RSPB Old Moor Wetland Centre

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RSPB Old Moor Wetland Centre (formally Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Wath Ings Reserve) is a 250 acre wetlands nature reserve in Barnsley, England run by the RSPB. It lies on the junction of the north/south and east/west routes of the Trans Pennine Trail. The centre was opened in 1998 as part of the regeneration of Dearne Valley and then developed further with the help of a lottery grant in 2002^[1]. The area around Old Moor contains several other wildlife areas including Wombwell Ings, Broomhill Flash, Doveside Nature Reserve, and Gypsy Marsh. Together they encompass the proposed Park Hill English Nature local nature reserve ^[2].

1 Facilities
2 Habitat
3 Bird Species
4 References
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Facilities

The reserve is entered through the visitor centre (a converted farmhouse) containing a shop and a restaurant featuring a balcony overlooking the wetlands. It also contains meeting rooms which can be used for educational and group visits. There is a children's playground next to the farmhouse.

Picnic areas are situated on various the trails throughout the reserve. There are also several bird hides with good views of the main habitats. They are all based on land cutting through the middle of the main lakes. This means that the furthest hide is only half a mile from the visitor centre.

Car and Coach parking is available.

[edit] Habitat

The reserve is based around several reservoirs which form marshland and reedbeds, as well as the open water. There is also land based grassland and bushy habitat. There is also a small garden created beside the visitor center.

At the eastern end of the reserve there are several ponds surrounded by shrubbery and bushes. This attracts smaller species, amphibians, and insects.

[edit] Bird Species

The centre boasts up to 8000 Golden Plovers and 2000 Lapwings. It also has over 250 Tree Sparrows (an endangered species)^[3]. Other notable species include Coots and year round Wildfowl.