(c) Norman Hearne
Pike (Esox lucius) in a disused quarry,
England: Leicestershire, Stoney Stanton, Stoney Cove, June - Linda Pitkin/2020VISION
Grey wagtail © Tom Marshall
Dearne Valley Country Park
Location
OS Map Reference
SE 36285 06591 (Car park)View on What3Words
Know before you go
Dogs
Some more remote areas are suitable for running free.
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all times. We recommend half a day to visit this site. Stay longer with a visit to nearby Barnsley Main or Littleworth Park, or go for a walk or bike ride on the Trans-Pennine TrailBest time to visit
Good all year round siteAbout the reserve
Something for everyone
Whether you’re looking for a leisurely stroll, somewhere to entertain the kids or walk the dog, or to spend some down-time enjoying a variety of wildlife, Dearne Valley Country Park offers something for everyone all year round.
It hasn’t always been this way though - the site of the park was once dominated by mining infrastructure; the roads and spoil heaps, canals and bridges that served the coal industry.
Cliffe Wood, inside the park, pre-dates all of that. Gnarly and otherworldly, it’s an ancient woodland of oak and silver birch, filled with bluebells in spring and fungi in autumn, with roaming flocks of siskins and other woodland birds in winter. Keep your eyes peeled for some more unusual varieties of mushrooms as you walk through - amethyst deceivers have been spotted here. As you might expect from the name, they’re violet in colour, like amethyst crystals.
The park’s a great place for a family outing, with picnic benches, a skatepark and play area, as well as space to explore.
Wildlife on – and in – the water
The river Dearne, full of life and with grey wagtails flitting from bank to bank, flows through the park, supplying the large fishing lake that’s the focal point of the reserve. The water attracts ducks aplenty, and kingfishers are a regular sight on the river and on Barnsley Canal at the west end of the park. Upstream of the fishing lake, a wildlife lake emerges from the wet woodland.
There are frogs and toads galore, and you might even see the odd pike basking in the summer. These large fish can grow to more than a metre long!
Contact us
About
Dearne Valley Country Park brings wildlife into the heart of Barnsley. This spectacular 80 hectare park includes the Cliffe Wood, a Local Wildlife Site, canal and riverside habitats, wet-woodland and grassland. The park is well used for dog walking, the Hoyle Mill angling club fish the beautiful main lake and there is even a skatepark and play area.
Scores of wildfowl cruise the river with the ever busy grey wagtails flitting from shore to shore. There are two main lakes in the Park. The largest lake forms the focal point for the park with many visitors taking the pleasant circular route for a dog walk, a family stroll or cycle ride. There are ample picnic benches in the park if you like to eat al fresco!
Upstream of the fishing lake is the “wildlife lake” that emerges from the wet woodland. One of the few stretches of the Barnsley canal, still in water can be found at the west end of the Park. This is also the place to see kingfishers, there are frogs galore and the odd basking pike to be seen in the summer months. We work with Barnsley council to ensure that the grass is cut to leave a mosaic of different length sward heights for invertebrates to forage, feed and breed. We have also been removing historic rubbish from the wildlife rich river.
Yorkshire wildlife Trust manage the park in partnership with Barnsley council for the benefit of local people and wildlife.
Seasonal highlights
- Spring: Plants - Bluebell; Wild Garlic; Birds - Willow tit; Great spotted woodpecker; Amphibian - Frog and toad colony
- Summer: Invertebrates - Brown hawker; Birds - Kingfisher; Grey wagtails; Fish - Pike
- Autumn: Fungi - Scarlet elf cap; Amethyst deceiver; Birds - Teal
- Winter: Birds - Tawny owl; Goldcrest; Treecreeper; Bullfinch
History
The site of the park was once an industrial waste, criss-crossed with mining infrastructure, roads, hardstanding, spoil heaps and the canals and bridges that served the coal industry.
Directions
Public transport
The fantastic Trans-Pennine Trail connects Dearne Valley Country Park into the regional cycling and walking network. Many regular bus services from Barnsley Town Centre stop at the bus stop at the main car park entrance on Pontefract Road. It's a 15 minutes walk from the Barnsley railway station.
By car
From Barnsley Town Centre follow Pontefract Road towards Lundwood. The main car park is on your left a few hundred metres after the Hoyle Mill Inn.
Common toad © Martin Batt
