Wednesday 24 June – Botany Group Meeting to Shire Brook Valley;

Wednesday 24 June – Short Evening Meeting in The Groves.

For more information, please contact botany@sorby.org.uk

Details of each event will be provided in our monthly newsletter, which is distributed free to members.

Additional activities will be organised throughout the year. Late amendments, additions and cancellations will be announced on this website and in our monthly newsletter.

Download the outline programme in PDF format.

See www.sorby.org.uk/events

Details of each event will be provided in our monthly newsletter, which is distributed free to members.

Additional activities will be organised throughout the year. Late amendments, additions and cancellations will be announced on this website and in our monthly newsletter.

Download the outline programme in PDF format.

“Little Brown Jobs” sprouting from a fallen trunk in Ladies Spring Wood, Sheffield.

Saturday 1st October – Parkwood Springs
Explore the plants and wildlife of the heathland (fungi too!)
Meet at Cooks Wood Road / Shirecliffe Road car park for13.00, expect to finish around 15.00.
Ziggy Senkans: 07910992449 /
or contact the Friends of Parkwood Springs; www.parkwood-springs.org.uk

Tuesday 4th October – Moss Valley Wildlife Group fungi walk
Starting at 10.00am, meet at the Jordanthorpe Parkway, opposite Coalpit Wood.
This fungi walk will take in Coalpit, Long & Bridle Road Woods. Bring a packed lunch and enjoy guaranteed sunshine at Dowey Lumb!
Ziggy Senkans 0114 2053618 / 

Thursday 6th October – Lower Hagg Woods & Fields (Rivelin Valley)
Meet for 10.30 at the Rivelin Valley Cafe. From here we’ll have a short walk up to the fields and woodland. Past species have included the rose waxcap (Hygrocype calyptraeformis), smoky spindles (Clavaria fumosa), fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) and wood blewit (Lepista nuda). If time allows, we’ll also explore Millstone Roughs.
Chris Kelly & Roger Butterfield
Ziggy Senkans 0114 2053618 / 

Saturday 8th October – Linacre Wood
Leader – Chris Kelly. Meet at 10:30 at the middle of the 3 Car Parks at SK 336727 just west of Cutthorpe, on the access road to Linacre Reservoirs signposted from the B6050. Pay and Display car park – £2.50 for a full day. Public transport is available from Chesterfield and Dronfield – please check journey planner for details
Come and celebrate UK Fungus Day (which is actually on October 9th) with a mixed woodland foray to the area adjacent to Linacre Reservoirs. Although participants can double back at any time, we will aim to stay into the afternoon, so bring a pack lunch if you are able to stay longer. The usual stout footwear and weather-appropriate clothing is advised, and a field guide and hand lens are useful but not essential.
Contact: or Chris on 07885 770944

Thursday 13th October – Fungal Survey in Low Hall Wood
A survey of autumn fruiting fungi is planned for semi-natural ancient woodland Low Hall Wood in High Green as part of the ‘Nature Counts’ project. Join Reserve Manager Chris Doar from Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust and Ziggy Senkans meeting on Hallwood Road, High Green (SK 334 965) at 11am (bring your dinner).
For more information, please contact Chris Doar

Saturday 15th October – Fungi Workshop at Elsecar Heritage Centre
Fabulous Fungi! Starting with an indoor workshop, talk and presentation, followed by a fieldtrip through the local area (including Elsecar Reservoir and beyond!) to identify the local fungi. No previous experience necessary, all levels welcome!
Please book at as spaces are limited. This is a free event!
Chris Kelly & Ziggy Senkans: 07910992449 /

Sunday 16th October – The annual Sheffield General Cemetery fungi stroll
Meet at the gate house (off Cemetery Road) for 11.00am. This amble lasts approximately an hour and a half. Tiptoe amongst the tombstones, tracking down all manner of toadstools. This is a city centre site with a fine collection of fungi (and wildlife in general!).
Ziggy Senkans 0114 2053618 / 

Wednesday 19th October – Whitwell Moor And Millstones Wood
Leaders – Chris Kelly & Brian Mitchell. Meet 10:30 at the small car park on Long Lane at SK244979.
A return visit to this rich site on the upland between Underbank and Broomhead reservoirs, near Stocksbridge, which includes heathland, unimproved grassland and woodland (mainly Beech, but with a few conifers). The woodland is rich in species of Russula, Amanita and Bolete, as well as the magical Porcelain Fungus (if we are lucky enough to catch it fruiting), and other beechwood species. The grassland is very good for a range of Waxcaps.
Although participants can double back at any time, we will aim to stay into the afternoon, so bring a pack lunch if you are able to stay longer. The usual stout footwear and weather-appropriate clothing is advised, and a field guide and hand lens are useful but not essential. The nearest public transport is to Stocksbridge on the 57 bus from the city, or Supertram link from the Middlewood tram terminus but both involves a steady walk to reach the meeting point.
Contact: or Chris on 07885 770944 for any enquiries, including advice on getting there with or without a car.

Saturday 22nd October – Forge Dam & Upper Porter Valley (with the Friends of Porter Valley)
Meet at the Forge Dam Cafe for 10.30am. We’ll explore the adjacent woodlands and if there’s enough time, check out some of the nearby grasslands for waxcaps and their allies. Expect this event to last between an hour and a half to two.
Buses are regular from the city centre to nearby Crimicar Lane, drop down the valleyside and you’ll find the Forge Dam cafe, a very popular destination within the valley.
Ziggy Senkans 0114 2053618 / 

Sunday 23rd October – Coombs Dale – Helianthemum Grassland Fungi
Leader – Rob Foster.
This is a follow-up to the very successful Helianthemum grassland fungi foray held at Wardlow last year. This year we will be visiting Coombs Dale. This is classic territory: a limestone dale, where Neil Barden did much of his pioneering work on establishing the fungal flora associated with these low growing shrubby plants. In many respects Helianthemum behave like trees with a suite of mycorrhizal fungi rising from their roots. Consequently, on treeless grassy limestone slopes you can puzzlingly find the same fungi you might expect from a woodland floor: for instance large fruit bodies of Cortinarius, Tricholoma, Hebeloma, Amanita and even Boletus. Many of the species are rare and specifically associated with Helianthemum. Last year we were able to bring back our finds to the Wardlow Village Hall where we were able to spread out our identification books in an attempt to put names to the species. This time I have made an arrangement with the Moon Inn to have a couple of tables set aside for our use. This is in Stoney Middleton along the A623 (SK 23070 75405), a few hundred yards walk away from the entrance to Coombs Dale. The pub serves excellent real ale and does food. The plan, at the finish our foray, after eating our sandwiches in the dale, is to arrive in the pub about 2.30 pm and spend an hour looking at our finds over a drink (though those who plan to eat at the pub may want to arrive earlier).
Meet up 10.30 am by the traffic lights at Calver Sough at the junction of the A623 and A625 (SK 23888 74859) S32 3XH. Parking is alongside the road. Calver Sough is accessible by bus from Central Sheffield route 65 etc. (check timetables). It will help to know how many people are coming: contact Rob Foster, email:

Monday 24th October – Burngreave Cemetery (with the Friends of Burngreave Cemetery)
Meet at the Chapel for 1pm. Though a cemetery, it has areas of species rich grassland and mature trees. In 2014, the grassland contained 8 species of waxcap and a red data list species the mothball fungus (Camarophyllus foetens).Expect the unexpected!
Ziggy Senkans 0114 2053618 / 

Friday 28th October – Woodhouse Fungi Walk
Meet for 10.00am at the junction of June Road and Junction Road, Woodhouse (only minutes from the train station). From here, we’ll take a short walk up to the former sports fields where waxcaps occur in healthy numbers.
Ziggy Senkans 0114 2053618 / 
Or Karl Knight: 0114 2735030 /

Saturday 29th October – Transpeak Fungi Ramble – Dore Station to Grindleford Station
‘Station to station’! Starting at Dore, we will head towards Grindleford via Ecclesall Woods, the Limb Valley, Houndkirk Road, Longshaw Estate and down through Padley Gorge. A good mixture of habitats will be explored. This is an all day event, so come prepared, suitable outdoor clothing, packed lunch, Etc.
An 8 mile moderate walk led by Paul Senkans and Ziggy Senkans, with an ascent of 280m and lots of stoppages to look at fungi. Dogs are allowed on a short lead.
Starting at 10:30 from Dore Station, catch the 08:49 from Manchester Piccadilly to Dore, or the 10:14 from Sheffield.
Returning from Grindleford at 16:28 to Manchester Piccadilly, or 16:50 to Sheffield.
For further details contact Transpeak nearer the date. Though free, booking is essential. http://www.transpeakwalks.co.uk/p/how-to-book.html
Ziggy Senkans: 07910992449 /

Sunday 30th October – Wharncliffe Heathlands Trust fungi walk
Meet for 11.00am at the River Don Bridge, Station Road, Deepcar (SK291980)
This regular foray takes in both woodland and heath. Be prepared for muddy and rough terrain. We aim to be back outside the social club (adjacent the bridge) for around 1pm.
The number 57 bus stops nearby, check the current timetable.
Ziggy Senkans: 07910992449 /

November dates (to be confirmed)
Saturday 5th November – Wyming Brook (with S&RWT)
Thursday 17th November – Fungi Night
Sunday 20th November – Ulley Country Park (Confirm with Barbara Littlewood)

Click here for more information about the Sorby Fungus Group.

FRIDAY, 13 MAY. SHEAF VALLEY – Fungi & General.
Leader – Ziggy Senkans,
The Sheaf Valley is a Local Wildlife Site (LWS). This will be a gentle walk along the valley recording what we see on route.

SATURDAY, 14 MAY. BRYOPHYTES IN THE PORTER VALLEY.
Leaders – Joan Egan and Ambroise Baker, with North Western Naturalists’ Union, Bryophyte & Lichen Section.
The aim of the day is to bring together people who enjoy field bryology and record species present in the Porter Valley as a contribution to the Porter Valley moss micro-Flora. All levels of expertise are welcome throughout the day, including first time beginners. However, the focus of the morning will be training with no other objective than to learn from each other identification tips, while the focus of the afternoon will be recording bryophyte diversity. Ambroise has been recording bryophytes in the Valley since 2013 and is now working on compiling all these records into a micro-Flora. However there are still many habitats not surveyed, older records to be checked and many species he doesn’t identify routinely with confidence, so any contribution is welcome!
The Porter Valley is one of Sheffield’s major valleys and an exceptional nature corridor in the city. Following early industrial development with extensive water management including a series of dams, nature re-colonised. Today the Porter Valley is a favourite green space for recreational activities. There is a wide range of habitats for bryophytes, including old masonry work, heathy grounds, acid grassland, alder carr, ancient and coniferous woodlands, swamps, wells, streams and river, etc. The lithology tends to be acidic but there are also many shale outcrops exposed by the river. Get in touch to book or for any other information: .

TUESDAY, 17 MAY. ENDCLIFFE PARK – Botany & General.
Leader: Julie Westfold,
Endcliffe Park is a Local Wildlife Site (LWS). This will be a gentle amble recording what we see on route.

MONDAY, 23 MAY. BOTANICAL FIELD MEETING TO CRESSBROOK DALE.
Leader – Jean Glasscock.
A field meeting to look for spring flowers in the Cressbrook Dale National Nature Reserve. In particular, to search for Bird’s-foot Sedge, Carex ornithopoda, a nationally rare species. This is usually difficult to spot, but it should be in flower at this time and therefore more obvious. There should also be the usual abundant spring display of Cowslips and Early Purple Orchids, etc.

SUNDAY, 29 MAY. GENERAL FIELD MEETING AT BOLEHILL RECREATION GROUND, CROOKES.
Leader – Roger Butterfield,
Full details here.

Bolehill Recreation Ground in August 2014.

Please note that the information published in the Sheffield Environment Weeks programme is incomplete. The full details are as follows…

Sunday, 29 May 2016 – Field Meeting at Bolehill Recreation Ground, Crookes.

Leader – Roger Butterfield.

Meet 10:00 am at the entrance of Bolehill Recreation Ground on Northfield Avenue, Crookes. OS grid reference SK32808816. Postcode S10 1QN. The nearest bus route is the 52/52a that runs from the city centre to Hillsborough/Wisewood, via Broomhill and Crookes.

Join us for a Sunday morning stroll around Bolehill Recreation Ground. This popular park is well known for its impressive views across the Rivelin Valley to Stannington and beyond. Part of the park has been designated as a Local Wildlife Site by Sheffield City Council. A mosaic of heathland, scrub and grassland supports a diverse range of flora and fauna. There are also a few rock outcrops that may be of geological interest.

Although this is a public park, some of the paths are rough and muddy so please wear suitable footwear. A few of the paths are steeply sloping too.

Non-members are welcome to attend, but are not covered by the Sorby Natural History Society’s insurance policy.

We will aim to finish around 12 noon.

This meeting will look at the parts of the dale not reached during last October’s meeting. The central section of Lathkill Dale is the least recorded part of this superb limestone dale. This full-day meeting will look at the lichens on the daleside rock exposures and the trees.

See April newsletter for full details.

Information about joining the Sorby Natural History Society can be found at www.sorby.org.uk/membership.