members, ahead of the meeting. Voting in of committee members will take place at the meeting, and new nominations can be accepted ahead of this. Excitingly, at the meeting we’ll be revealing the locations of the 56 additional street trees that will be planted in our area this coming six months.
Members will receive an email with a link to the online meeting. If you are not a member already, now is the time to join and participate!
Monday 18th October, 7.30pm – A talk about Swift Conservation from the S11 Group
Locals Nicola Gilbert, Fran Grace and Ian Wilshaw will lead the talk and discussion, explaining the aims of the initiative, how you can contribute, and answering any questions you may have. Join the talk on the night by clicking the following link: https://meet.google.com/bjy-pdsh-xxf
Monday 19th July, 7.00pm – Outdoor Urban Walk along the Porter Valley
An urban walk led by Mark James, part of mapping the boundary of the NESST. Meet outside The Stag’s Head pub on Psalter Lane, 7pm.
In this walk we will explore the Porter Valley. Starting from The Stag’s Head pub, we will walk down Sharrow Vale Road to the entrance of Endcliffe Park. We will then follow the River Porter as closely as we can past the Snuff Mill, through the General Cemetery to Waitrose and then back to The Stag’s Head pub for about 9 pm. Along the way we will examine community garden initiatives like Kenwood Community Growers, the wildflower meadow at Landsdowne and discuss flood mitigation along the Porter Valley and potential new developments at Waitrose.
Monday 21st June, 7.30pm – The Potting Shed
We are delighted to welcome Steven Cotton who will outline the work he does with the “ Potting Shed” which is a micro plant nursery based at the bottom of Kenbourne Road in Nether Edge. Plants are grown organically in peat free compost. The gardeners are young people who under the umbrella of the “Grow” charity are developing their interpersonal skills to prepare them for the world of work. Steven’s talk will be an important contribution to our understanding of sustainable gardening and to consider how we can support young people in these challenging times. Steven will talk for about 25 minutes and then there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.
weblink to login to the meeting on the night:
Monday 26th April, 7.30pm – NESST public meeting
We’ll be giving detailed updates on all our projects, and how you can get involved.
Monday 15th March, 7.30pm – Sheffield Renewables
NESST is delighted to host an online talk by Dr. Richard Collins of the University of Sheffield who will outline the work of Sheffield Renewables. Richard is a resident of Nether Edge and chair of Sheffield Renewables, which is a social enterprise company. Founded in 2007 Sheffield Renewables is involved in a number of innovative projects connected with sustainable energy, including solar arrays, and have previously explored local scale hydro schemes. Slides of the talk (6.8MB) PDF here.
Monday 25th January, 7.30pm – Climate Emergency Centres – by Alison Teal
Climate Emergency Centres (CECs) are a movement specific project that enables the development of a self-funding Centre that brings together diverse groups and individuals in the local community to build solutions. If you would like to learn more, please come along and after a brief presentation, we can discuss the possibilities!
We stopped the Chop! – Save Nether Edge Trees virtual Social and Quiz – Monday December 14th, 7.30pm-9.30pm
Hosted by The SNET core group there will be a Seasonal quiz, other festive activities and socially distanced mingling! There will also be an update on street trees and the Street tree strategy.