This area, lying within a natural alluvial plain at the confluence of the Dearne and Don rivers was occupied in 1851 by a irregular network of 'ing type' meadow land. When mapped in 1891 - 1938 the land was consistently shown as 'Liable to Flooding' or 'Submerged' indicating that drainage of this land was either abandoned or too difficult during this period. On the 1967 and 1982 mapping the area was comprehensively altered by the tipping of colliery spoil here from the nearby Denaby Main and Cadeby Main Collieries. Since the closure of these industries the area has been reclaimed mostly for use as a nature reserve.