Nature reserves

Workington is blessed with two of the regions best wildlife sites; Harrington Reservoir (map) and Siddick Ponds (map). A further site, Maryport Coastal Grasslands (map) is in the process of becoming an official nature reserve.

The Nature Reserve project in Allerdale is funded by English Nature's Wildspace! Programme. Since 2003, a dedicated Nature Reserve Officer began to manage each site for the benefit of wildlife and importantly, the local community. The Nature Reserve Officer works closely with a committed group of volunteers and members of the local community, in particular, The Friends of Siddick Ponds and Friends of Harrington Reservoir. These groups have been invaluable in helping with conservation tasks, fund raising and promoting each reserve.

What are 'Local Nature Reserves'? The facts:

• Local Nature Reserves (LNR's) are for people and wildlife.
• There are over 1,100 LNR's across the UK
• The biggest is in the North Yorkshire Moors at over 1000 hectares
• The smallest is 'Nore Hill Pinnacle' in Surrey at a mere 0.01 hectares
• There are two LNR's in South Allerdale; Harrington Reservoir and Siddick Ponds

LNR Objectives in South Allerdale

• To deliver a work programme based on priorities identified in the site management plans
• To develop and deliver a programme of environmental education, activity days, events and guided walks
• To promote the formation of 'Friends of...' groups
• To play a key role in progressing the designation of additional Local Nature Reserves

Harrington Reservoir LNR (Moor Close Road, Salterbeck, Workington)

Wildlife and history

Located in between Harrington and Salterbeck, Harrington Reservoir LNR consists of a mosaic of high quality habitats. The reserve sits in the narrow Ellerbeck valley and consequently many habitats have a strong association with 'wetlands'. The reserve has direct links with Harrington's industrial heritage as the reservoir was actually constructed to supply water for nearby iron works. In more recent times, 'The Rezzer' was used as a boating lake before being left to nature.

If you begin at the West Cumbria Cycleway and follow the Ellerbeck downstream, you will pass though tall herb communities, mixed scrub, woodland, meadow, Reedbed, willow Carr before finally coming to 'The Rezzer'.

The generally wet conditions enable water loving plants to flourish, including; marsh marigold, sawort and meadowsweet. There is evidence that parts of the woodland are 'ancient', that is, part of the woodland has probably been here for over 400 years. Woodland plants including bluebell, wood anemone, Ramsons, lesser celandine and wood sorrel carpet the floor from March through to May.

The diverse range of habitats attracts an equally diverse fauna. The shallow water, willow Carr and marginal vegetation surrounding 'The Rezzer' attracts Dragonflies, numerous ducks and birds including Sedge and Willow warbler and Chiff chaff.

The two 'unimproved' meadows are now rare in the west Cumbria region. Unlike other grasslands that may have been 'improved' for farming or drained, these meadows have never been affected by agriculture and have retained many unique and now rare plants. Small mammals including Voles, Mice and Moles have been seen in the meadow whilst declining bird species including yellowhammer breed during the summer months. Sparrowhawks and kestrels are seen frequently whilst bats are on the wing during warmer summer evenings

Who's involved?

A team of dedicated staff and volunteers have been working to enhance various aspects of the reserve. Volunteers have so far helped with hay cutting and bailing, clearing scrub, footpath construction and litter picking.

A number of successful funding applications have allowed the whole footpath system to be upgraded including new bridges, steps, seating areas and interpretation signs/Leaflets (see attachment).

Young people are especially welcome and a number of youth environmental 'volunteers' are actively involved, including; Youth Works, Millennium Volunteers, local schools, Mobex and Connexions.

Siddick Ponds LNR and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (Next to Edgar's garage, Dunmail Park, Workington)

Wildlife and History

Siddick Ponds is one of West Cumbria's most important bird sanctuaries. The large reedbeds and extensive open water habitat attract rare and endangered bird species including Bittern, Reed warbler, Water rail, and Reed bunting.

Large reedbeds, like those at Siddick Ponds, are now rare across the UK yet within ten minutes walk of the town centre; people in Workington have one of the regions best wildlife sites on its own doorstep.

The history of the ponds reflects that of both nature and human influences. Approximately ten thousand years ago the ponds were part of a huge delta in what is now the River Derwent. The name 'Siddick' is believed to have originated from 'Siggit' or 'Seagate' an old racecourse located close to where the ponds are today.

The coal industry and associated railways used to transport coal, made a lasting impression on the ponds. In the mid 19^th century, the Cleator Moor to Maryport railway was constructed, part of which passed through what is now the nature reserve. Coal continued to be extracted up until the 1970's at nearby St Helens pit in Siddick.

Despite its close proximity to large communities, the ponds have developed naturally to form the large reedbeds which is so important for wildlife.

Reedbed specialists, those species best equipped to survive in reeds, includes Bittern and Reed warbler. The Bittern, now protected under European law due to their low breeding numbers, often spend the winter at Siddick Ponds. Here, continental birds escape the harsh winters of the European mainland and instead 'winter' in the relative warmth of the west coast thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream. During the winter of 2004-2005, five Bitterns wintered at Siddick Ponds making this the largest number ever seen at Siddick Ponds.

Winter is undoubtedly the best time to observe wildlife on the ponds. Over-wintering birds including Goldeneye, Pochard, Tufted duck, Shoveler, Whooper swan and Snipe often stay for long periods, many having migrated south from the Artic, Scandinavia and tundra regions.

Alternately, summer sees an influx of migratory birds travelling north from Africa. Warblers, Swifts together with Sand and House martins make the most of aquatic invertebrates emerging from the ponds waters.

At other times, notably spring and Autumn look out for 'passage migrants' including Wood sandpiper, common sandpiper, Little egret and Osprey.

Reedbed, like any other habitat, gradually changes unless management is introduced to retain a particular stage of vegetation succession. Management at Siddick Ponds is therefore targeted at preventing scrub encroachment and thus drying out of the reedbeds and, preventing reed from encroaching onto the open water habitat. A combination of summer and winter reed cutting is used to retain desired levels of reedbed.

Who's involved?

Many volunteers have helped with conservation tasks including scrub coppicing, reed cutting, meadow cutting and footpath/step construction, Interpretation and Leaflet design (see attachment). 

The Friends of Siddick Ponds have been an integral part of the success so far achieved at the ponds. The group, consisting of local residents meets once a month, and has so far raised funds and promoted the reserve to a much wider audience.