RSPB Old Moor Wetland Centre
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RSPB Old Moor 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 by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in 1998 as part of the regeneration of the Dearne Valley and then developed further with the help of a lottery grant in 2002. The RSPB took over management of the site in 2003 and developed the site further with funding from various sources including the Heritage Lottery Fund, Yorkshire Forward and WREN. The area around RSPB Old Moor contains several other wildlife areas including Wombwell Ings and Gypsy Marsh(which are also managed by the RSPB), Broomhill Flash and Doveside Nature Reserve.
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[edit] Facilities
The reserve is entered through the visitor centre (converted farm buildings) containing a shop and a restaurant featuring a balcony overlooking the nature reserve. There is also a purpose-build classroom for educational visits and meeting rooms which can be used by local businesses, community groups and others. There is a children's adventure playground next to the farmhouse.
Picnic areas are situated on various 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 lakes[(water)] 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). Other notable species include Coots and year round Wildfowl.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
- Conservation in the United Kingdom
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
- Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust - Another society that runs other wetland centres
[edit] External links
| Trans Pennine Trail Attractions |
| West |
| Ainsdale National Nature Reserve | Chorlton Water Park | Dunham Massey Hall | Halewood Country Park | Ardotalia (Melandra Castle) Roman Fort | National Wildflower Centre | Pickerings Pasture Country Park | Reddish Vale | Sale Water Park | Speke Hall | Tate Gallery | Walton Hall |
| Central |
| Anglers Country Park | Elsecar Heritage Centre | Magna | Monk Bretton Priory | Rother Valley Country Park | Rothwell Colliery Country Park | Royal Armouries | RSPB Old Moor | Sheffield Winter Gardens | Thackray Museum | Thwaite Mills | Wentworth Woodhouse | Westwood Country Park | Worsbrough Mill |
| East |
| Conisbrough Castle | Cusworth Hall | Hornsea Mere | National Railway Museum | Selby Abbey | The Deep | York Minster |
