The herb-rich, unimproved grassland is a mosaic with both acidic and neutral areas with scrub regenerating in places. The acidic grasslands are generally shorter than the neutral areas, which are dominated by taller grasses. Well-maintained, species-rich hedgerows incorporating maturing trees surround the reservoirs and provide shelter. The open water is subject to significant seasonal fluctuations. The ponds are connected by a common overflow spillway with extensive connecting conduits.
History of Firsby Reservoirs
Firsby Reservoirs were developed in late C19th in conjunction with Thrybergh Resevoir (now Thrybergh Country Park ) to supply good quality drinking water to Doncaster. They were surveyed in 1867, a private bill was promoted in Parliament in 1872, construction started in 1874 and they opened in October 1880.
Severe leakages were discovered through both the embankments and the bedrock in 1887, so water was collected upstream of the reservoirs and piped past them.
The opening of the M18 led to increased pollutants and silt being washed downstream, leading to silt deposition and a reduction in water area. The reservoirs were declared redundant in 1974 and the Yorkshire Water Authority sold them to RMBC in September 1980.
For an independent view of bird sightings, visit the:
Sheffield Bird Study Group
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