Grimwith Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Grimwith Reservoir is located in the Yorkshire Dales
in North Yorkshire
, England
. It is accessed from the B6265 road 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Hebden and 8 miles (12.9 km) west of Pateley Bridge
. With a surface area of 1.47 square kilometre (0.567570173131027 sq mi) and holding 21772000 cubic metres (4,789,170,474 imp gal) of water it is Yorkshire Water
's largest reservoir
.
The original reservoir was built in 1864 by the Bradford Corporation, the Local Authority for the city of Bradford
, approximately 300 metres (984.3 ft) above sea level in Wharfedale
. Following an agreement made in 1970 the size of the reservoir was increased by seven times and the water level was raised by 20 metres (65.6 ft), with work being completed in 1983.
The reservoir is an important area for birds and is home to wildfowl such as Eurasian Wigeon, Teal
, Greylag geese
and Canada geese
. Other birds that can be seen at various times in the area include Ringed Plover
, Northern Lapwing
, Common Redshank
, Eurasian Curlew
, Reed Bunting
, Lesser Redpoll
, Whinchat
and Sedge Warbler
.
The reservoir is a popular destination for leisure activities such as sailing
, walking
and visitors to Stump Cross Caverns
.
Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales is the name given to an upland area in Northern England.The area lies within the historic county boundaries of Yorkshire, though it spans the ceremonial counties of North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Cumbria...
in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is accessed from the B6265 road 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Hebden and 8 miles (12.9 km) west of Pateley Bridge
Pateley Bridge
Pateley Bridge is a small market town in Nidderdale in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, on the River Nidd.It has the oldest sweet shop in England and is the home of the Nidderdale Museum....
. With a surface area of 1.47 square kilometre (0.567570173131027 sq mi) and holding 21772000 cubic metres (4,789,170,474 imp gal) of water it is Yorkshire Water
Yorkshire Water
Yorkshire Water is a water supply and treatment utility company servicing West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, the East Riding of Yorkshire, part of North Lincolnshire, most of North Yorkshire and part of Derbyshire, in England. The company has its origins in the Yorkshire Water Authority, one of ten...
's largest reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
.
The original reservoir was built in 1864 by the Bradford Corporation, the Local Authority for the city of Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, approximately 300 metres (984.3 ft) above sea level in Wharfedale
Wharfedale
Wharfedale is one of the Yorkshire Dales in England. It is the valley of the River Wharfe. Towns and villages in Wharfedale include Buckden, Kettlewell, Conistone, Grassington, Hebden, Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Otley, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Arthington, Collingham, and Wetherby...
. Following an agreement made in 1970 the size of the reservoir was increased by seven times and the water level was raised by 20 metres (65.6 ft), with work being completed in 1983.
The reservoir is an important area for birds and is home to wildfowl such as Eurasian Wigeon, Teal
Common Teal
The Eurasian Teal or Common Teal is a common and widespread duck which breeds in temperate Eurasia and migrates south in winter. The Eurasian Teal is often called simply the Teal due to being the only one of these small dabbling ducks in much of its range...
, Greylag geese
Greylag Goose
The Greylag Goose , Anser anser, is a bird with a wide range in the Old World. It is the type species of the genus Anser....
and Canada geese
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
. Other birds that can be seen at various times in the area include Ringed Plover
Ringed Plover
The Common Ringed Plover or Ringed Plover is a small plover.Adults are 17-19.5 cm in length with a 35–41 cm wingspan. They have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes...
, Northern Lapwing
Northern Lapwing
The Northern Lapwing , also known as the Peewit, Green Plover or just Lapwing, is a bird in the plover family. It is common through temperate Eurasia....
, Common Redshank
Common Redshank
The Common Redshank or simply Redshank is an Eurasian wader in the large family Scolopacidae.- Description and systematics :...
, Eurasian Curlew
Eurasian Curlew
The Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across temperate Europe and Asia...
, Reed Bunting
Reed Bunting
The Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae....
, Lesser Redpoll
Lesser Redpoll
The Lesser Redpoll is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Carduelis in the finch family, Fringillidae. It is the smallest, brownest and most streaked of the redpolls...
, Whinchat
Whinchat
The Whinchat Saxicola rubetra is a small migratory passerine bird breeding in Europe and western Asia and wintering in Africa.Its scientific name means "small rock-dweller", in reference to its habitat...
and Sedge Warbler
Sedge Warbler
The Sedge Warbler is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It is a medium-sized warbler with a brown, streaked back and wings and a distinct pale supercilium. Sedge Warblers are migratory, crossing the Sahara to get from their European and Asian breeding grounds to spend winter in Africa...
.
The reservoir is a popular destination for leisure activities such as sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
, walking
Walking
Walking is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an 'inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults over the stiff limb or limbs with each step...
and visitors to Stump Cross Caverns
Stump Cross Caverns
Stump Cross Caverns is a limestone cave system between Wharfedale and Nidderdale in North Yorkshire, England.-Geography:The caverns at Stump Cross are located beneath Greenhow hill, 1275 metres above sea level. Their name was taken from Stump Cross, which in ancient times marked the limit of...
.