Fairburn Ings is situated in the Lower Aire Valley, approximately 3 miles north east of Castleford in West Yorkshire. The river Aire flows along the southern edge of the reserve. The site has been established by the RSPB in 1968 on what was the remnants of coal mining in the area, which had been a major source of employment for over 150 years. The reserve now covers an area in excess of 286 hectres and includes several large areas of water. Considerable work has been carried out on the reserve since its opening including managing and providing ideal habitats for wildfowl and many other birds. Today there are a series of paths around the reserve and five hides all overlooking the water at strategic places around the reserve. There is an excellent visitors centre which provides good views across the reserve as well as providing a useful resource for visiting school groups etc.  The staff at the centre are extremely helpful and knowledgeable and can be found around the reserve as well as in the centre. The RSPB also arrange specific viewing days where you are accompanied by the experienced rangers to look at a specific aspect of the reserve, be it viewing Wild Orchids or watching the Grey Heron Nesting sites, there is always something going on there and for the bird watcher it is a little gem of a site and well worth a visit.