Fairburn Ings

Address: RSPB Fairburn Ings, RSPB Fairburn Ings Visitor Centre, Newton Ln, Castleford WF10 2BH

Grid ref: SE451277

What3Words: cliff.master.landed

Nestled between Leeds, York and Wakefield, Fairburn Ings is an exciting site for family activities and serious wildlife watching. Over the last 60 years it has transitioned from coal face to wild place; an ex-industrial site rich in heritage and an important site for breeding and wintering wildfowl.

Plan your visit

Nature reserve: open daily, dawn-dusk.
Car park: open daily
6am-8pm, 1 March-31 October.
6am-6pm, 1 November-28 February.
Visitor Centre: open daily
10am-5pm, 1 March-31 October.
10am-4pm, 1 November-28 February.
Shop: open daily
10am-5pm, 1 March-31 October.
10am-4pm, 1 November-28 February.
Refreshments: available daily
10am-5pm, 1 March-31 October.
10am-4pm, 1 November-28 February.
Toilets: open daily
10am-5pm, 1 March-31 October.
10am-4pm, 1 November-28 February.

Festive opening times

Christmas Eve: nature reserve open, dawn-dusk; car park open, 6am-6pm. Visitor centre, shop, refreshments and toilets open, 10am-3pm.
Christmas Day: nature reserve open, dawn-dusk; car park open, 6am-6pm. Visitor centre, shop, refreshments and toilets closed.
Boxing Day: nature reserve open dawn-dusk; car park open 6am-6pm. Visitor centre, shop, refreshments and toilets closed.
New Year’s Eve: nature reserve open dawn-dusk; car park open 6am-6pm. Visitor centre, shop, refreshments and toilets open, 10am-4pm.
New Year’s Day: nature reserve open dawn-dusk; car park open 6am-6pm. Visitor centre, shop, refreshments and toilets open, 10am-4pm.
All other days in the festive period are open our usual winter opening hours as above.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free but donations to support the work of the RSPB are welcome.

Children: Free but donations to support the work of the RSPB are welcome.

Car park cost

There are no entry fees to the nature reserve, but the following parking charges apply:

RSPB members: FREE
(please display your membership card face down in your windscreen)
Non-members: £4 per vehicle
Blue badge holders: FREE
(please display your badge in your windscreen)

Other discounts

Joint entry for both Fairburn Ings and St Aidan’s is £5 per car for non-members.

Facilities

Visitor centre
Car park
Toilets
Accessible toilets
Baby changing
Refreshments
Picnic area
Binocular hire
Guided walks
Viewing point
Nature trails
Shop
Educational facilities
Play area

Accessibility

Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

The closest train station is Castleford, 3 miles away.

By bus

Buses run - infrequently - to Fairburn and Ledston villages.

By road

From the A1(M) leave at J42, take the A63 towards Leeds, follow signs for Fairburn on the A1246. From the M1 come off at J47. Take the A656 south towards Castleford, after 4 miles turn left onto Newton Lane, the visitor centre is 2 miles along the road on the right.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Get directions from Google Maps

View on What3Words

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Dogs are welcome on the public footpaths and bridleways around the reserve. Please keep to the designated rights of way only.

Please keep your dog on a lead and under close, effective control at all times, due to the sensitive wildlife, habitats and livestock here.

We know that the countryside is a dog walking paradise. It’s important to remember the special surroundings here are wonderful havens for rare wildlife. Even if dogs are very well behaved, wildlife and livestock can easily become startled by a loose dog they perceive as a predator.

Disturbing wildlife does more than simply causing it to move away; it uses up their energy, decreasing their chance of survival regardless of season.

Thank you for protecting the special wildlife here by keeping your dog on a lead and under close, effective control.

Dog water bowls and are available at the visitor centre.
Sorry, dogs aren’t permitted in the visitor centre and shop other than assistance dogs.
Dogs die in hot cars, please do not leave your dog in the car when visiting us.

Bringing a flock? We welcome group bookings.

Please notify us of your visit in advance.

If you are a nature tour leader, we would love to work with you to make the most of your trip for your guests.

For all group visits, please contact us on 01977 628191 or by emailing fairburnings@rspb.org.uk so we can arrange your visit to your specific requirements.

For full details on our exciting programme of curriculum-linked outdoor education sessions, visit our school trips information.

Bring your class to Fairburn Ings for a wild learning experience!

Look for a flash of blue at our Kingfisher screen, search our meadows for minibeasts, and find out what lurks beneath our ponds. Our purpose-built classroom and outdoor education spaces provide an up-close experience to explore topics such as habitats, food chains and adaptations in real life.

We have a number of programmes to choose from for a half or full day visit for Early Years and Primary Schools.
We also welcome bookings from uniformed and youth groups and can tailor your visit to suit your needs.
For further questions, or to book phone 01767 693813 email schoolbookings@rspb.org.uk.

Also, check out our fantastic range of resources for teachers, or take on the Schools’ Wild Challenge.

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 204Kb

Fairburn Ings trail guide

Contact Fairburn Ings

RSPB Fairburn Ings, RSPB Fairburn Ings Visitor Centre, Newton Ln, Castleford WF10 2BH
fairburnings@rspb.org.uk
01977 628191
@RSPBAireValley
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Bittern

Listen for the booming of the bittern on the Coal Tips trail in early Spring and watch for feeding flights in May and June. These secretive birds are a conservation success and thanks to years of hard work we now have them breeding in our reedbeds.

Willow tit

These charismatic little birds are declining quickly in the UK but at Fairburn our habitat work supports a stable population. Watch for them on the feeders around the visitor centre, you'll have to be quick as they dart in and out of the bushes for each mouthful.

Kingfisher

Kingfishers are a year round attraction at Fairburn. Listen for the 'peep peep' and a flash of blue from Charlie's hide, or get comfy by the kingfisher screen to see them fishing by the sluice.

Tree sparrow

Loud and gregarious, our tree sparrow colony nest in boxes on and around the visitor centre. In spring and summer the live images from inside their boxes are streamed on the centre televisions.

Grey heron

Herons stalk the water edges across the reserve all year round. In spring stand on the Coal Tips trail and look across to The Moat heronry to see these prehistoric looking birds nesting and raising their huge young.

In spring, the reserve fills with birdsong as pairs establish territories and prepare to breed, stroll the trails and listen for the distinctive song of the chiffchaff. Watch for a flash of blue behind the kingfisher screen and in front of Charlie’s hide.

In summer the wet woodland of the Discovery trail fills with bright dragonflies. Young herons and little egrets will have fledged from The Moat and will be stalking the water edges looking for a fishy meal.

During autumn, watch for green sandpiper and black-tailed godwits among the thousands of waders passing back down. Large numbers of fieldfares and redwings gorge themselves on berries in preparation for winter.

In the winter, goldeneye, smew and goosander can be seen displaying, while large flocks of wigeon graze on the wet grassland. Charms of goldfinch and groups of redpoll chatter in the alder trees of the Discovery trail.

About Fairburn Ings

Habitat

This landscape, shaped by coal mining, is now a haven for wildlife. Land which collapsed because of subsidence is now open water, reedbeds, wet grasslands and wet woodlands. Former coal spoil tips have been transformed into grasslands, deciduous woodlands and lagoons teeming with life.

In recent years the reserve has become home to some of the UK’s rarest birds, including bittern, bearded tit, Cetti’s warbler, little egret and spoonbill.

Conservation

Our team carefully manage the wide variety of habitats.

The wet grasslands are home to breeding waders such as redshank, snipe and curlews and visited by wintering waterfowl such as the brilliantly named gadwall.

The grassland is managed by bringing in cattle to graze and ensuring the water levels are kept at the perfect depth. Our plan is to create more of this habitat by cropping it for hay and cutting back scrub.

Our fresh water is where you will find breeding wildfowl, water voles and a wide variety of other wildlife. We look after it in several ways, such as cutting back willow trees to increase the number of other plants around the open water. We make sure our rafts and islands are in peak condition for water birds, such as breeding common terns. We are also expanding the reedbeds for the benefit of reed buntings and bitterns, as well as harvest mice and minibeasts.

The coal tip area of the site is managed with our partners. We mow and bring in cattle to graze the dry grasslands to help skylarks, grey partridges and lapwings. The shingle around the lagoons is being improved for little ringed plovers, ringed plovers and linnets. The area of farmland is being enhanced and improved for birds such as linnets and tree sparrows.

Partners

Supported by WREN and Veolia Environmental Trust.

Site information

Winding trails take you on an adventure through woodlands, wetlands and grasslands to seek out our wildlife stars. There’s plenty for the kids to do too, with a play area for them to let off some steam and numerous activities such as feeding the ducks or pond dipping.

Latest forum posts

read our forum

Latest blog posts

read our blog

What people are saying about Fairburn Ings

What a lovely place! Today was my third visit to Fairburn Ings and I will continue to go back. It is relaxing, peaceful and a place for people of all ages. Thank you to the volunteers who were in the visitor centre. They were very informative and answered all my questions enthusiastically! A wonderful place to enjoy nature at its best!

Abbie Fairfield

This reserve is brilliant. Beautiful goldfinches on the feeding station and a great spotted woodpecker kept poking it's head in. Not to mention the very friendly staff who, despite the blistering cold snow and rain, went out with us to help us see a long-eared owl. I definitely recommend it to everyone who wants to see wonderful wildlife up close.

Stephen Chambers

Being local I have visited many times over the last 40 years. I feel the visitor centre is a great asset and should have been built many years ago. I actually worked in one of the mines that created the ings. It is a fantastic oasis in the middle of industrial Yorkshire.

Ian Jones

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

The fully accessible 500m Discovery Trail makes it a popular place for families looking to take a relaxed walk together and spot nature in a beautiful landscape - but there are lots of other activities on offer, too! Spot minibeasts in our Bug Village, explore the play area with den building and climbing wall, or keep an eye out for our resident birds and mammals. Our friendly staff and volunteers can advise on the latest sightings around the reserve!

We offer a wide variety of events and activities for all ages - for more information on events and to book tickets, please visit events.rspb.org.uk/fairburnings

Fairburn Ings