Eyebrook Reservoir
Share this
Eyebrook Wild Bird Feeds takes its name from the reservoir at the heart of our farm, which is a haven for birds and wildlife and renowned bird watching reserve.
Eyebrook Reservoir is a beautiful stretch of water straddling the Leicestershire/Rutland border. The reservoir was created by the damming up of the Eye Brook in 1937 – the year after our grandad took the tenancy of Rectory Farm. It was built between 1937 and 1940 by Stewarts & Lloyds to supply water to their Corby steel works, now part of Tata Steel. Although steel production has ceased in Corby water is still used to cool tubing made in the town. We have some fantastic photos of the dam wall under construction, and great stories of farm workers skating over the frozen reservoir in 1947!
During the Second World War it was used in May 1943 as a practice site for the Dambuster raids, standing in for the Möhne Reservoir. A plaque commemorates this and we all enjoy regular fly pasts by a Lancaster to commemorate the raids, most recently in May 2018 for the 75th Anniversary.
The reservoir is a Sight of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and an important site for wintering wildfowl, such as wigeon, teal, mallard and pochard. Other habitats are marsh, mudflats, grassland, broad-leaved woodland and plantations.
There is no public access to the reservoir, which is reserved for a trout fishery, but the footpaths on our farm provide spectacular views of the reservoir and Eye and Welland valley’s. You can also view the bird life at the reservoir from the road around the Northern edge of the water. The northern inflow end is shallow and at low water levels, areas of mud are exposed that attract numerous waders, including Dunlin and Golden Plover. In winter, rare grebes, smew, and winter swans are frequent visitors, and in the summer months the ospreys nesting at Rutland Water will visit to feed. For recent sightings at Eyebrook visit lros.org.uk
