An area of Ecclesall Woods in Sheffield, unofficially known as "No Man's Land", has been left largely undisturbed by humans for almost a century, allowing local flora and fauna to flourish. The 42-acre patch was fenced off in 1927 shortly after the city council bought the wider 346-acre woodland to protect it from housing development, creating a bird sanctuary aimed at shielding nesting species from human disturbance.

The wider Ecclesall Woods, the largest semi-natural woodland in South Yorkshire, has a long history of human use dating back to Neolithic times, including grazing, hunting, charcoal production for iron smelting and coal extraction. Since the sanctuary was established, breeding bird species have risen from 41 to 61 by 1980, with sparrowhawks, nuthatches, redwings and buzzards among those recorded, while the woods themselves are managed today by Sheffield City Council alongside the volunteer group Friends of Ecclesall Woods.