Ardingly Reservoir
| Ardingly Reservoir | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | West Sussex |
| Coordinates | 51°2′50″N 0°6′10″W / 51.04722°N 0.10278°WCoordinates: 51°2′50″N 0°6′10″W / 51.04722°N 0.10278°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Water volume | 5,206 million litres (1.375×109 US gal)[1] |
Ardingly Reservoir is a 198-acre (0.80 km2) reservoir that feeds the River Ouse located in West Sussex, England 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Haywards Heath. The villages of Ardingly and Balcombe are immediately to the east and north of the reservoir respectively. The reservoir was created in 1978 by damming Shell Brook, a tributary of the River Ouse which flows into the Ouse about 500m south of the Reservoir.
The reservoir is filled with water pumped from the River Ouse when river flows are high. The water is stored in the reservoir before being treated and distributed to consumers.
The Ardingly Activity Centre provides watersports for the public including wind surfing, canoeing, powerboating and dinghy sailing.
The reservoir is a popular fishing venue offering 3 miles (4.8 km) of freshwater fishing for carp, tench, pike, roach, rudd, eel, gudgeon, European perch and bream.
The west bank of the reservoir is private property of the Balcombe Estate but the north, south and east shores offer public rights of way and bridleways. Ornithologists are catered for with two bird hides situated on the east bank.
The site is a local Nature Reserve.[2][3]
References
- ↑ South East Water, Ardingly
- ↑ "Ardingly Reservoir". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England.
- ↑ "Map of Ardingly Reservoir". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England.