Next Thursday (August 15th) the club are off out again, this time to Tittesworth Reservoir. The address is as follows:
Tittesworth Water, Meerbrook, Nr Leek Staffordshire ST13 8SW.
Tittesworth Reservoir is a water storage reservoir near Leek, Staffordshire, England, fed by the River Churnet. The reservoir and associated water treatment works are owned and operated by Severn Trent Water. The reservoir was created in 1963 when an earth embankment dam was built across the River Churnet valley. Tittesworth is the second largest reservoir by volume in the county of Staffordshire.
Tittesworth Water pumps on average 28 million litres of water a day and has the capacity to provide up to 45 million litres a day. This water is then distributed to households and businesses in parts of Stoke on Trent, Leek and the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Just so you know, the visitor center will be closed by the time we meet at the car park at 18.45. The wildlife has promised to hang around though! Lapwing, snipe and curlew are regular visitors to the fields around Tittesworth and when water levels fall in the Summer the exposed mud attracts birds such as oystercatchers, plovers and herons. There are two hides available to use.
There are walks to take if you choose although the longer ones (4.5 miles) may mean you getting back in pitch darkness so I wouldn’t recommend those. There is a 1.5 mile walk which should be fine and is classed as a ‘gentle stroll.’ You don’t have to walk too far as you park right by the water’s edge. The playground should be open too although I think the zip wire is only for kids unfortunately. There is a sandpit and one site recommends you bring along your bucket and spade….which would make for some interesting photographs! Don’t get sand in your camera though.
Parking costs £2.50 for two hours so bring some cash along.
More details can be found here:
- http://www.stwater.co.uk/leisure-and-learning/reservoir-locations/tittesworth-water/*/tab/overview/
- http://www.peakdistrictinformation.com/visits/tittesworth.php
- http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/staffordshire/tittesworth/
- http://www.staffsmoorlands.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/pages/Tiottesworth%20Visitor%20Guide_0.pdf
