Friends of Lynwood Gardens

Lynwood gardens is a 6000m2 area of mature woodland and open glades situated in Broomhall, a district on the edge of Sheffield city centre, UK. The site is to the South of what is now Aunt Sally’s pub, formerly Broombank House, the home of Francis Newton (Master Cutler in 1844) and his family. Sheffield is world famous as a centre of excellence and innovation in steel manufacture, particularly knives and cutlery, and Lynwood Gardens is a rare example of the surviving house and garden of a wealthy Victorian cutlery manufacturer. The site dates back to the 1820s and the garden has been left virtually untouched for over 150 years; map evidence suggests that it may be the only piece of "virgin" land left in western Sheffield. The site is a valuable piece of Sheffield’s steel making and wildlife heritage, and needs to be protected.

The site became a school in 1905, and is currently owned by the Education Department of Sheffield City Council. It has been under threat of development for many years. Areas of the original site were built on in 1995, and there have been plans to sell off more. Formed in 2003, the Friends of Lynwood Gardens are a group of local residents and conservationists seeking to protect Lynwood Gardens and the surrounding area from further development. We are now working in partnership with Sheffield City Council, and have taken responsibility for the long term management of the site.

Lynwood provides a valuable oasis for wildlife, particularly birds, with over fifty different species sighted in recent years. These include woodpeckers, owls, sparrowhawks, and others that are not usually associated with inner cities. Friends of Lynwood Gardens aim to preserve and manage this unique site, and to develop a community nature reserve and educational resource that will help to conserve this valuable area of sustainable inner city green space.

Friends of Lynwood Gardens are currently working with the Broomhall Community Forum, as well as numerous other wildlife, heritage, community and conservation groups, to recreate the educational space that existed in 1905 and to protect and diversify habitats and wildlife. We are developing an ongoing series of local educational events and projects to revive and preserve Sheffield’s traditional crafts, heritage, wildlife and inner city green space with an aim of promoting a sustainable future for all.

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Winners of
Yorkshire in Bloom Merit award 2005
RHS Britain in Bloom “Outstanding Neighbourhood Award 2006”

Extra Special Thanks to: Dr. Henk Littlewood, Dave Whitfield and all those who have given their time, energy and creativity to Lynwood, without who’s help, support, encouragement Friends of Lynwood Gardens would not exist.
Thanks to: Cllr. Jean Cromar, Cllr. Jill Creasy, Sarah Davies, Mohammed Mahroof, Jill Missen, Jill Ray, Dr Nyra Wilson, the Greenwatch Rangers Team and all our other countless volunteers, helpers and overgenerous contractors.

Photos Courtesy of: BCF, Broomhill Infant’s School and Friends of Lynwood Gardens
Wildlife Photography: Angus Hunter