Work starts on woodland discovery centre

Timber is prepared as building work starts on a new "woodland discovery centre" with visitor and education facilities in Sheffield's Ecclesall Woods.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th Mar 2010, 14:04 BST

Updated 5th Mar 2010, 20:05 BST

As well as information boards, the modern timber building at the sawmill site, inset, will also have a cafe and toilets.

A new education and interpretation officer will be recruited to oversee the educational aspects of the centre, which is set to open this autumn and will be used for school and community groups as well as ordinary visitors.

Coun Shaffaq Mohammed, the council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “Following extensive consultation in 2008 and discussions with various organisations over a longer period of time, we received strong feedback that this centre is what people really wanted to enhance their enjoyment of the woods.”

Fundraising for the centre has been led by the Friends of Ecclesall Woods, who by the end of last year had raised almost 350,000. Grants have also come from the JG Graves Trust, Veolia Environmental Trust and Sheffield Council. Main picture: Chris Lawton.