Marvellous marshland

Carlton Marsh is part of a network of important wildlife refuges in the Dearne Valley, now a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), but formerly a major part of the country’s coal mining industry.

Cudworth Dyke, which supplies the marsh, was once one of South Yorkshire’s most polluted water bodies, but the tireless work of volunteers and local partnerships including the Friends of Carlton Marsh and the Dearne Valley Green Heart Partnership has changed all that. The marsh also benefited from significant habitat improvements in 2015, restoring its ecology and hydrology and rejuvenating the reedbed.

The footpath along the old railway line gives excellent views across the wetland and it’s worth bringing binoculars to appreciate the variety of birds. One of the star attractions is the nationally endangered willow tit, which has made a home in the wet-woodland fringe and scrub. In late spring and summer, listen for the distinctive reeling sound of grasshopper warblers in the brambles. You can find lapwings, redshanks and green sandpipers on the open grassland and wader scrape, and if you visit at dusk in the winter you might spot a bittern or barn owl.

Purple patch

Carlton Marsh is brilliant for butterflies. On warm summer days, the delightful little purple hairstreak can be seen flying around the tops of tall oak trees, and might sometimes venture down to seek nectar from brambles and other flowers. Small skipper and small heath are just two of the other species you might find.

There’s plenty for wildflower lovers to enjoy throughout the seasons too, including field scabious, devil’s-bit scabious, weld, yellow archangel and ox-eye daisy.

Yorkshire wildlife Trust manages the park in partnership with Barnsley Council for the benefit of local people and wildlife.

• Spring: Willow Tit, Kingfisher, Cuckoo, Bird's-foot Trefoil
• Summer: Field Scabious, Purple Loosestrife, Purple Hairstreak, Small Heath
• Autumn: Green Sandpiper, Gadwall, Shoveler, Bullfinch
• Winter: Bittern, Buzzard, Fieldfare, Redwing

Carlton Marsh benefitted from major habitat improvements in 2015. It is now incredible to think that Cudworth Dike, that feeds the Marsh, recently had the infamy of being classified as one of the most polluted water bodies in South Yorkshire. A major scheme involving Barnsley Council and the combined Dearne Valley Green Heart Partnership has successfully restored the ecology and hydrology. The dry reedbed was rejuvenated by excavating channels and pools making it a magnet for wildfowl and the occasional bittern and little egret.

Public transport
Buses from Barnsley Interchange to Royston or the Barnsley to Wakefield route. The bus stops at the top of Shaw lane and the nature reserve is a  ½ mile walk away on the right hand side.

By car
From Barnsley town centre, follow the A628 Pontefract Road towards Cudworth. At Cudworth take the third exit, the Cudworth bypass. Follow this for one mile and at the next roundabout take the first exit, Wheatshaw lane. Carlton Marsh is ³⁄4 mile down on the left.