Yorkshire: Rivelin Valley, near Sheffield.

Joint meeting with Sorby Natural History Society.

Meet at 10:30h at the Rails Lane car park at SK 291 872.  Rails Lane here joins the A 6101 to the north, and the A 57 to the south, on the western edge of the city.  Bring lunch!  The valley is steep in places, with a stream; bring robust footwear.  Finish ca. 17:00h, but we will never be far from the car park.

The Rivelin Valley is one of a number of steep-sided valleys cutting through the Coal Measures on their way to the Don Valley in central Sheffield.  It is mostly wooded, with many old industrial buildings which used the water power of the stream.  The woods are mixed, with some patches of Dog's Mercury and Wood Rush.  Fragments may be ancient.

The valley was last searched for snails 10 years ago, almost to the day.  34 species (22 snails, 12 slugs) were found within 500 m of the meeting place car park.  Although the soils are acid (Zonites excavatus is there), the damp and lack of agricultural activity have allowed a rich fauna to develop.  There are more species recorded from other woods in Sheffield, and we hope to add to this list.  In particular, anyone finding a clausiliid will have a triumph; they should be returning now that pollution has declined.  The records will contribute to the Sheffield BioBlitz, for which this is the last day of recording.