Sharphill Wood receives its second Green Flag Award!
Last updated: 8/8/2024
Sharphill Wood near Edwalton has been awarded its second coveted Green Flag Award, marking the site as one of the UK’s best green spaces.
The woodland has been named among 2,227 other parks and green places across the UK, which sets the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the UK and around the world.
The site became a nature reserve in 2010 and is managed in partnership with Rushcliffe Borough Council, The Friends of Sharphill Wood (FoSW) and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
The 10-hectare woodland is home to an array of local biodiversity and provides a valuable habitat for invertebrates, small mammals such as badgers, foxes, brown hares, and rabbits and birds including woodpeckers, tree creepers, nuthatches and jays.
Nest box checks have been ongoing for several years, and the latest spring bird survey recorded 31 species. There are also bat boxes throughout the site and annual bat walks.
There’s also an abundance of standing and lying deadwood providing an important habitat and supporting a range of fungal species.
With three official entrances to the woods, visitors can enjoy the open space with 2.6km of footpaths and other trails.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Wellbeing, ICT and Member Development Cllr Jonathan Wheeler recently joined members of the Friends group and Council officers to raise the flag for its second year.
Cllr Wheeler said: “I’m pleased that Sharphill Wood Nature Reserve has received its second Green Flag Award in a row, showcasing the site as one of the best green spaces in the country!“It’s a beautiful place where visitors and dog walkers can enjoy wide views across Rushcliffe and further afield and explore the footpaths and enjoy nature in the woodland area.
“Visitors can also enjoy a family nature trail which has been created by a FoSW volunteer and is available to download from the FoSW website.
“A lot of time and hard work is involved in maintaining the site and I’d like to thank the FoSW volunteer group, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, our officers and Streetwise team for their excellent work conserving this historic woodland.
“Working in partnership, we’ll continue to keep the site a scenic and peaceful place to visit with its thriving nature reserve and enhance biodiversity wherever we can.”
FoSW Chair Chrissie Wells added: “It is a testament to all our volunteers that work in the Wood itself and to those who manage and organise that the award has been achieved for a second year.
“It means a great deal to everyone involved and motivates us to do even more to protect the Wood and its wildlife, preserving it in its best possible condition for future generations.
“We hope that more local people will get involved and help us in that rewarding work.”
The Friends of Sharphill Wood was formed in 2008 with the aim of enhancing the woodland for the local community and its flora and fauna.
If you would like to volunteer and join the Friends of Sharphill Wood group, email sharphillwood@yahoo.co.uk.”
The Green Flag Award is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.
The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by Keep Britain Tidy in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and Keep Scotland Beautiful under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
