Wyming Brook Walk

View of the brook and a little wooden footbridge. The river flows almost its entire length within the Wyming Brook Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest which is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham.

Entrance to the reserve. A steep footpath accompanies the brook, while a bridleway known as Wyming Brook Drive traverses the nature reserve from north to south. The footpath can be quite steep, with both the path and the brook descending over 100 meters within a kilometer. The surroundings are wooded near the bottom and more open near the top, offering views of the Rivelin Valley. Red cedar, eastern hemlock, Douglas fir, red pine, sitka, sweet chestnut, black alder, oak, and rowan trees line the brook. Wildlife in the vicinity of Wyming Brook includes moths such as the common lutestring and northern spinach, as well as birds like the dipper and the crossbill. Additionally, the Peak District Boundary Walk passes through the nature reserve.

Wyming Brook stepping stones on a sunny summer day. Historically, the region was reserved solely for the nobility, forming part of the hunting and hawking grounds of Rivelin Chase. Positioned above and to the west of the watercourse on Ash Cabin Flat lies an embanked stone circle, which dates back to the Bronze Age.

Wyming Brook Farm, Soughley Lane. In 2023, larch trees within the nature reserve were discovered to be infected with a non-native fungus-like disease known as Phytophthora ramorum. Following this finding, the Forestry Commission issued a Statutory Plant Health Notice to the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, instructing them to remove the infected trees. Additionally, chestnut trees, which are also susceptible to ramorum, will be felled as a precautionary measure. In September 2023, the wildlife trust commenced a four-month program to cut down over 1,000 trees affected by the disease. However, in October 2023, campaigners expressed concern, stating that the removal of trees would result in 'a post-apocalyptic landscape.' They launched a petition urging Sheffield Council, the landowner, to challenge the Statutory Plant Health Notice and cease tree felling activities. Sheffield Council responded by emphasizing that they are legally obligated to comply with the notice.

Rivelin Dams at the northern end of the brook. Here the brook makes its way through the the Rivelin tunnel before it flows into the lower of the Rivelin Dams. The dams are owned by Yorkshire Water and provide water to 319,000 people as well as compensation water for the River Rivelin.

Footpath towards Redmires Lower Reservoir. Located at the southern end of the brook you will find a series of three reservoirs. They are fed from the Hallam Moors by various small streams including Fairthorn Clough. The three reservoirs are named Upper, Middle and Lower and were built between 1833 and 1854 to provide clean drinking water via an open water course which led to the Hadfield Dam situated in Crookes, following the devastating Sheffield cholera epidemic of 1832. There are more good bird watching opportunities around the lakes.

Wyming Brook in Redmires Plantation. Yorkshire Water, the owner of land adjacent to the nature reserve, has also initiated preventative measures to stop the spread of ramorum by felling trees. Furthermore, an area containing sitka spruce and douglas fir trees, planted in the 1950s and considered to have minimal value for wildlife, has been cleared with the intention of replacing them with native broadleaf woodland.

Gritstone outcrop. There's some interesting geology on the walk, including these rocky outcrops.