Visitors can expect to see a diverse range of wildlife, including grazing animals such as cattle and sheep, as well as a variety of bird species like herons, egrets, kingfishers, and wading birds. The reserve also boasts a mix of habitats, including riverside meadows, dry meadows, open water, woodland scrub, and hedgerows.
Visitors can enjoy walking along the footpath around the lake, passing two bird hides and a viewing screen to observe the wildlife. The raised embankment, which was once a railway, offers excellent views of the main marsh and open water. In addition, the reserve is a great spot for birdwatching, with opportunities to see goosanders, kingfishers, and other bird species.
The nature reserve plays an important role in flood relief by allowing water to escape into the meadows during severe flooding. The water levels in the reserve are monitored and controlled to provide a mix of reedbeds and muddy shoreline that attracts several species of wading birds, including avocets, bitterns, and green sandpipers.
Visitors can see evidence of the reserve's past as a mining and farming area, with the raised embankment that leads to the bird hides being the old Dearne Valley Railway used for transporting coal. The reserve also sits on the old course of the river Dearne, which has since been straightened, and the lake was formed by blocking the river with coal spoil from a nearby mine.
The nature reserve is open at all times, but it is recommended to plan for a half-day visit. Visitors can also combine their visit with a trip to a nearby location for a full day of exploring. Spring and summer are particularly vibrant times to visit, with birdsong filling the air, flowers blooming in the meadows, and butterflies fluttering around. Autumn is also a great time to visit, with a variety of bird species like little egrets, sandpipers, and godwits making an appearance.
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