Hallington Reservoirs
| Hallington Reservoirs | |
|---|---|
| Location |
Northumberland, England grid reference NY969763 |
| Coordinates | 55°04′52″N 2°03′00″W / 55.081°N 2.050°WCoordinates: 55°04′52″N 2°03′00″W / 55.081°N 2.050°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
Hallington Reservoirs are located near the small village of Colwell, Northumberland, England on the B6342 road off the A68 road, and 7 miles (11 km) north of Corbridge. Hallington is actually two small reservoirs: Hallington Reservoir West and Hallington Reservoir East, which are separated by a dam.[1]
History
The reservoir was built at the end of the 19th century for the Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company. The reservoir forms part of a series of reservoirs along the A68 which are connected by tunnels and aqueducts from Catcleugh Reservoir to Whittle Dene;[1] from where drinking water is supplied to Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, and some surrounding areas. The reservoirs that form the chain are, from northwest to southeast: Catcleugh Reservoir → Colt Crag Reservoir → Little Swinburne Reservoir → Hallington Reservoirs → Whittle Dene.
Flora and fauna
The woodland on the northwestern corner of Hallington Reservoir East is mostly Scots pine and larch with beech, willow, and sycamore whilst marginal plants include the very rare and scarce small-fruited yellow sedge which occurs near the dam between both two reservoirs.[1]
The reservoirs form an important wintering area for wildfowl, including wigeon, teal, and mallard whilst autumn waders include dunlin, black-headed, and common gulls.[1]
There are sightings of red squirrel here as well as otters, badgers, and bats and recent surveys have also identified a healthy population of native white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes within the aqueduct that flows into the reservoirs.[1]
Fishing
Hallington is fished by many anglers.