About Kilnhurst Ings Nature Reserve

Kilnhurst Ings is a post-industrial washland on the River Don that we’ve transformed into a fantastic new wetland habitat to be enjoyed by both wildlife and people.

Now the reserve offers a mosaic of habitats including grassland, scrub, hedgerows and mature trees. The drains and ditches support a variety of wildlife including dragonflies such as the black tailed skimmer and brown hawker and birds such as moorhen, reed bunting and reed warbler. The scrapes created as part of a re-wetting scheme now provide excellent habitat for good numbers of over wintering snipe whilst they are often utilised by other species such as teal, shoveler and lapwing in smaller numbers. The reserves scrub, grassland & hedgerows support species such as goldfinch, greenfinch, song thrush, starling and long tailed tit all year round, whilst they are often joined by redwing, fieldfare, linnet and lesser redpoll during the winter. Kestrels often observed hunting on the reserve and nest nearby.

Greater spotted woodpecker, goldcrest, blackcap, wren all found in the wooded areas. Kingfishers often seen along the river Don on the eastern boundary. Butterflies such as small copper, meadow brown, common blue, gatekeeper and ringlet all regularly recorded on the grassland.

Additional sluices control water flow, industrial archaeology features from Kilnhurst Forge have been protected, and annual grazing takes place from April to October.

This is all part of the Living Don, a 25 year strategic partnership programme (since 2009), managing the River Don catchment in South Yorkshire, creating a green network from the Peak District to the Lower Don Valley, taking in the floodplains of Sheffield and Rotherham, and reducing the risk of flooding in the urban centres by encouraging wetland habitats. Email us for more information.

Volunteering at Kilnhurst Ings

Find out more about volunteering with Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust.

Thank You

Together with our members and volunteers we take care of 15 nature reserves, including Kilnhurst Ings, spanning almost 600 hectares, across Sheffield and Rotherham. These are places where you can enjoy nature and where our conservation work helps the wildlife you love to thrive.

Your donations make it possible for us to care for Kilnhurst Ings nature reserve. Thank you!