Weir Wood Reservoir

Weir Wood Reservoir
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location within East Sussex
Area of Search West & East Sussex
Grid reference TQ395347
Coordinates 51°05′46″N 0°00′25″W / 51.096°N 0.007°W / 51.096; -0.007Coordinates: 51°05′46″N 0°00′25″W / 51.096°N 0.007°W / 51.096; -0.007
Interest Biological
Area 374 acres (1.5 km2)
Notification 1966 (1966)
Natural England website
Weir Wood Reservoir
Location East Sussex
Coordinates 51°5′44″N 0°0′24″W / 51.09556°N 0.00667°W / 51.09556; -0.00667
Type Reservoir
Basin countries United Kingdom
Surface area 280 acres (1.1 km2)
Max. depth 11 m (36 ft)

Weir Wood Reservoir is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) long stretch of water, situated close to Forest Row, East Sussex, England, on the north-western margins of Ashdown Forest. It has a full water capacity of 5,566,000 cubic metres (1.224×109 imp gal), covering a site of 280 acres (1.1 km2). The reservoir was built over the period 1951-54, a process which involved damming the valley of the River Medway. A daily average of 3.08 million imperial gallons (14,000 m3) is extracted.

The reservoir is owned by Southern Water and supplies part of Crawley, and other parts of Mid-Sussex. The western end of the reservoir is a protected nature reserve and bird sanctuary designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.[1] One of the main users of the reservoir is the Weir Wood Sailing Club, which is a RYA recognised training establishment, with sailing all year round. The reservoir is also a popular coarse fishing area, with day and seasonal passes available.

Weir Wood Reservoir lies due south of Greenwich and hence straddles the Prime Meridian. The line passes through Botley Wood which is just to the northwest of the dam at the east end of the reservoir.

Sailing

Weir Wood Sailing Club is a RYA recognised club, with various classes of dinghies sailed to Olympic standard, such as Laser, Laser radial, Laser 4.7, RS 200, 400 and 600, 2000, Enterprise, Fireball and Optimists.[2]

Swimming

Open water swimming events take place at Weir Wood for Triathlon training[3] with swims up to 4000 metres.[4]

Angling

The reservoir is a popular day ticket fishing venue for mixed (course and trout) freshwater containing carp and pike to 34 lb, bronze bream to 14 lb, tench, roach, rudd, eel, perch, brown trout, rainbow trout and gudgeon.[5] As well as being a public day ticket water, rights to fish Wierwood reservoir are shared by East Grinstead A.S,[6] Crowborough and District Anglers Association,[7] Dorset Arms Angling club and Rookery Angling club.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "SSSI Citation—Weir Wood Reservoir" (PDF). Natural England. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
  2. ↑ "Weir Wood Sailing Club". What we sail. WWSC.
  3. ↑ "Open Water Swimming Events". Swimming Events. Mid Sussex Triathlon Club.
  4. ↑ "Weir Wood Reservoir". Swimming Events. Hedgehogtri.
  5. 1 2 "Fishery Review". fishe.net. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  6. ↑ "Fisheries: Weirwood reservoir". East Grinstead Angling Society. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
  7. ↑ "Club waters: Weirwood". Crowborough and District Anglers Association. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
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