News
The latest news from Todwick.
Todwick Neighbourhood Watch – February 2025
Published: 10 February 2025
It’s coming up to the 19th birthday (July 2025) of the current village Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since we held the first meeting in Todwick Village Hall. At that time the village had a massive antisocial behaviour (ASB) problem. Vulnerable people in the village were being targeted with boorish behaviour designed to annoy and intimidate the elderly and sick. The NHW team worked hard with South Yorkshire Police, Youth Referral and the 2006 problem was eventually brought under control.
So, 19 years down the track we can look at the South Yorkshire Police figures for Todwick that are freely available on the internet. Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) currently from vehicles, rowdy behaviour, littering, drug rubbish, trespass, fireworks – the list goes on. But this is currently the second highest number of offences for Todwick.
The original 2006 scheme was based on:
- No regular meetings – except for an annual general meeting.
- A quarterly paper-based newsletter delivered by volunteers to signed up members.
In today’s electronic society we need to move on to find a focussed alternative to item 2.
If you would like to be part of improving communication in the village, part of improving and promoting a culture of looking after your neighbours, making Todwick a more vibrant village, please contact me by email at todwick.nhw621@btinternet.com or telephone 01909 770130.
The telephone has a security system in place and also an answer-machine. Please leave your name and contact number if I am not around to take your call.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Norman Anderson
Todwick Sunflower Competition 2025
Published: 9 February 2025
Two Todwickians, Brian Mullins and Brian Summerhayes, have very kindly AGREED AGAIN TO sponsor this fun Todwick residents only competition again. Anyone, any age can join in...
How to grow sunflowers
Planting sunflowers seeds is a fun activity for the whole family, and one of the easiest ways to provide food for birds in your garden.
You may have got your sunflowers growing already… Sow your sunflower seeds – You can soak your seeds in water to swell them overnight and then sow the seeds in a garden tray or into pots – put some cling film over each pot or tray.
Fill a 7.5 cm pot (or slightly larger) with peat-free compost. Poke one seed per pot down into the compost. Cover with about 1 cm of compost, and then water.
Place in a warm position. Use a propagator lid if you have one. Or you can make your own mini cover to protect your plants by cutting the top off a plastic bottle.
Keep them on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse to keep them safe from slugs and snails until they are planted out.
Or you can fill rows of cardboard tubes, planted up with compost and young sunflower seedlings.
Sunflower seedlings – Plant them out when they’re around 30 cm tall. Plant out in a sheltered position once the risk of frost has passed.
Sunflowers like to grow in a rich soil.
Protect them as best you can from slug and snail damage by using copper bands, broken eggshells, or any other organic slug control methods. You might need to do an evening slug patrol to keep them from eating your new shoots.
Stake and water – As your sunflowers grow, you’ll need to tie them to canes or to the fence or balcony railings to stop them blowing over. Keep them moist through the summer as your little seedlings turn into giants.
Save the seeds – When the sunflower head starts to turn brown, cut it off and hang it somewhere dry and airy. When the seeds are dry, rub them together to loosen them. Birds can eat your seeds if you leave them in the garden. You could even put them in a bird feeder.
More information: https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-you-can-do/activities/how-to-grow-sunflowers
TODWICK RESIDENTS ONLY send in your sunflower heights by Saturday, 16 August 2025 to Sheila Pantry OBE, email sp@sheilapantry.com or phone 01909 771024
Storm Éowyn: Northern Powergrid is prepared and ready to support customers
Published: 23 January 2025
The Met Office has issued a weather warning for Storm Éowyn, which is forecast to bring strong winds across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire on Friday.
The forecast conditions have the potential to impact the electricity network, so there is a possibility of disruption to power supplies. Northern Powergrid has sought to reassure customers, saying: “Our teams are ready to respond as quickly as possible to keep the power on.
“We will keep customers updated via our website, social media channels and text messages. For Priority Services customers, we will ensure those affected receive the extra help they need and peace of mind if there is a power cut.
“Our customer support vehicles and welfare partners are also prepped and ready to go out into local communities, where possible, to offer help on the ground to those who need it most.”
For more information, including power cut advice and tips, visit:
Snow clearing in Todwick
Published: 14 January 2025
The following is the response from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to a request for help clearing the snow in Todwick.
Thank you for taking the time to report this issue.
There are ten priority gritting routes around Rotherham. These cover major roads used by emergency vehicles and public transport.
We will grit these routes before a forecast of ice or snow. This takes about three hours to complete.
We will only treat secondary routes as resources allow. Individual requests for gritting are assessed once we are satisfied that the priority routes are clear and traffic is flowing.
Unfortunately, limited resources in severe winter weather mean that we cannot respond to all requests for gritting. Grit bins are positioned around Rotherham for you to use on roads and paths.
There is a grit bin situated in the Pastures, this is free for anyone to use to help clear the road/paths.
Your enquiry has been registered and forwarded to the appropriate Streetpride Department.
If you require further assistance or information relating to this enquiry, please quote the following enquiry number: 3939368
Your request has been sent to the Winter Weather Team to assess once they are satisfied that all priority routes are clear.
Community Pantry Van at Todwick
Published: 3 January 2025

Friday the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st January 2025
2.30 – 3.30 pm
The Church Hall, Lindley Croft, Todwick S26 1HN
All welcome. Bring £4 and a bag.
Items can vary but may include:
- Main meal, meat, fish
- Fresh Fruit
- Fresh Vegetables
- Bread
- Pasta and sauces
- Milk, cheese