Sites of Special Scientific Interest

In May 2021 Natural England designated the Dearne Valley Wetlands as a SSSI, for nationally important bird species including Bittern, The sites with reedbed and fen within the SSSI are:

Carlton Marsh

Edderthorpe Ings

Houghton Washland

Broomhill Flash, The Fleet

Wombwell Ings and Doveside

Parkhill Brickworks

Gipsy Marsh

Old Moor and Wath Ings

Bolton Ings

Adwick washlands

Dark Peak SSSI includes some Upland Flushes, Fens and Swamps priority habitat

Local Wildlife Sites with reedbed and fen

21 Falthwaite and Lowe Wood

24 Worsbrough Reservoir

25 Barnsley Canal at Wilthorpe

26 Cliffe Wood (Dearne Valley Country Park)

27 Carlton Marsh

35 Edderthorpe Ings

36 Broomhill Flash & Wombwell Ings

37 Gipsy Marsh

38 Old Moor & Wath Ings

46 Elsecar Reservoir

48 Bretton Park

49 Barnsley Canal at Royston

55 Parkhill Nature Reserve

60 Rabbit Ings

01 Western Moors LWS includes some Upland Flushes, Fens and Swamps priority habitat

Other LWS may also contain small areas of swamp and fen vegetation.

The best examples are sites that support species of high conservation importance, such as Bittern; support good populations or assemblages of key species such as Water Vole, amphibians, dragon or damselflies; or provide a rich site for wetland plants or invertebrates.

Some priority species depend on larger reedbeds and such reedbeds or groups of reedbeds - or those capable of being extended are important for this reason.

Reedbed and fen sites

There are a number of reedbeds in Barnsley in river valley wetlands, in former colliery lagoons, or planted for water treatment.

The largest reedbed in the area is at RSPB Old Moor and Bolton Ings (>12 ha). Areas of reedbed are also to be found at Worsbrough reservoir (2 ha), Park Hill Brickworks (5-8 ha)  and Carlton Marsh Nature Reserve, with smaller examples (<1 ha) at Grimethorpe, Rabbit Ings, and Royston Canal.

Fen vegetation is also found in other locations with wet or waterlogged soils.

There are small areas of Lowland Fen with underlying peat, including at Gypsy Marsh and Carlton Marsh and fen vegetation can also be found on the upland moors, falling within the Upland Flushes, Fens and Swamps priority habitat.

The best examples are sites that support species of conservation importance, such as Bittern; Water Vole, amphibians, dragon or damselflies; or provide a rich site for wetland plants or invertebrates.

Reedbed and Fen Sites