Friends of Cardiff Reservoirs volunteers help bring Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs back to their former glory ahead of the site’s opening this summer

Welsh Water opens its latest visitor attraction – Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs – this summer and, during National Volunteers’ Week, celebrates the enormous contribution that volunteers have made to getting the site ready to open to the public.

Built in the late-19th Century, Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs is a Victorian Landmark covering 110 acres, and a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for overwintering birds and waxcap fungi. Despite its rich history and ecology, the site came under threat in 2001 and members of the local community came together to form the Reservoir Action Group (RAG), successfully campaigning to save the reservoirs from development.

Welsh Water took over Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs in 2016 – becoming guardians of its ecology and heritage – embarking on a journey to restore them to their former glory and create a hub for recreation, health, and wellbeing where people can reconnect with water and nature.

A vital part of this restoration work has seen Welsh Water working in collaboration to deliver conservation management activities to protect and enhance the unique ecology of the site, which will enable public access whilst creating conservation zones to protect the site’s wildlife and ecology.

Keen to work closely with the local community in understanding the true ecological value of the site, Welsh Water supported the set up of Friends of Cardiff Reservoirs (FoCR), with members of the original campaign action group. Many members of the FoCR have been instrumental accompanying ecologists on surveys to learn more of the site’s unique ecology and sharing their environmental knowledge.

While the site’s visitor centre has been under construction and footpaths have been installed around the reservoirs, volunteers from FoCR have supported rangers with woodland management, preparing the site to welcome visitors.

The activity volunteers have been undertaking includes: creating woodland pathways for the education area in the woods, cutting stems and branches cleared for coppicing, carrying out monthly Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) counts of non-breeding waterbirds, raking ivy from woodland to help other species thrive, grading stones in preparation for dry stone walls, building and finishing dry stone walls alongside the Dry Stone Wall Association and building a wood roundhouse which will become a hub for education.

Peter Fullerton, Deputy Chair of FoCR said: “When I retired a couple of years ago, I was excited by the opportunities offered by the soon to be reopened reservoirs on my doorstep. I volunteered to be on the FoCR committee and was rather surprised to be elected as Deputy Chair. Welsh Water and the Reservoir Action Group got us going and the water authority are working closely with the committee to offer a range of woodland management and other activities.

“We’ve now got over 200 members and a good group of regular volunteers. It’s been great to work with a friendly team on the committee and get my hands dirty with other volunteers on some of the woodland management and dry-stone wall building opportunities. I’m really looking forward to the reservoirs and new visitor centre opening to the public, presenting a wider range of things for me and all the other volunteers to get involved with.”

Michelle Impanni, Volunteering Manager at Welsh Water said: “We are extremely grateful for the support of our dedicated team of volunteers who come to help us each week at Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs, come rain or shine. When the site opens this summer, the results of their hard work will be enjoyed by visitors of all generations from Cardiff and beyond. We are proud to mark the 39th year of Volunteers’ Week, recognising and celebrating the efforts of volunteers across the UK and highlighting their contribution to our local communities.”

Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs open to the public in summer 2023 (exact date TBC). The site’s brand-new visitor centre is near completion, which will feature a café with panoramic views across both reservoirs and a range of water sport activities.

Friends of Cardiff reservoirs are always looking for new members. Further information can be found at https://www.friendsofcardiffreservoirs.org/membership/

Are you a group or organisation that would be interested in volunteering at Dwr Cymru’s tourist and attraction sites? There are group opportunities, working on meaningful projects amidst beautiful landscapes. For further details please contact volunteer@dwrcymru.com