The
Unofficial WebsiteMaltby Commons
Maltby Commons Local Nature Reserve stretches from Outgang Lane to Dike Hagg.
Access is from Outgang Lane opposite the entrance to the colliery and from Stoney Well Lane off
the Tickhill Road. It is situated on an area of Southern Magnesian Limestone and supports some
plants rare in Rotherham like Grass of Parnassus, Lady's Mantle and Marsh Orchids. Maltby
Commons was declared a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) in 2000 as it supports a wide variety of
wildlife in grassland and ancient woodland areas.
The area consists of common lands at Far Common, Low Common and Pieces Bank. The land is part of Sandbeck Estates but the public have rights of access on foot and there are public footpaths through the site. Low Common Nature Reserve occupies the southwestern corner and was established by agreement between Sandbeck Estates and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in 1971. It contains Maltby Low Common which became a SSSI in 1970. Pieces Bank was included in 1987. The SSSI was designated because Low Common supports a mosaic of grassland communities with a diversity of flora not known elsewhere in South Yorkshire.
The Low Common and Pieces Bank are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). You can find out more at Recreation in Rotherham >> Parks >> SSSIs >> Maltby Low Common & Pieces Bank. The Low Common has been managed by The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust since 1971.