This may interest some of the Sheffield folk, and in light of the thread about architecture, it may be worth thinking about.
For those that don't know ecclesall Woods is a fairly large tract of woodland on the SW side of the city, and quite significantly is true ancient woodland- i.e. a vestige of the 'original' wood that covered much of the land before our need for fuel and farming / settlement land grew at too great a rate and it disappeared. A very beautiful area which has significance for wildlife and contains a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The planning for development of the old sawmill site is at consultation stage and I visited the newly built oak framed structure on the site this weekend, to see the plans to include a number of spaces for craftspeople to work and have gallery space, some educational type facilities for field trips, visitors information about the woods, sales areas for logs and other stuff derived from the site etc. and it all looked quite promising.
I was disappointed to see mention of a cafe however, and some horrible 'treetop walkways' - great pier like structures jutting out into the wood itself.
I'm not naive enough to think that such a fine site will manage itself, and not everyone is fortunate enough, as I have was, to have had the chance to explore at first hand and appreciate the wildlife etc. in the woods as a kid and subsequently with my own kids, but I really thought that these out of place structures, and a cafe, were looking a bit like the thin end of the wedge.
Giving people access to the woods and the means to enjoy them is great, but when the car park is full of coach parties spending two hours in the cafe and then wandering ten yards into the edge of the wood dropping litter and what have you, whilst no - one else can get a look in the car park or enjoy the peace and emptiness, it just seems a bit theme park ish and unnecessary...
Here's a:
http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--about/parks-woodlands--countryside/trees--woodlands/ecclesall-woods]Link