The Friends of Porter Valley group have responded to concerns from Sheffield birdwatchers that they have cleared important habitat for breeding birds to provide space for walkers at Forge Dam.

Author and University of Sheffield professor David Wood witnessed volunteers clearing vegetation in the Festival Wood area of the park in the suburb of Fulwood and expressed fears that they were removing tree and shrub cover vital to a range of nesting bird species.

The work is being carried out as part of a £300,000 restoration project with the support of site owners Sheffield City Council, which will also see a nearby lake de-silted.

Volunteers forced to clear habitat and vegetation at Forge Dam in Sheffield after being inundated with walkers and dogs off leads