A really Flash reserve

It has become something of a magnet for birders and has built up a reputation for interesting ornithology.

Sprotbrough Flash nature reserve (map reference SE530077) has proved a hit with birders over the years, as well as other lovers of wildlife.

The popular site – which includes open water, reedbeds, grassland and woodland covering 28 hectares – is one of the richest wildlife sites in South Yorkshire.

In fact the site, run by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Birdwatchers have been keeping records of the site for decades and have built up a good understanding of what’s there. Scanning old annual reports of the Doncaster and District Ornithological Society – of which I was once a member – from the 1970s and ‘80s recently, Sprotbrough Flash seemed to be a major birding spot and gave some interesting results.

So it’s nice to see the reserve is still hot property for wildlife.

The scenic location, just off Nursery Lane in Sprotbrough and adjacent to the well-known Boat Inn, is in the Don Gorge where the River Don runs through a limestone ridge.

This limestone means the site has special flora, particularly the limestone woodland of ash, birch, wych elm, lime and sycamore.

The Flash itself – an area of open water surrounded by reeds – is only about a century old and formed when old coal workings collapsed and flooded.

The water areas, as well as the adjacent river, are good for waterfowl such as mute swans, tufted ducks, grebes and much more.

But it is the limestone woodland which attracts most attention because the habitat is quite rare nowadays.

There are distinctive insects which in turn means a rich range of birds like redstarts and woodpeckers.

In Spring the woodland is home to distinctive flowers and plants such as dog’s mercury, violets, bluebells and even orchids.

A lot of work has been undertaken in the woodland to thin out patches and try and increase the range of trees and other plants within and around it.

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is trying to put some structural diversity back into the woods.

In some parts of the woodland the tree canopy shields the ground which prevents most things growing there which is why space needs to be created to let the sunlight penetrate to the woodland floor.

But Sprotbrough Flash, one of a number of nature reserves in the area such as Denaby Ings at Mexborough and Old Moor at Wath-Upon-Dearne, is also home to plenty of mammals as well.

The site is known for bats with Daubenton’s bats being seen over the water and Pipistrelle bats common around the woods.

Deer, probably of the Roe variety, also roam the site but are difficult to see.

An area of limestone grassland on the plateau at the top of the wooded slopes contains a wide range of specialist flowers and the insects that live amongst them.

So, old industry in the form of mining and railway lines has been reconqurered by nature to the benefit of lovers of the great outdoors. And to the benefit of plants and animals too.

FACT FILE:

* The reserve is run by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Enquiries to 01904 659570 or [email protected].

* There is a car park at the far end of the Boat Inn, as well as a car park close to the towpath.

* It is open at all times.

* You can find out more at http://www.ywt.org.uk/reserves/sprotbrough-flash-nature-reserve.