{{Short description|Reservoir in Leicestershire and Rutland, England}} {{Infobox SSSI |image= Eyebrook Reservoir, East Midlands, England-7Feb2007.jpg |image_caption = Ice on the water in winter |name= Eyebrook Reservoir |aos= Leicestershire<br>Rutland |interest=Biological |gridref={{gbmappingsmall| SP 852 955 }}<ref name=dsv/> |area= 201.3 hectares<ref name=dsv/> |notifydate= 01/07/1983<ref name=dsv/> |map=[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271004428%27 ''Magic Map''] }} '''Eyebrook Reservoir''' (or '''Eye Brook Reservoir''') is a {{convert|201.3|ha|adj=on}} [[reservoir]] and biological [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] which straddles the border between [[Leicestershire]] and [[Rutland]] in central England. The closest towns are [[Corby]] and [[Uppingham]].<ref name=dsv>{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1004428&SiteName=eye%20brook&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=|title=Designated Sites View: Eye Brook Reservoir | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 12 September 2017}}</ref><ref name=map>{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271004428%27|title=Map of Eye Brook Reservoir|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 12 September 2017}}</ref>
The reservoir was formed by the damming of the [[Eye Brook]]. It was built between 1937 and 1940 by [[Stewarts & Lloyds]] (supervised by [[Geoffrey Binnie]] of Binnie & Partners)<ref name="Muir Wood">{{cite book|last=Muir Wood|first=Sir Alan|title=Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society: Geoffrey Morse Binnie (13 November 1908 - 5 April 1989)|year=1990|publisher=Royal Society|location=London|pages=45–57}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-484000-294000/page/11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221054248/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-484000-294000/page/11|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 21, 2012|year=1986|title=Eyebrook Reservoir|publisher=BBC|series=Domesday Reloaded|access-date=12 September 2017}}</ref> to supply water to its Corby steel works, operated by subsidiary company '''{{visible anchor|Corby (Northants) and District Water Company}}'''.<ref name=HN/> During the [[Second World War]] it was used in May 1943 as a practice site for the [[Operation Chastise|Dambuster]] raids, standing in for the [[Möhne Reservoir]]; a plaque commemorates this.<ref name=HN>{{cite news|title=Video: Flypast marks 70 years since Dambuster Raids|url=http://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/local-news/video-flypast-marks-70-years-since-dambuster-raids-1-5099573|access-date=3 June 2013|newspaper=Harborough Mail|date=2013-05-16|archive-date=2013-07-07|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707045442/http://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/local-news/video-flypast-marks-70-years-since-dambuster-raids-1-5099573|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Arquati|first=Richard|title=Air Tattoo to Salute Dambusters|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/air-tattoo-to-salute-dambusters-16052013|work=Press releases|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=3 June 2013|date=16 May 2013|archive-date=8 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108151441/http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/air-tattoo-to-salute-dambusters-16052013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Operation Chastise|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/bombercommanddambusters21march1943.cfm|work=Bomber command|publisher=Royal Air Force|access-date=3 June 2013}}</ref>
The reservoir is an important site for wintering wildfowl, such as wigeon, teal, mallard and pochard. Other habitats are marsh, mudflats, grassland, broad-leaved woodland and plantations.<ref name = sssi>{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1004428.pdf |title=Eye Brook Reservoir citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 21 March 2020}}</ref> Other species reported from the reservoir include [[osprey]], [[smew]], [[dunlin]] and [[European golden plover]].<ref name =naturespot>{{cite web | url = https://www.naturespot.org.uk/wild-place/eyebrook-reservoir | title = Eyebrook Reservoir | access-date = 21 March 2020 | publisher = NatureSpot}}</ref> In passage periods scarcer species can be attracted to the reservoir's shores and these regularly include [[curlew sandpiper]], [[Ruff (bird)|ruff]] and [[spotted redshank]] among the expected waders. [[Vagrancy (biology)|Vagrants]] which have occurred include seabirds such a [[Leach's petrel]] and [[Northern gannet]], as well as [[squacco heron]], [[black-crowned night heron]] [[American wigeon]], [[black-winged pratincole]], [[killdeer]] and a variety of other species, mostly associated with wetlands.<ref name = LROS>{{cite web | url = http://www.lros.org.uk/eyebrook.htm | title = Eyebrook Reservoir | access-date = 21 March 2020 | publisher = Leicestershire and Rutland Ornithological Society | archive-date = 10 April 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150410110908/http://www.lros.org.uk/eyebrook.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref>
There is no public access to the reservoir, which is reserved for a trout fishery,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rutlandgillies.co.uk/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52:eyebrook-trout-fishery&catid=34:fising-reports&Itemid=60|title=Eyebrook Trout Fishery |publisher=Rutland Gillies|access-date=12 September 2017}}</ref> but it can be viewed from a public footpath which runs along part of the eastern side.<ref name=map/>
Eyebrook Reservoir is a popular trout fishing venue.<ref> Taylor, A.H. (1978) "An analysis of the trout fishing at Eyebrook Reservoir", ''Journal of Animal Ecology'', '''47''', 407-423.</ref> The reservoir is regularly stocked with triploid [[rainbow trout]] and is home to a native [[brown trout]] population.<ref name = fly>{{cite web |url=http://www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk/about-us/|title=About Us {{!}} Fly Fish Eyebrook - Leicestershire Trout Fishery|website=www.flyfisheyebrook.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-16}}</ref> Fly fishing for [[Esox lucius|pike]] also takes place at the reservoir.<ref name = fly/>
==References== [[File:View towards Stoke Dry - geograph.org.uk - 238895.jpg|thumb|right|View towards [[Stoke Dry]]]] {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.lros.org.uk/eyebrook.htm Eyebrook Reservoir, Leicestershire and Rutland Ornithological Society] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410110908/http://www.lros.org.uk/eyebrook.htm |date=2015-04-10 }} {{commons category|Eyebrook Reservoir}}
{{SSSIs Rutland }} {{SSSIs Leicestershire }} {{authority control}}
{{coord|52|33|06|N|0|44|29|W|type:landmark_region:GB-BNE|display=title}}
[[Category:Reservoirs in Leicestershire]] [[Category:Reservoirs in Rutland]] [[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Leicestershire]] [[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Rutland]] [[Category:Uppingham]]