Ulley Country Park
June 2010 The dam, spillway and associated works have been completed. There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony on 25 June, the third anniversary of the flood that caused so many problems. The park has fully re-opened on 29 August 2010.
Ulley Country Park opened in 1986 around the former reservoir. This was built in 1870s to provide drinking water for Rotherham. The reservoir provided approximately 820 million litres (180 million gallons) of water per year. However, by the early 1980s, the reservoir was no longer needed for water supply and was on standby only. Yorkshire Water Authority sold to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council for the token sum of £1 in 1986. In September of 1986 Ulley was designated as a Country Park. It can be found just off the A618 Rotherham to Swallownest Road and is an established venue for angling and water sports. The car park therefore is often very full.
The 19 hectare country park, with over 12 hectares of water contains a variety of habitats including open water, woodland, grassland, arable land and gorse scrub, which make up the area surrounding the country park. There is a wide diversity of plants, insects, wildfowl and animals. The eastern arm of the lake is kept as a nature reserve. The reservoir is the most important breeding site for toads known in Rotherham. The Morthen Arm Conservation Area is the smaller section of the reservoir at the other side of the road bridge to the main expanse of water. It can be accessed on foot from Reservoir Road or the local footpath network. Vehicle parking is limited to the laybys at either end of the roadbridge on Reservoir Road. There are more than 150 species of flowering plants recorded in the park, creating an abundance of both insects and butterflies. Some of the most impressive wildlife to be found at Ulley include Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Little Grebes, Great Crested Grebes, Coots, Moor hens, Dragonflies, over 20 species of butterfly, Kingfishers, Grey Herons, Swallows, Swifts, House Martins, Kestrels, Foxes and many more.
Ulley in Danger 2007
Torrential rains on 25 June 2007 caused major flooding throughout South Yorkshire. On the night of 25/26 June engineers found that the force of water coming down the spillway from Ulley Reservoir had undermined the earth glacis and almost breached the dam. Engineers and firemen worked through the night to try and make it safe, whilst people were evacuated from villages in the potential floodpath, the M1 was closed and attempts were made to protect the electricity sub station at Brinsworth.
Information
- Supervision
- Parking
- Toilets
- All equipment for Ranger led activities
- Pre-visit consultations (if required)
- Multi-purpose room (subject to availability)
- Site leaflets and information
- Shop
- Good access for people with physical disabilities
- Loan of equipment to schools for self run visits
- A fun day out!
It is some years since I visited here but most of the site was accessible to wheelchairs, baby buggies and motorised buggies, though paths could be muddy. Please let me know if there are present difficulties.