Friends Of Totley Green Spaces attends Totley Show - Community Engaged to Shape the Future of Totley’s Parks

On Saturday 20th September,  Totley Green Spaces attended the Totley show with the aim of engaging with the community to hear ideas and aspirations for both parks. Despite heavy rain, there was a good turnout and local residents shared their views on how both parks could be improved.

Throughout the day, volunteers gathered feedback from families, children, and residents of all ages. A number of clear themes emerged, including calls for improvements to the existing pump track, the introduction of facilities for younger children, and investment in new and updated play equipment. Many residents also expressed enthusiasm for the creation of a skate park in one or both parks, as well as more planting and landscaping to support nature and biodiversity.

The Chair for for Totley Green Spaces said:

“We would like to thank everyone who braved the weather to contribute their ideas. The enthusiasm and constructive feedback demonstrate how much our community values its parks. These views will play an important role in shaping the proposals we are able to take forward.”

Totley Green Spaces is a volunteer-led community group committed to protecting, enhancing, and investing in the area’s parks and green spaces. The group works to ensure that these valued community assets meet the needs of local residents, support health and wellbeing, and provide opportunities for all ages to enjoy the outdoors.

This latest consultation builds on Totley Green Spaces’ ongoing efforts to secure funding and partnerships that will deliver lasting improvements. By working with the City Council, local schools, and wider stakeholders, the group aims to create parks that are safe, inclusive, and welcoming — supporting everything from play and recreation to biodiversity and environmental education.

The feedback collected at the Totley Show will now be reviewed in detail, and further engagement with the community is planned later this year. Totley Green Spaces is committed to ensuring that any improvements reflect the aspirations of residents and help to secure the future of the area’s parks for generations to come.

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Friends Of Totley Green Spaces attends Environmental Volunteer Celebration event at Hillsborough Stadium

On Thursday, 24th April, representatives from Friends of Totley Green Spaces attended the Sheffield Environmental Volunteer Celebration event.

The event brought together environmental groups from across the city to celebrate the incredible work of volunteers, connect with others, explore information stalls, and take part in skill-sharing workshops.

While we didn’t have anything to showcase just yet, it was a fantastic opportunity to gather ideas and learn more about running a successful volunteer group. We picked up some great tips and inspiration for improving our local parks—and we left feeling super energised and excited to put everything we learned into action!

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Walk in the park with Parks and Countryside Officers

Today, we met with Sheffield Parks and Countryside officers Andy (Area Manager) and Tania (Playgrounds) at Green Oak Park. Together, we walked through both Green Oak Park and Totley Hall Park, inspecting the play areas and green spaces, and discussing initial tasks we can begin while longer-term plans continue to take shape.

During the inspection, we identified a number of urgent jobs that Sheffield City Council (SCC) will prioritise:

• Repairing broken play equipment (including replacing a missing swing and handles on gym equipment)

• Replacing a missing panel on the MUGA at Green Oak Park

• Removing the shelter at Green Oak Park

• Organising repairs to the surface under the swings

At Totley Hall Park, our priority is improving the park entrance and creating a more durable surface and pathway to prevent it from becoming dangerously muddy after rain.

We’re excited to start planning for ongoing maintenance events, including gardening, equipment painting, and litter picking, as well as hopefully organising some fun fundraising events in the summer. Stay tuned!

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Inaugural meeting 4th Feb 2025 —the Group is now officially recognized.

We had a fantastic first meeting with the Council! The committee has now been officially formed, with Michael Bamford as Chairman, Kat Brookman as Secretary, and Adam Bailey as Treasurer. With these appointments and the support of other committee members—Helen, Alex, Ingrid, and Alison—the Group is now officially recognized.

Our next meeting will focus on setting priorities for Totley Hall Park and Green Oak Park. The Council’s advice is to start small with quick, impactful projects to build momentum. Over time, we’ll establish short-, medium-, and long-term goals to enhance, protect, and maintain these green spaces.

We want your input! If you have ideas for improvements or projects, please get in touch—we’d love to hear from as many people as possible to ensure our plans reflect the community’s needs.

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