Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs will reopen to the public next week (Friday 28 July) as a stunning new visitor attraction, following a multi-million-pound investment, writes Andy Weltch.
We were delighted to be invited to today’s (Thursday 20) press launch, which showcased some of the top-class facilities which the site now boasts.
A new two-storey visitor centre offers spectacular views across the two reservoirs – Lisvane, which is a quiet haven for wildlife, and Llanishen, which will host a range of watersports, many of which were demonstrated by local experts today.
The new visitor centre
The centre includes a café, which (from September) will become a restaurant by night, serving high quality Welsh produce.
It also houses an activity hub for water sports, including open-water swimming, canoeing, paddleboarding, and sailing.
There’s a path around the reservoirs, as well as nature trails and bird hides.
School and wellbeing groups will be able to use the outdoor classroom in the woodland learning zone, complete with a Welsh roundhouse constructed as part of a training project with NEETs and refugees.
Lots of media interest at today’s launch
Built in the late 19th century, the reservoirs cover 110 acres of green and blue space and include a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for overwintering birds and waxcap fungi.
This means dogs won’t be allowed on the site beyond the car park and building.
Many thanks to the site’s owners Dwr Cymru/ Welsh Water for inviting us to today’s launch.
They supported the setting up of Friends of Cardiff Reservoirs (FoCR), with members of the Reservoir Action Group, which had prevented development on the site.
Volunteers from FoCR have helped prepare the site for visitors, as we reported last month.