Trentabank Reservoir Nature Reserve

Trentabank Reservoir lies within Macclesfield Forest on the edge of the Peak District National Park. The reservoir collects water from the surrounding hills and feeds the town of Macclesfield’s supply. Conifer plantations surround most of its banks, and about twenty-two pairs of herons nest here. The Peak District Boundary Walk passes close by the water’s edge. Four reservoirs stand in sequence along the head of the River Bollin, with Trentabank at the top. The site is managed as a nature reserve by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust over forty-three acres. It is owned by United Utilities but kept as a wildlife haven despite supplying drinking water. The heronry is thought to be the largest in the Peak District, with over twenty breeding pairs. Ravens and birds of prey also hunt over the reservoir and woodland. Red deer drink at the water’s edge in early morning, while wading birds feed on exposed banks when water levels fall. A circular walk starts from the reservoir and leads through the surrounding forest. Crossbills feed in the treetops, and winter brings goldeneyes and goosanders to the water. Common and green sandpipers, along with little ringed plovers, gather on the muddy shores. The changing water levels create feeding grounds for small wading birds throughout the year. The woodland and reservoir together offer quiet observation points for wildlife.