Old Moor

We have talked for some time about going over to South Yorkshire, to the town where J grew up (and where we married and then visited frequently) to see how it has changed. And today was the day.

The changes are astonishing, and none more so than here. This scene of tranquil wetlands and reedbeds in the Dearne Valley was once part of the largest area of industrial dereliction in Western Europe, It had once been part of the Wath Manvers colliery and coking plant, and associated goods marshalling yards, as well as farmland, but following the miners strike and general decline it all closed and a huge area fell into decay, Full marks to Barnsley council for having the courage and foresight to transform the site, which from 2003 has been taken on by the RSPB as it’s Dearne Valley Old Moor reserve. Avocets and Bittern (and lots of other species) now breed here. It’s an upbeat kind of place now.