New Stubbin

Situated to the west of Rawmarsh this site was the home of Stubbin Colliery until it closed about 20 years ago. After the mine closed, the buildings were demolished, the railway was ripped up and Wentworth Estates seeded the resulting derelict area and planted a number of trees to prevent slippage. Over the last 10 years several attempts have been made to commence opencast mining on the site, but local opposition has resulted in the plans been turned down. The site is now heavily used by bikers, horseriders, and walkers. Despite a problem from a small number of individuals with air rifles New Stubbin has now become an excellent area for wildlife of many different types.

During the last 5 years, over 100 species of birds including some notable breeding species such as Lapwing, Skylark, Grey Partridge, Yellowhammer and Meadow Pipit have been recorded along with a number of scarce passage visitors. Over 100 species of wildflowers now grow on site, including Common Spotted Orchid, Pyrimidal Orchid, Bee Orchid and in 2009 our first record of Southern Marsh Orchid . At least 23 species of butterfly, including populations of the scarce Dingy Skipper and Brown Argus, have been recorded on site, also a small population of the rare macro-moth Blackneck along with a host of other insects, mammals and amphibians. Closer observation will no doubt continue to increase the number and diversity of the species seen.

Over the last 20 years the site has developed to create a number of habitats. These include areas of grassland, marsh, small pockets of woodland and scrub hedgerows, open fields and small areas of reedbed. The diversity of this habitat has helped to make New Stubbin a haven for wildlife which deserves to be given Nature Reserve status.

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Birds

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Butterflies

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Moths

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Wild Flowers

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Diptera

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Miscellaneous