Pitsford Water
Encyclopedia
Pitsford Water is a reservoir in Northamptonshire
, England
. The reservoir was built in 1956 to supply the town of Northampton
, which is about 6 miles to the south. The water is the third-largest in the United Kingdom
, with a surface area of 2.85 square miles. Operated by Anglian Water
, the reservoir is near the village of Pitsford
, from which it is named. It is also close to Brixworth
village and Brixworth Country Park
. The northern half of the reservoir is designated as a nature reserve, but Pitsford Water is also used for sailing
, birdwatching
and fishing
.
Pitsford was granted funding from the Millennium Commission
, which enabled the creation of Brixworth Country Park
, including a cycle hire/shop, a restaurant, many activities and play areas for children. This has brought many people to the reservoir enjoying walking and cycling alike. There is a 7 miles (11.3 km) waterside track for walking or cycling around the main section of the reservoir, including a pathway along its dam.
(SSSI) in 1970. It is designated for general flora and fauna. Birdlife includes wintering Northern Shoveler
and breeding Great Crested Grebe
, Little Grebe
, Teal
, Kingfisher and Reed Warbler. There is also a colony of the uncommon Essex Skipper
butterfly.
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, 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...
. The reservoir was built in 1956 to supply the town of Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, which is about 6 miles to the south. The water is the third-largest in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, with a surface area of 2.85 square miles. Operated by Anglian Water
Anglian Water
Anglian Water is a privatised water company that operates in the East of England. Named for East Anglia, apart from Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire it also covers Lincolnshire, Essex, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, a small part of north Nottinghamshire and Greater London...
, the reservoir is near the village of Pitsford
Pitsford
Pitsford is a village and civil parish in the Daventry district of the non-metropolitan county of Northamptonshire in the United Kingdom. At the time of the 2001 census, the parish's population was 636 people...
, from which it is named. It is also close to Brixworth
Brixworth
Brixworth is a village and civil parish in the Daventry district of Northamptonshire, England. The 2001 census recorded a parish population of 5,162. The village is particularly notable for All Saints' Church, Brixworth, its historic Anglo-Saxon church....
village and Brixworth Country Park
Brixworth Country Park
Brixworth Country Park lies next to Pitsford Water in Northamptonshire.Opened in 1997 it includes cycle hire, cafeteria and WCs. The site has easy access to the footpath/cyclepath that circumnavigates the water, as well as bird-watching facilities and picnic areas...
. The northern half of the reservoir is designated as a nature reserve, but Pitsford Water is also used for 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...
, birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
.
Pitsford was granted funding from the Millennium Commission
Millennium Commission
The Millennium Commission in the United Kingdom was set up to aid communities at the end of the 2nd millennium and the start of the 3rd millennium. It used funding raised through the UK National Lottery....
, which enabled the creation of Brixworth Country Park
Brixworth Country Park
Brixworth Country Park lies next to Pitsford Water in Northamptonshire.Opened in 1997 it includes cycle hire, cafeteria and WCs. The site has easy access to the footpath/cyclepath that circumnavigates the water, as well as bird-watching facilities and picnic areas...
, including a cycle hire/shop, a restaurant, many activities and play areas for children. This has brought many people to the reservoir enjoying walking and cycling alike. There is a 7 miles (11.3 km) waterside track for walking or cycling around the main section of the reservoir, including a pathway along its dam.
SSSI status
Pitsford Water was made a Site of Special Scientific InterestSite of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
(SSSI) in 1970. It is designated for general flora and fauna. Birdlife includes wintering Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler
The Northern Shoveler , Northern Shoveller in British English, sometimes known simply as the Shoveler, is a common and widespread duck. It breeds in northern areas of Europe and Asia and across most of North America, and is a rare vagrant to Australia...
and breeding Great Crested Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
The Great Crested Grebe is a member of the grebe family of water birds.- Description :The Great Crested Grebe is long with a wingspan. It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its fish prey underwater. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations...
, Little Grebe
Little Grebe
The Little Grebe , also known as Dabchick, member of the grebe family of water birds. At 23 to 29 cm in length it is the smallest European member of its family. It is commonly found in open bodies of water across most of its range.-Description:The Little Grebe is a small water bird with a pointed...
, 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...
, Kingfisher and Reed Warbler. There is also a colony of the uncommon Essex Skipper
Essex Skipper
The Essex Skipper is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. In North America, it is known as the European Skipper....
butterfly.