£80,000 project opens up reservoir paths to walkers and horse riders

Paths around Ingbirchworth and Scout Dike reservoirs, near Barnsley, have been overhauled with some now easier to use for people with mobility problems and in wheelchairs.

Ingbirchworth and Scout Dike reservoirs are located next to each other and Yorkshire Water has carried out several projects to make the sites more attractive to wildlife.

In 2008 a fish pass was installed to allow fish to swim upstream between the two reservoirs, a move which the company said had helped to boost brown trout populations, and work has been carried out to attract bird life.

Yorkshire Water’s country and recreation manager Alastair Harvey said: “Over the last 10 years we’ve created more than five miles of easy access path at our reservoir sites, opening up stunning areas of land and providing members of the public with the perfect opportunity to take in incredible vistas and get up close to a huge array of wildlife.”

“Both Ingbirchworth and Scout Dike are popular sites but the going was certainly less than easy in certain areas when walking the site, particularly following heavy rain. The new paths mean that more people than ever can enjoy the delights that both sites have to offer, without worrying about getting filthy in the process.”

A walking guide which highlights the sites available to the public and the facilities at each site can be found at the firm’s website www.yorkshirewater.com/yorkshirewalks