Woodhouse Washlands
The name Washlands refers to its origins as seasonally flooded grazing land. Some of this character still remains despite flood prevention measures carried out in the 1950s. The river was deepened and straightened with much of the land drained and re-seeded to improve it for grazing. The reserve has also undergone small-scale coal mining and the river once supplied water for local mills. In spite of all this human activity, the reserve has much wildlife interest, is being greatly improved and has tremendous potential.
Fool’s watercress and celery-leaved buttercup reflect the site’s traditional use as wet pasture. In the old grassland, you can find pignut, marsh stitchwort, great burnet and knapweed. Scrub areas along boundaries, together with willow, alder and scattered hawthorns, provide tree cover.
A large marsh area retains water throughout the year and several ponds, ditches and the cut-off meander of the old river course provide other habitats.
The Washlands are important for breeding birds such as snipe, lapwing, skylark and reed bunting. It is one of the sites along the regionally important bird migration route of the Rother Valley. Mammals include fox, stoat, the increasingly scarce water vole and harvest mouse. There are many amphibians too, including smooth newt and the endangered great crested newt. Dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies can be seen during summer.
The reserve, part of the River Rother Flood Defence Scheme, is owned by the Environment Agency and leased to the Trust.
Reserve Management
- Management involves light grazing all year round on part of the reserve.
- The remaining area is lightly grazed from autumn until spring. It is then left to grow for a hay crop.
Facilities
- Parking at Princess Royal public house car park. Reserve car park on Furnace Lane
- Refreshments at Princess Royal public house. Shops nearby
- Limited wheelchair access. Part of the footpath is being upgraded as a section of Trans-Pennine Trail
- Public/ permissive footpaths
Downloads
A PDF of the reserve card giving information and a map of the site can be downloaded by clicking here.
A PDF of the reserve leaflet can be downloaded by clicking here.
Map/ Location details
| Map details: |
O.S. LANDRANGER 111 |
| Grid reference: |
SK 432857 |
| Latitude |
53.36614 |
| Longitude |
-1.35073 |
| View large google map |
Click here to view |
Opening times
Open everyday, all year round.
Directions
The reserve lies approximately five miles from the centres of both Sheffield and Rotherham. The boundary between the two cities runs along the river. Easily accessible by car and public transport, the site is only two-and-a-half miles from Junction 31 on the M1.
From Junction 31 take the A57 Sheffield road. At the second roundabout take the Woodhouse Mill road to the next roundabout. Turn left onto Retford Road. The Princess Royal public house car park is 300 yards further on, on the left. From the car park turn right and walk 50 yards up the road to the public footpath, between the factories, to the reserve. Alternatively, continue along Retford Road and turn left at the lights onto Furnace Lane, to the other car park and entrance.
Please note that due to the sensitive nature of the site no dogs are permitted access to the reserveReserve closed when flood defence system in operation
