Wychall Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wychall Reservoir |
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Wychall Reservoir today
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 Wychall Reservoir
Location in West Midlands county
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| Location | Birmingham |
| Coordinates | 52°24′39″N 1°56′41″W / 52.4108°N 1.9446°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
Wychall Reservoir is a special kind of reservoir located in the Kings Norton area of Birmingham, England. It was built a long time ago to help the Worcester and Birmingham Canal have enough water. Today, it is no longer used as a reservoir but has become a peaceful Local Nature Reserve.
What is Wychall Reservoir?
Wychall Reservoir is a man-made lake. It was created to store water. This water could then be used to keep the nearby canal full. It is in the West Midlands region of England.
Why Was It Built?
The reservoir was built in the early 1800s. The company that owned the Worcester and Birmingham Canal built it. They needed a lot of water for their canal.
However, local mill owners were worried. They said the canal was taking too much water from the River Rea. This meant their watermills could not work properly. The reservoir was built to "compensate" for this. It made sure there was enough water for both the canal and the mills.
From Reservoir to Nature Reserve
Wychall Reservoir is no longer used to store water for the canal. Instead, Birmingham City Council has taken care of it. They have turned it into a Local Nature Reserve. This means it is a protected area for wildlife.
A small amount of water is kept in the reservoir. The rest of the area has changed. It is now a mix of open meadows, small woodlands, and areas with tall reeds. This makes it a great home for many different plants and animals. The nearby Merecroft Pool is also part of this nature reserve.
