Over the summer a small photography group has been meeting on line with Pete Sacker to share tips and learn how to make best use of our cameras and phones. We have made two trips, one to the botanical gardens and one to the canal so far.
Toby organised a walk to the Dragon’s Den at Wharncliffe Edge. Despite the forecast for thunderstorms we only caught a bit of rain on the way back ! The lunch time view from the top of the Dragon’s Den was worth it!
August 21 saw a picnic in Millhouses Park
In July Daniel organised a long walk from Rotherham to Elsecar Heritage Centre and the hardy walkers took part!
We had a picnic at Graves Park in July and celebrated a birthday!
Members continued to engage in craft activities during the spring and a sample of their work is shown below
Our June walk was a day out at Chatsworth. Heavy rain was predicted but in fact we had a dry, and at times sunny, day!
In May 2021 we had a circular walk from Grindleford station
Our first picnic of 2021 was at the Botanical Gardens in April
We had our first walk of 2021 in April along the Rivelin Valley and up to Bell Hagg
Our second drawing course generated lots of focussed pictures:
2021 has started with another lockdown, but members are keeping in contact and participating in various activities.
February
One of our members, Zoe, has set a photochallenge where members submit photos on a theme, with a different theme each day.
Here are some of the results:
Landscape
Sport
That’s Unusual
Regular Activities for 2021
Many have volunteered to lead our fortnightly quiz, with a wide range of topics chosen and some impressive IT skills on display.
We have also had suggestions for new activities and have started a monthly discussion group led by Nichole Sirous, a Book Group and a Board Games Group.
Our Yoga Group continues weekly, to help people maintain exercise and reduce anxiety and we have started a weekly Keep Fit session.
Our drawing group restarted in February following the impressive results from the last course, some of which are shown below:
2020 was the first year of the Covid Pandemic and we had to move most of our activity on-line, although we resumed our walking group once it was permitted.
Through the year our Craft Group has continued to be busy creating a different craft each month.
Here are some of the more recent ones:
In December, we had our last socially distanced walk of the year to help people stay calm and hopefully improve their mental health. We went to Beauchief Park and on up to Graves Park and back.
During the autumn, we ran an on-line drawing group, led by Roisin Martindale.
Here are some of the things people drew during the sessions
During November some members went on a socially distanced walk/picnic up the Porter Valley
Members have designed Christmas Cards
B I and K were voted the favourite three and made into packs of cards.
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We continued with a picnic in October at Weston Park in Sheffield
and a walk along the Norfolk Park Heritage Trail, starting at Sheffield Train Station
In September we published our Calendar and Poetry Booklet
Walk from Hathersage in September 2020
Starting from Hathersage station, we walked up through Hathersage to Stanage Edge and then back down in a loop, past a vineyard, into Hathersage, ending up at the Tea Rooms for some well earned covid-secure refreshment.
We have started walks and picnics again now that we are allowed to meet outside in small groups
Some of the keen walkers did a 10 mile walk from Elsecar in August, organised by Daniel. We saw an amazing amount of wild fruit on the way, including wonderful sloes. We also came across this stone structure called the Eye of the Needle. It was constructed approximately in the mid-late 18th century and believed to have been made in order to win a wager, where the second Marquess of Rockingham claimed he was able to “drive a coach and horses through an eye of a needle“, which when it was built, he could!!
Walk up the Loxley Valley and back down the Rivelin Valley on a very hot day in August 2020
In August we were fortunate to secure some funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to help fund our activities between August 2020 and February 2021
Circular walk from Hope Station up Win Hill, July 2020 (sadly we didn’t see the vulture!)
– entertained for a coffee and a loo!
Picnics in Sheffield
Photographs for our Calendar 2021 which members have taken during lockdown in Spring 2020
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During our on-line sessions, members have participated in many different activities including:
a weekly quiz, each week devised by a different member of the group.
and a weekly social activity.
During the social activity we have played games, made face masks…
….done a wide range of origami…
…made blackbirds…
….written Haiku poetry about Isolation and about Friends….
…. completed paintings without paint but using tissue paper
During the Covid-19 lockdown, some people have been part of the ongoing Craft Group, with Craft packs being posted out to individuals.
Some of their results are shown below:
Easter Crafts 
Bead bug Mobiles
Lollipop Letters
Sand Art
Fabric Painted Shopping Bags
Pottery
Bird Feeders
Some members took part in a ‘Grow a Sunflower’ challenge.
Here are some of their pictures.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, we have been fortunate to receive funding from the Clinical Commissioning Group and from South Yorkshire Community Foundation to continue our activities remotely. This has made a huge difference to our ability to continue to operate a wide range of social activities.
2019
At the end of November 2019 we held our annual Christmas Craft event, making chocolates, gift boxes, candle holders and baubles.
On a wet and misty November Sunday we set out to do a circular walk from Hope, through Castleton and back to Hope.
The train was cancelled and it was raining so we caught the bus to Castleton and spent the day there, visiting either the Castle or the Caves.
We also went to see the Christmas Tree Exhibition in the local church (Supported by BOOST)
Walk from Stocksbridge to High Bradfield in the rain! October 2019 (Supported by BOOST)
Origami Craft Evening October 2019
Walk from Chinley to Edale (10 miles!) September 2019 (Supported by BOOST)
A Gentle walk up the Porter Valley July 2019
Walk from Treeton to Kiveton through Rother Valley Country Park June 2019 (Supported by BOOST)
Bowling and meal out April 2019
Walk to Elsecar April 2019 (Supported by BOOST)
Our new Yoga Group February 2019 (Supported by BOOST)
Walk around the Chatsworth Estate in the sunny warm February weather 2019 (Supported by BOOST)
In January 2019 our first walk was organised by Daniel Pallordet and took us to Kiveton Bridge. We did a circular walk and then had Sunday lunch! (Supported by BOOST)
2018
At the end of 2018 we took the train to Penistone and walked the Pen-Den Trail to Denby Dale then caught the train back to Sheffield. (Supported by BOOST)
Our Christmas Pizza Party December 2018
Christmas Craft Activities November 2018
Isabel Ginty took us up Derwent Edge in October 2018
Chris Grewster took us up Mam Tor one evening in September 2018
Walk from Rotherham to Wentworth and back, organised by Daniel. June 2018
Trip to the bowling alley and a meal afterwards – May 2018
Longer walk – Edale Valley and Jacob’s Ladder – May 2018
Easter Craft – Making vases, baskets and sewing cards
2017 and earlier
Board Games 2017: Members spent and afternoon at a local board games café
Christmas Party 2016
Craft Events 2016 and 2017: Craft activities around Easter and Christmas time
Yoga: Members had a yoga taster session at a local Yoga Centre
Cooking : Members met at a local Community Centre and learned how to make Pizza. Then everyone cooked and ate their pizza together.
Snooker : Members playing snooker at Riley’s Snooker Club
Walking : Members out on walks in the local area
World Autism Day 2016: Members mounted an exhibition in Sheffield City Centre
