How to get there

• Click here for Ordnance Survey map
• OS maps: Landranger Sheet 111 , Explorer Sheet 727
• Head east along the A6109 Meadowbank Road from Meadowhall, turn right at the Miner's Arms down Psalters Lane and go over the level crossing, then follow Steel St to the canal then park near the entrance gate.
• Alternatively follow the A6178 past the Magna Centre, turn left at the roundabout onto Bessemer Way, then left onto Centurion Street and park up. Follow the path to the Heron Gates and onto the reserve.
• Public transport: buses run along Meadowbank Rd to the north of the reserve and A6178 Sheffield Rd to the south.

Overview

The area was originally part of the old Blackburn Meadows sewage treatment works where settlement ponds were created (site map). These formed an ideal habitat for waterfowl and waders. Known as Tinsley SF, these were watched for many years. After many attempts it was agreed to create a nature reserve on the eastern third of the area. The reserve was first let to the Sheffield City Council in 1995, and work soon started on creating a mixed wetland habitat of open water, a wader scrape and a pebbled beach.

View Larger Map

A wind pump was installed to pump water from the nearby canal via a Phragmites reedbed. Over time, willow has crept onto the lakesides adding to the already planted Buckthorn, Hawthorne, Hazel, Holly and Field Maple, providing plenty of scrub for feeding and sheltering birds.

The reserve is run by a consortium of Sheffield Environmental Planning and the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, and is managed by the Sheffield Countryside Rangers who do a good job thoughtfully controlling the meadows and ever-increasing willows.

Facilities

Unfortunately the facilities are limited to two dry stone hides, but a good firm path surrounds the reserve with regularly-spaced benches making disabled access possible.

Likely species

The total number of bird species recorded for the area now stands at 179. Black-necked Grebe, Manx Shearwater, Shag, Smew, Scaup, Wood Sandpiper, Mediteranian Gull, Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, Black Tern, Wood Lark, Marsh Warbler, Firecrest, Arctic Redpoll and Lapland Bunting are some of the birds that have been seen in the past.

During the winter months the usual birds for this habitat are regularly seen including Mute Swan, Wigeon, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Teal, Water Rail, Green Sandpiper, Snipe, Kingfisher, Lesser Redpoll and Reed Bunting. Good numbers of thrushes can also be seen. Peregrines are sometimes seen hunting over the reserve, and many gulls are seen flying southwest towards the sewage works; these could include rarer gulls and should be checked.

The summer months are good for warblers. Reed, Sedge, Willow, Garden and Grasshopper Warblers, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff are all breeders. Kingfishers are seen over the lake as well as many hirundines and Swifts over the lakes. When the water levels are down Little Ringed Plover can be seen feeding on the muddy edges.

Other points of interest

Common mammals recorded here include Fox, Stoat, Weasel, Brown Rat, and Field Vole, Rabbit and unfortunately an American Mink have been seen on occasions. Insect life abounds with 28 species of butterfly recorded including Camberwell Beauty, and large numbers of Dragonflies and Damselflies can be seen in summer.  Bats are seen hunting over the hedgerows and over the lake on warm summer evenings.

Regular events are organised by the Sheffield Countryside Rangers; these include willow bashing, fungi walks, and public bird ringing sessions, details of which can be found in the Rangers' events guide.

Click here for recent site records.

Nearby sites

Woolley Wood lies 1 mile to the west, Catcliffe Flash to the south, Thrybergh Country Park to the northeast.