Former industrial land is now a fine wetland reserve

This former Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve has seen many changes, helped by the collapse of old coal mines bringing back the wetlands to this floodplain of the River Aire. Slag banks now support woodland, and with grassland at the west end, birds have a good choice of habitats. Fairburn even has the record of a breeding Little Gull, but sadly the male was shot by an air gun in 1978! Wildfowl and waders dominate, but rarities have included Red-rumped Swallow, Needle-tailed Swift, Caspian Tern, Long-billed Dowitcher, Glossy Ibis and Black- crowned Night Heron.

WHERE TO WATCH

1

There are three main parking areas with the one at the ‘cut’ allowing you to view what was once the main area of the reserve. Scan for Kingfishers in the many willows.

2

Walk up onto the ‘slag banks’ scanning across the River Aire for passage.

3

The main visitor centre has a mixture of viewing areas and a hide. Look out for herons and Spoonbills in summer. An historic find of a bill of a Spoonbill dated back to the Middle Ages, shows what used to be here, and in 2017 Spoonbills bred successfully here for the first time in living memory, while a flock of 25 was seen flying east in 2019! Bitterns now breed in the reedbed, and Great White Egrets seem to love the place, so will they be next? Bearded Tits can drop in.

4

This small ‘pull in’ allows you views across the heronry and the new birds on the block – Spoonbills. Newton road is often very busy and best not to walk on.

5

The Lin Dyke car park is ideal for covering the west end of the reserve with another hide looking out for wildfowl and waders. Blacknecked Grebes have expanded to here from nearby Swillington Ings.

6

There is a great walk back towards the visitor centre covering grassland and slag banks. Look for Tree Sparrow and Willow Tit around the visitor centre feeders.