A major conservation effort is underway at Sprotbrough Ings, near Doncaster, as the Don Catchment Rivers Trust (DCRT) reshapes an historic water meadow to restore natural processes and improve conditions for wildlife.
The site, owned by the Environment Agency, contains an ancient channel of the River Don and plays a crucial role during flood events, when water overtops the embankment and relieves pressure downstream.
But as the water recedes, fish and invertebrates often become trapped in an artificial channel with little food or shelter. To tackle this, DCRT and partners have created a large new pond, excavating about 850m³ of soil in challenging seasonal conditions.
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The pond, linked to the artificial channel, is designed as a refuge for fish and birds after floods and wildlife has already moved in; teal were spotted within days, and hundreds of pied wagtails descended on the exposed soil to feed on newly accessible invertebrates.
“Ings is an Old English word meaning water meadow that may have come from Old Norse. This makes sense when you see that it is more commonly used in the north of England – areas where Norse peoples settled historically,” said the trust.
“Ings were places where the river spilt into, depositing rich sediment and then receding. This process created important grazing land that communities used. The foraging behaviour of grazing animals created a varied mosaic of mini-habitats, making the Ings rich in wildlife.
“As we began to modify our rivers, many of these sites became cut-off from the river. Engineering was used to manage water levels and build embankments. This removed natural river processes and dried out the land, changing the way people used it.”
The project is part of the wider All Hands On The Don scheme, which aims to reconnect people and nature with the river’s heritage. Next steps include installing a fish-friendly flap valve to allow safe movement between the pond and the Don, followed by volunteer planting sessions in spring.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund alongside support from Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency and others, the initiative marks the first large-scale community-focused restoration of its kind in Doncaster. DCRT will continue monitoring the site to demonstrate how reviving lower-catchment habitats benefits both wildlife and local communities.
