Fairburn Ings

We're working hard to make our nature reserves safe and ready for our staff, visitors and wildlife. Many have now re-opened in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, although some facilities are not yet available. Some reserves remain closed for now. See our COVID-19 updates page for the latest information (link below).

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

Grid ref: SE451277

See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

We’re delighted to have re-opened our trails and Pickup hide, but please be mindful of our limited capacity. Toilets and accessible toilet are open between 9.30 - 4pm. The shop is open between 10am - 4pm, and will also be offering takeaway snacks and drinks.

You’ll notice that we’ve made some changes to help keep you and our staff and volunteers safe. When visiting us please observe current guidance around social distancing and hygiene and follow all on-site signage. See our below for full details. We can’t wait to see you (from a safe distance of course!)

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

February – October 9.30am - 5pm (car park shuts at 8pm).
November - January 9.30am - 4pm (car park shuts at 6pm).
Closed Christmas Day.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free

Children: Free

Car park cost

There are no entrance charges to the reserve, but the following car parking charges apply:

RSPB members: FREE
Non-members: £4 per car
Blue badge holders: FREE

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
Pushchair friendly
Refreshments
Picnic area
Binocular hire
Guided walks
Viewing point
Shop
Educational facilities

Accessibility

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

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Dogs are welcome throughout the site but we ask that they are kept on a lead or under close control to protect wildlife.

With a range of habitats for your pupils to explore and plenty of activities for them to take part in, your class will have an enjoyable and memorable experience which brings them up close with our natural world. We've got a visitor centre with indoor space available for classes, a boardwalk, pond-dipping platforms and much more for you to explore!

To find out more, take a look at the list of the programmes and contact us to make a booking. Each programme is designed to last two hours. Sessions run from 10am - 12pm and 12.30 - 2.30pm. Two programmes can be combined to make a whole day visit. Find out more on our school trip pages.

To book, contact schoolbookings@rspb.org.uk or call 01603 697 504.

14 degrees, Sunny day

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

Shaped by a long history of coal mining, Fairburn Ings protects a mixture of habitats. Wetland areas created by subsidence include open water, wet grassland, reedbed and wet woodland. While other habitats, including dry grassland, deciduous woodland and lagoons, have been restored on the former coal spoil tips.

Our site team carefully manages these habitats to keep Fairburn rich in wildlife. In recent years this hard work has resulted in successful breeding by some of the UK’s rarest and most beautiful wildlife including; bittern, bearded tit, Cetti’s warbler, little egret and spoonbill.

Conservation

Wet grassland on the reserve supports breeding waders such as lapwings, redshanks, snipe and curlews, and is important for breeding and wintering wildfowl - especially gadwalls. We are managing this habitat by grazing it with cattle and maintaining the high water levels. We plan to restore more grassland by cropping for hay and cutting back scrub.

Our freshwater system holds breeding wildfowl, water voles and other wildlife. We are coppicing willows to enhance the fen vegetation around open water areas. We are also maintaining islands and rafts used by water birds, including breeding common terns. We are expanding the reedbed for the benefit of birds such as breeding reed buntings and bitterns, as well as harvest mice and invertebrates.

We are working with our partners to manage the restored coal tip. Measures include mowing and grazing the dry grassland to help breeding skylarks, grey partridges and lapwings; improving the shingle around lagoons for breeding little ringed plovers, ringed plovers and lapwings; and enhancing the farmland areas for passerines such as tree sparrows and linnets. We are also improving water control, introducing fencing, conducting patrols, and monitoring plants and invertebrates.

Partners

Supported by WREN and Veolia Environmental Trust.

Site information

There is something for the whole family at Fairburn Ings, from feeding the ducks to pond dipping. Why not recharge the batteries while the kids let off some steam in the play area? Winding trails pass through woodland, wetland and grassland, offering the opportunity to see a wide variety of wildlife.

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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

Pond dipping season runs April to October and is a fantastic way for families to get hands on with nature. Hire your kit from the centre and head to the ponds to explore the underwater world and the creatures who live there. £2 per kit and free to members. Go out on a mini-beast safari with a wildlife explorer backpack, packed with activity sheets, bug pots and everything you need to find and identify creepy crawlies. Year round, £3 to hire and free to members.

There are other free activities available all year round, including the Discovery trail quiz which changes throughout the year and is a great way to keep big and little kids learning and engaged on the trail. Take on the Wildlife Challenge out in the play area! Meet our giant dragonfly, build your best den and climb the treehouse. The challenge changes with the season and a special certificate is waiting at the end.

Check the blackboard outside to see when volunteer led walks will be leaving. These are informal walks to find out a bit more about Fairburn and the wildlife which lives here.

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