Calendar Key: ■ River Don Volunteer Day (Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster) ■ River Rother Volunteer Day (Chesterfield) ■Volunteer Training Event ■Citizen Science Survey ■ DCRT Community Event ■Don, Dearne & Rother Network Event ■Find our stall here
Don Valley Way Volunteer Day: Rotherham litter-pick and tidy-up Meeting Point: Meet in the Forge Island car-park by the canal footbridge that crosses over by the law court. Email [email protected] for more information or call task-leader Sally Hyslop on 07780333743. Time: 10am-1pm with a break for refreshments. Please wear suitable clothing for outdoor work.
A must for all volunteers working on the river. We will learn about Non-Native Invasive Species (INNS) on the river, how we can help deal with the problem and how we can avoid spreading them. The course will involve:
Intro to Invasive species and how to identify them
How to survey and record invasive non-native species
How to use Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s INNS Mapper to prioritise treatment in the Don Catchment
Overview of last year’s INNS treatment in the Don Catchment.
Join naturalist Julie Riley on a gentle Dawn Chorus walk along the River Don in its industrial heartland. Aimed at beginners, we will try to use sight and sound to identify the birds that make the river their home, while learning a little bit about the history of the area. Male songbirds sing loudly on spring mornings to defend their territories and attract a mate – it really is worth the early wake up call!
Bring binoculars if you have them and wear a pair of sturdy boots and clothes suitable for the weather.
If you would like to join us on the walk please email [email protected] to book a place – Free.
Volunteer River Rescue: Dalton Brook clean-up Meeting Point: Meet in the Asda overflow car-park with the recycling bins, situated next to the entrance to Aldwarke Lock, Dalton Time: 10am-1pm with a break for refreshments. Email [email protected] for more information or call task-leader Sally Hyslop on 07780333743. Please wear suitable clothing for outdoor work. If you would like to borrow waders or wellingtons please let a member of the team know beforehand.
Don Valley Way Volunteer Day: Mexborough Hot-Spot Meeting Point: Meet at the bottom of Meadow Way, Mexborough. Time: 10am-1pm with a break for refreshments. Please wear suitable clothing for outdoor work. Please note that there are no toilets on this site. Email [email protected] for more information or call task-leader Matt Duffy on 07825911973.
The River Don eroded its course into rocks that are many millions of years old and these can be seen in the valley sides of the Don Gorge today. Join geoconservationist Rick Ramsdale of Sheffield Area Geology Trust on a guided walk along the Don Gorge. Discover the Don Gorge’s fascinating geological history and find out about the formation of today’s landscape! The event is free of charge, however please book your place by contacting the Don Catchment Rivers Trust (phone: 01302 796173 or email: [email protected]). The walk will start at The Boat Inn, Sprotbrough – please note that the walk will involve walking up a fairly steep slope to reach the top of the gorge.
Meeting Point: At the back of Morrison’s car park, York Rd, Doncaster, DN5 8XG.
Time: 10am-1pm with a break for refreshments. Please wear suitable clothing for outdoor work. Email [email protected] for more information or call task-leader Matt Duffy on 07825911973.
Task: We are taking a school group down to the Swaithe Dike to teach them about fresh water ecology so we are hoping to clear the site of as much litter as we can to make it a pleasant experience for them.
Don Valley Way Volunteer Day: Tow-path clean-up Meeting Point: Meet in the lay-by by the metal railway bridge on Stonerow way behind Parkgate. Time: 10am-1pm with a break for refreshments. Email [email protected] for more information or call task-leader Sally Hyslop on 07780333743. Please wear suitable clothing for outdoor work.
Help Don Catchment Rivers Trust plant up Never Fear Dam with a mixture of marginal plant species. Please wear a pair of wellies, sturdy boots or preferably waders if you have them and clothes suitable for the weather.
Please contact Matt Duffy at DCRT for further details – we need to know if you intend to come as we can then inform you if the day is cancelled. Please contact him via email [email protected] or call 07825911973/ 01302 796 173
Wardsend Cemetery Practical Day: litter-picking, vegetation work and river clean-up Meeting Point: Meet at the cemetery entrance at the end of Livesey Street, Sheffield. Time: 10am-1pm with a break for refreshments. Please wear suitable clothing for outdoor work. Email [email protected] for more information or call task-leader Matt Duffy on 07825911973.
Join Scott Russell for a musical discovery of the river Don in Sheffield!
An afternoon walk, lasting 45 minutes, along the river. We will be stopping at points of interest to listen to Scott’s musical interpretation of the river and it’s history. The walk will start at Lady’s Bridge and finish at the Gardener’s Rest for more music in their riverside pub garden.
The event is free but booking essential – email [email protected] to book a place or find out more.
Rotherham Trades Club, Greasbrough Rd, Rotherham S60 1RB, UK
Himalayan balsam is a plant with shallow roots which erodes the surface soil of riverbanks. By late summer its pink flowers develop ‘exploding’ seed heads which allow it to quickly spread and colonise wide areas. The plants take over the riverbank and prevent the growth of other native plants species. We hand-pull the plants between May and July, before they form seeds. The plants are easily removed from the soil, then crushed to stop them rooting again and safely disposed of on site.
Meeting Point: Meet at Chapel on the Bridge, Bridge Street, Rotherham Time: 10am-1pm with a break for refreshments. Please wear suitable clothing for outdoor work. If you would like to borrow waders or wellingtons please let a member of the team know beforehand. Email [email protected] for more information or call task-leader Sally Hyslop on 07780333743.
Don Valley Way Volunteer Day: Doncaster litter-pick Meeting Point: Meet on the Power Station road bridge (please note the bridge is closed on the north side, access is only available through Marshgate, follow the road opposite the prison and park on the bridge). Email [email protected] for more information or call task-leader Matt Duffy on 07825911973. Time: 10am-1pm with a break for refreshments. Please wear suitable clothing for outdoor work.
Join DCRT for a day clearing up a stream tributary to the River Don. The stream runs through a beautiful woodland but has been heavily plagued by fly-tipping.
Running times is 10am – 1pm but feel free to come for as much or as little of the day as you like.
Meeting point – Half way down Droppingwell Road there is an entrance to Walkworth Farm, volunteers are able to park in this enterance. You will see the DCRT van here and a sign. See map for details.
Contact: Matt Duffy will be leading the day. For more information contact him at [email protected] or on 07825911973 or 01302796173
Geoff Hall Carpets Ltd, 178 Shoreham St, Sheffield S1 4SQ, UK
Meeting Point: Meet at the pocket park on Sidney St, Sheffield S1 4RG
Tasks: We will be litter picking the area, removing debris from the channel as well as managing invasive plant species found on the site.
Time: 10am-1pm with a break for refreshments.
Please wear wellies or waders if you have them and suitable clothing for outdoor work. Contact DCRT on [email protected] for more information or call 01302 796 173.