On a bright, calm day last week, Mandy, Hannah and I, met up with Meghan Tipping who is Activity and Engagement Officer for the Shire Brook Valley Species Survival Fund project, to spend a few hours exploring this remarkable green space just off the Trans Pennine Trail to the south‑east of Sheffield.

From the moment we arrived, it was clear we’d chosen a good day. Spring was well and truly making itself known, the reserve felt alive with birdsong, and Meghan’s enthusiasm for the place was, quite frankly, infectious.

As we walked the paths together, Meghan shared the rich story of Shire Brook Valley – from its industrial past to the mosaics of ponds, heathland, woodland and meadows that define it today. What looks, at first glance, like “just a path” often has layers of heritage and habitat beneath your feet, and one of the reserve’s ambitions is to help people uncover and connect with those stories.

Recent improvements have made a real difference. The footpaths have been upgraded and now link into a clearly defined circular route, making it easier to explore.

Along the way, visitors can discover a new nature sculpture trail, with artworks dotted through the landscape and onto the Trans Pennine Trail itself – encouraging people to slow down and look more closely at their surroundings.

There’s a free car park right by the entrance and from there it’s easy to pick up both the nature trail and connections with the Trans Pennine Trail. Leaflet boxes near the start of the routes offer printed guides on the Nature Sculpture Trail and The Teasel mindfulness Trail while downloadable versions are also available online.

The visitor centre will be open on Wednesdays and selected Sundays through the Summer until the end of August. On Wednesdays, there’s also the welcome addition of a local coffee van, Cherry Blossom Coffee, serving drinks and cakes.

As we explored with Meghan, it became clear that Shire Brook Valley is about far more than simply passing through. It’s a place where people actively come to learn, take part and feel part of nature.

School groups regularly use the pond‑dipping platform, getting hands‑on with nature through sessions with a range of education providers. Families, birdwatchers and casual walkers share the paths with organised activities too – from guided bird walks led by local experts, to wellbeing and bushcraft sessions delivered by partners such as Woodland Wellbeing.

Until the end of June, there’s also opportunities to volunteer with Saturday task days, giving people the chance to get involved in practical conservation work like hedge-laying, vegetation management and opening up glades. Volunteers can turn up on the day or get in touch in advance through the reserve’s website.

And the events calendar doesn’t stop there. A BioBlitz in July will invite experts, enthusiasts and members of the public to help record as many species as possible over 24 hours, while later in the year the reserve will be part of wider walking and heritage activity across Sheffield.

We couldn’t help noticing the outdoor city run route markers dotted around the reserve with the routes forming part of a city‑wide running initiative – and there’s plenty of interest in what the future could hold for the running community.

Shire Brook Valley already hosts an annual trail running event, with a 10km route that loops through the reserve and out towards Lindley Bank. As a keen Parkrunner, I couldn’t help but imagine how well a regular Parkrun might work here one day, with wide paths, open views and space to accommodate participants.

Looking ahead, Meghan spoke about plans to strengthen links between nearby communities and the reserve, pilot new heritage trails, and secure future funding to continue engagement work – helping more people understand not just where the paths go, but why this place matters.

As our walk came to an end, one thing was very clear: Shire Brook Valley is a space shaped by care, curiosity and collaboration.

It’s a place where nature, heritage, art and community come together – and where the Trans Pennine Trail isn’t just a line on a map, but a gateway to discovery. Whether you’re walking the Trail, popping in for a short loop around the reserve, getting involved as a volunteer or simply stopping for a coffee on a Wednesday morning, Shire Brook Valley rewards you with far more than you expect.

We left feeling inspired – and are already planning a return visit, on a Wednesday!

You can discover walks, events and updates from Shire Brook Valley Nature Reserve on their website, at: https://shirebrookvalley.wordpress.com/