Rabbit Ings is the former colliery yard and spoil heap of the Monkton Colliery and then the Royston Drift Mine which closed in 1989.

The 66 hectare site is situated near Royston in South Yorkshire and is largely owned by Wakefield Council.  The new Country Park was officially opened in April 2011. 

The reclamation of the site has been supported through the Government's National Coalfield Programme being implemented by the Homes and Communities Agency in partnership with Wakefield Council and Yorkshire Forward.  It has been reclaimed to provide public open space with landscaping to create a new Country Park.

The site suffered environmental degradation with large areas of bare shale.  The slopes of the 40m high tip were very steep in places and were potentially dangerous.  The reclamation scheme involved earth moving to lessen the slopes and make it possible for new vegetation to become established.  Over 130,000 tonnes of soil making material have been used on site to create new areas of woodland, heathland and grassland habitats.

New footpaths and cycle tracks have been created and there are areas of extensive tree and shrub planting.  There will also be a new area prepared for sports pitches.  The pitches have been laid but need time to become established so they are fenced off at the moment.  Barnsley Council and the Royston and Carlton Community Partnership will manage the sports changing facility and community room on the Lund Hill Lane entrance to the site. 

The site is currently managed by Wakefield Council and the Groundwork Trust.  A ranger can be contacted on the mobile phone number - 07894 622773 

In October 2008, Cabinet agreed that three former coalfield sites (Frickley, Fryston and Rabbit Ings) should be transferred to the Land Trust, a charity which manages green open spaces on behalf of and with local communities. The transfer will ensure that the site will remain as a public space in the long term. The Trust ensure that green spaces deliver substantial community benefits - improving health, creating social cohesion, uplifting the economy providing educational resources and creating environmental improvements

The Council is finalising discussions for the transfer of the sites and site notices were posted in January to this effect.  The site notices relate to the legal requirement to advertise the proposed disposal of public open space and allow the public to make any objections.

 Last update: 24 January 2012