A COMMUNITY restoration project working in a natural beauty spot in Sheffield has reached a milestone in its fundraising campaign.

The Friends of Charlton Brook raised enough money - through fundraising events and grant applications - to complete one of their long-term aim of restoring the dam and its surroundings.

The group received £48,808 from the Community Spaces initiative, £30,000 from the Environment Agency, and £20,408 from Viridor, through their Landfill Communities Fund.

The improvements revolved around de-silting the dam which resulted in removing 1,200 tons of silt.

This has created a bespoke coarse fishery which needed to be no deeper than six foot as the fish like shallow and warm water.

Six platforms, of which three will provide disabled access, are the next stage and will be installed after Easter.

The dam will be restocked with fish in June 2010 and will be checked on a regular basis by the Fisheries Team of the Environment Agency.

Fundraiser Michelle Tilney said: “The dam provides a fantastic resource for our local community, without the removal of some of the silt the area would be a stream within wet woodland within 20 years.

“It is a vital green lung within the community with its natural brook within a valley, a dam, woodland and meadows, and it also provides homes to lots of wildlife including a regular pair of kingfishers.”

The Friends of Charlton Brook group would like to thank contractors AMCO, the Environment Agency and Sheffield City Council Parks and Countryside team along with our funders for their contribution to this green space.