Dearne Valley
Dearne Valley nature reserve covers Old Moor and Bolton Ings, which are both leased by the RSPB
In total, 35 hectares (ha, 86 acres) of new reedbed will be created in the valley as part of the EU LIFE bittern project.
Old Moor was used as a coal storage area until the 1980s, and in the 1990s was restored to create open water, fen, lowland wet grassland and reedbeds. Facilities for visitors have also been built, including a visitor centre, an education base, bird viewing hides and trails.
Old Moor had less than one ha(2.5 acres) of reed within the project area, which is not enough for bitterns to live in. The aim of the EU LIFE bittern project is to increase the area of reedbed by planting reed seedlings in some of the exisitng lakes.
Reed rhizomes were planted during autumn/winter 03/04 with the help of willing volunteers from the supermarket chain Iceland and staff from the RSPBs North West Regional Office. They are now growing well.
At Bolton Ings - an area of drained arable land - it is intended to remove the topsoil and create new lakes, surrounded by reed. There will be a wide perimeter ditch around the site, which will also provide more feeding opportunities. Cattle fencing will be put up so that extensive grazing can be used to manage the site in the long-term.
Unfortunately, this part of the project has been severely delayed. It now looks like it will go ahead late summer 2006 and should be finished by summer 2007.
Creating reedbeds at Dearne Valley is important because Potteric Carr nature reserve is nearby and this site regularly has wintering bitterns. It is also part of the EU LIFE bittern project. The two reserves together will increase the chance of fledglings surviving. Birds will be able to fledge from one site and colonise the other. The area will also be a key stopping-off point for birds moving across the country.
The creation of reedbeds in Dearne Valley is part of a wider project to provide economic regeneration through tourism and leisure.
You can find more information about Dearne Valley (Old Moor) in the reserves section of the RSPB website.
