Residents complained after being able to ‘taste smoke in the air’ due to moorland burning on the city’s boundary.
The burning took place around the Riverlin valley earlier this week, blowing a cloud of pollution towards the south-western suburbs of Ecclesall, Crosspool and Crookes.
The moorland burning occurred in an attempt to exploit the land for Grouse shooting practices.
Bob Berzins, 63, an environmentalist, expressed his concern as the burning took place next to Wyming Brook nature reserve, where both visitors and animals were breathing in the harmful fumes.
He said: “I was speaking to someone yesterday who suffers from asthma and they had to leave the nature reserve as it was affecting their breathing.
“It’s getting to the point of a medical emergency for people with lung problems.”
Mr Berzins- who has spent the past 10 years campaigning to stop these activities- drove to the area after being alerted by resident’s social media posts.
He was greeted with ‘huge clouds’ of smoke, and felt worried about the health impacts due to the pollution.
A lot of anger from #Sheffield residents about appalling moorland burning right next to @WildSheffield nature reserve.
— Bob Berzins (@BerzinsBob) October 9, 2023
Suburbs of Crosspool, Hillsborough and more full of health damaging smoke. pic.twitter.com/OG8cGQ6obf
The smoke produced from burning vegetation contains the same microscopic particles that exist in diesel fumes.
He said: “There is lots of research that shows these particles are very damaging to our health and have long lasting effects.”
Mr Berzins explained that he would make a formal complaint to the council about what he witnessed, but felt worried that this would ‘go nowhere’.
Following the implementation of the city’s Clean Air Zone, he was surprised that these activities are still allowed to go ahead.
After pleas from angry social media users, Olivia Blake, Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam, took to Twitter to announce that she had written to Sheffield City Council to see what enforcements can be taken.
I've written to @SheffCouncil and @NaturalEngland to see what more enforcement can be undertaken.
— Olivia Blake MP (@_OliviaBlake) October 9, 2023
