TOUR DE YORKSHIRE - 30 APRIL 2016

Despite the fact that our event had to be cancelled, it was an excellent day enjoyed by many. The Women's and the Men's races were able to cover the same route from Otley to Doncaster and approximately 2000 spectators surrounded the hairpin bends to watch them. The only disappointment was that televsion did not cover our day due to technical problems. The weather was good, apart from a small shower during the men's race in the afternoon, following a bitterly cold day the day before when we were putting up our banner and bunting, sewn by Betty Brockman and knitted by Jackie Humphries and Margaret Bark. Unfortunately someone decided they wanted Jackie's and stole it before we were able to take it down and return it to her on the following Tuesday. Photos can be seen on our website, as well as on the Sprotbrough Tour de Yorkshire Facebook page. I also put a video of both races going round the hairpin bend on my own Facebook page.

CLEAN FOR THE QUEEN

This event, held on 9 April 2016, was very successful with 33 people collecting 2.88 tons of rubbish from the Don Gorge. Three parties covered the Trans-Pennine Trail, the Island and the area near the Fish and Eel Pass. Many congratulations were received from members of the public and thanks go to everyone who participated, including DMBC who removed all the rubbish. (See Our website for photographs.)

TOUR DE YORKSHIRE IS COMING TO THE DON GORGE

I’m sure many of you will know by now that the second day of this event is coming from Otley to Doncaster on Saturday 30 April 2016. What you may not know is that the route is coming via High Melton, Cadeby, down Nursery Lane, over the canal and river bridges, up the hairpin bend and on to do two circuits of Conisbrough Castle before going on its way to Tickhill, Bawtry and hence back to Doncaster. There will also be two identical races for men and women starting at approx. 12 noon and ending about 5.30 pm. The Tour's charity is the RNLI so any money raised will be divided between that and local charities. I have agreed to co-ordinate all activities taking place in the Don Gorge on that day and we hope it will be the biggest party ever seen at Lower Sprotborough, accommodating and entertaining what could be thousands of people, all vying for the best spot to see Bradley Wiggins’ team and all the other international riders who will be taking part. The main purpose of this post is to inform you that it is happening and to ask for your help. Imagine the best community party you have ever been to and think what activities you would like to see included and then be prepared to organise them. Artists, musicians and businesses who have something to offer are more than welcome to contribute or sponsor events. I hope to have a meeting of all those who come forward to help in the not too distant future and hope I will not be disappointed. Knitted or sewn bunting in the Tour's colours of blue and yellow will be required along the route and posters will need to be designed. Old bikes can be painted and positioned around the area nearer the time. Roads will be tidied up and made safe for competitors; hopefully, entertainment will be on hand throughout the day. Preferably, all ideas, with contact details, should be sent to me at the email below or put through my door, though I may be able to handle some phone enquiries. More details will become available as time goes on an will be published on our blog, though I hope to set up a Facebook and Twitter account specifically related to the Tour in the Don Gorge. Keep an eye on Streetlife.com too. At this stage, we need to get the information out and ideas in of what and how we can make it the greatest all-age event ever held at Lower Sprotborough. So, come on everybody. Get your thinking caps on and let's make it a day to remember. Liz Reeve Email: lizreeve@dongorgecommunitygroup.com Mereliz Cottage, 4 Lower Sprotborough, Doncaster DN5 7NB Tel: 01302 313030 Blog: http://dongorgecommunitygroup.blogspot.com

OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE FISH & EEL PASS

Friday 20 November 2015

9.30 - 11.30 am

at Sprotborough Falls

If you are interested in coming, you would be welcome. 

  

Ed Milliband will be doing the honours.

IMPORTANT WARNING

Someone has been putting barbed wire across Public Right of Way No 6, which is the footpath from the top of the hairpin bend at Sprotborough going towards Hexthorpe  It was taken down, but someone has put it up again.  It has been taken down again, but it is extremely dangerous and could cause great damage, particularly to cyclists going at any speed along the path.  The friend who took it down was injured in doing so and spent time in A&E having his forehead glued together again, so if anyone finds it up again please take care in removing it.  It is being regularly monitored.

ORCHIDS ON THE MEADOW

I've just received the following lovely photos of orchids on the meadow.  Why don't you go and have a look; they're obviously at their best at the moment.  The area is looking particularly good at the moment with lots of other wild flowers in evidence too.

Many thanks to Fiona Cahill, the new Sprotborough & Cusworth Parish Councillor on our committee for sending them in.

If anyone sees anything interesting, please let me know so that I can post photos or information on the blog.

Common Spotted Orchid

Lesser Butterfly Orchid

Pyramidal Orchid

Common Twayblade Orchid

The Meadow

DON CATCHMENT RIVER TRUST

A workshop held on 6 July 2015 was very helpful in defining the application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for those of us involved in improving the River Don and its environs.  The result of the application will be heard in September and the aim of the project is to reconnect people, communities and decision makers back to the River Don and its rich natural, cultural, built and industrial heritage.  It is hoped that grant funding will be available to modify five weirs which will improve access for salmon to their breeding grounds.  This, however, is only part of the plan as it is hoped that two apprenticeships will be available, along with skill development and events.  Finally, it aims to create a heritage trail between Sheffield and Doncaster. It is hoped that volunteer groups and ‘friends of’ groups will also be formed to maintain the improving conditions along the length of the river.  The bid is for £1.2 million, with matching funding of £200,000 already having been promised from elsewhere.

The Don Gorge Community Group is already playing a part in this and its volunteer group does good work between Conisbrough and the A1(M) bridge.  They are currently improving the area near the fish pass on the south side of Sprotborough Falls and would welcome others to join them.  Similar groups are operating in other areas, but more are needed if the length of the Don is to be covered; in the coming months possibilities for new groups in our area will be explored in the Denaby Main, Hexthorpe, Balby, Hyde Park and Doncaster areas. 

The brilliant news that the first spawned salmon had recently been found in the River Dearne near Pastures bridge is a great indicator that the river is being cleaned up and that the fish pass at Sprotborough is already achieving results.  To have reached the size it was when it was caught, the first in more than 150 years, it is thought that its parents must have scaled Sprotborough Weir shortly after the pass was completed in 2014.  Salmon was once very common in the Don as far as Sheffield, but the industrial revolution and resulting pollution of the river soon put an end to that.

To enable further progress for our group, we would like to create a ‘Friends of the Don Gorge Community Group’, to enable greater access to those with an interest in our area of concern in particular, and to this end would like to hear from anyone who might be interested in helping us to start this.  I do my best by running a website and a blog, but have limited knowledge of social media and practical help in setting up and running such a scheme would be particularly welcome.  It is then hoped that ‘friends’ could be informed of events we would like to run and even help organise them.  I feel there are many interested and talented people out there who already have the skills we need.  Our committee is short of representatives and we are very stretched in trying to do anything which would achieve our aims.

There are 21 weirs along the River Don between Doncaster and Beeley Woods, nine of which are already passable by salmonids. Seven passes are being planned by other agencies, but the remaining five, which have no owners, come within this project.

For further information or enquiries, please contact

Liz Reeve, Secretary, Tel 01302 313030

or Email lizreeve@dongorgecommunitygroup.com

‘River Don from Source to Sea’

by Elizabeth Reeve

is published by Amberley

It is available from Amazon as an ebook or paperback or direct from Liz Reeve