RSPB Old Moor Pump Replacement Project

RSPB Old Moor is an 89ha wetland nature reserve, in the Dearne valley SSSI, in the heart of South Yorkshire.
It is under pressure from the impacts of climate change. Recently, the frequency and intensity of freshwater flooding has increased due to extreme rainfall, damaging the site’s fragile ecology. During flooding, the site becomes a single lake, submerging the wetland habitats.
The water pump on-site is failing, and can no longer remove water effectively. The RSPB have invested resource in designing a solution. The old pump will be decommissioned and an innovative, gravity fed siphon will be installed. It will be carbon neutral, have zero emissions and will be low maintenance. Installing the siphon is now more urgent than ever, as the Met Office predicts intense rainfall will be five times more likely during forthcoming years.
It’s essential to manage water on-site to protect UK BAP habitats and species.