Maltby Common

Maltby Common & Nature Reserve 

Maltby Common  Local Nature Reserve stretches from Outgang Lane to Dike Hagg and was

was designated in 2000. It is in the southeastern corner of Maltby and was established in agreement with the Sandbeck Estates and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust  in 1972.

 

The area contains Maltby Low Common, notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by the Nature Conservancy Council - before Natural England - in 1970 under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act (1949) , the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and revised in 1987 to include Pieces Bank.

Maltby Low Common supports a multitude of grassland 'communities'  with a diversity of flora not known anywhere else in South Yorkshire.  The site is owned by the Sandbeck Estate.

Access is from Outgang Lane in Maltby, opposite the entrance to Maltby Colliery and from Stoney Well Lane off Tickhill Road.

   

Gary Graveling of Maltby describes Maltby Common as a "beautiful haven, despite the motor bikes" He remembers being told by Mr Vaughan, Maltby Manor Headmaster, about rare orchids on the common whose whereabouts were secret due to their rarity. "Vaughny" was ex-RAF and lived in Stainton for many years. He was a big influence during his formative years, along with Mr Shenton, also of Maltby Manor School.

Not sure that I would describe the commons as beautiful, but I suppose they are if you ignore the some of the surroundings (Railway line and White City Estate, Maltby Colliery ) and concentrate on the commons themselves and the woodlands and farm land of Sandbeck.

Unfortunately, rubbish gets dumped and bikers churn up the ground but as we know that happens in more places than Maltby.

Wild garlic, wood anenomes, gorse, daffodils and bluebells are just some of the plants that can be found there.
There are lots of birds, insects and in warmer weather large bees.
If you come across orchids, try not to crush them underfoot. They struggle to survive as it is.