Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve is based upon a disused reservoir built in 1842 as a counterpart to the Chard canal that was established in the same year. The canal was used as a transport system at the time to move raw materials for industry and commercial purposes, yet was only in service until 1868 before being overtaken by the up and coming railway connections. Once the canal was decommissioned, this ultimately meant that the reservoir was no longer needed, and so has since never been a working reservoir.
Between the late 1800s and mid 1930s, Chard Reservoir was recognised as a shooting estate for wildfowl, and so by wandering around the site you can see remnants of this period through the planting of exotic plant species such as Rhododendron, bay laurel and bamboo as a means of vegetation cover for the breeding of the birds. Pine and other conifer tree species were popular amongst the Victorian community, hence why there are still many of those species present today at the reservoir.
In addition to being a shooting estate, the Victorians also used the reservoir for other activities, such as swimming, sailing and ice skating when there were very cold winters! You may even see a few structures around the reservoir that display the history of these activities (i.e. the boathouse)… Nowadays, fishing is the only sport allowed on site.
During the Second World War, American troops were based in and around Chard, and used the reservoir as a place of leisure and relaxation when they were not fighting on the front line. Similarly, not unlike the current pandemic we have just experienced, local communities at that time were encouraged not to travel or use the railways to allow mobilisation of troops around the country, and so ‘staycations’ were encouraged and Chard Reservoir was advertised as ‘Chard Lido’. A picture of this advertisement can be seen on the information panel on the cycle path between Chard and Ilminster.
Since 1992, under council ownership, Chard Reservoir has been designated as a Local Nature Reserve. This recognises that there have been wildlife species identified that are important to the local environment (included insects, bats, birds and plants) and so today nature is at the forefront of our minds when it comes to managing the site. We have an array of habitats, including reed beds, English woodland, wildflower meadows, hedgerows and the reservoir itself; all of which are managed to optimise the opportunities for various wildlife to thrive on the reserve.
Whilst the reservoir is disused, the dam that was put in place as part of the original structure is still operational today. Controlled by two functioning sluices, the water levels are higher in summer and lower in winter periods, to accommodate nesting birds and the usual amounts of rainfall/flooding events that typically occur during those seasons.
Please enjoy your visit at the reservoir, and whilst looking for your geocaches, take a moment to listen to the bird song and take in the beauty of your surroundings
This cache is placed by kind permission of Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve.