Fairburn Ings Nature Reserve is a protected area in West Yorkshire, England, noted for its avian biodiversity.
The area has been the scene of industrial and mining operations for 150 years,[5] and, although the valley floods naturally, the permanent waterbodies are the result of subsidence of former coal-mine workings, up to 600 metres (2,000 ft) underground, providing habitats for wildfowl and many other birds.
One third of the site has been developed from 26 million cubic metres[5] of colliery spoil which have been landscaped to create a large complex of herb rich grassland, wetlands and woodland.
Habitats at Fairburn Ings include flood meadows, wet fenland, marsh and reed bed, woodland and scrub.
Listed in terms of the United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan, the reserve contains: Birds of conservation concern of these habitats include: the black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigrocollis), garganey (Anas querquedula), Common redshank (Tringa totanus), whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) and European golden plover (Pluvialis apricalia).