The History of Rutland Water

With 3% of the county due to be flooded under the reservoir’s area, the local community, villages and landscape would be forever changed. Rutland Community Ventures have conducted a series of interviews with people who were affected by or involved with the construction of the reservoir: Don t Drown Our County on Vimeo

Ecological surveys are an incredibly important part of the conservation work that is undertaken at Rutland Water and its nature reserve. The records from this work stretch back to even before the reservoir was filled thanks to the efforts of the Rutland Natural History Society. Started by a group of enthusiasts in 1965, the Society recognised that once the reservoir was filled, any information on what species had been present in the Gwash Valley would be lost. Over five years they covered as much ground of the valley as they could in the time available, surveying mammals, birds, insects and plants. 

Several names were considered for the new reservoir. ‘Ruddle’s Puddle’ was perhaps a tongue in cheek suggestion in reference to Sir Kenneth Ruddle, who at the time campaigned against local government reorganisation. Rutland had lost its independence in 1974 and had become a district of Leicestershire (it was re-established in 1997). ‘Empingham Reservoir’ was the presumed choice but after a spirited local campaign and then petition submitted by Jane Merritt, a Rutland Sixth Form College student, ‘Rutland Water’ was proposed and accepted in 1976 – a way to perpetuate the county name, perhaps a sentiment that can be recognised today.

A possible casualty of the reservoir’s construction was Normanton Church. Thanks to Anglian Water and the hastily-assembled Normanton Tower Trust, a plan for saving it was put together. Floors were raised, lower levels filled, and a causeway and embankment built around it to ensure it would not be flooded. Thanks to this fast action, the church was able to reopen as a museum and nowadays is visitable as a functions venue.

The construction of the Lyndon Hill Visitor Centre began in 1984, and the building was opened in 1985 by Sir David Attenborough, the first of his many associations with Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust’s history. The current Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre at Egleton is unrecognisable nowadays from how it started off in life - as an 8ft by 12ft wooden hut. 

For over three decades, the British Birdwatching Fair – known fondly as the Birdfair – was the beating heart of the birding community. Held at Egleton at Rutland Water Nature Reserve, it wasn’t just an event; it was a celebration of nature, conservation, and camaraderie. The Birdfair earned its reputation as the ‘birdwatcher’s Glastonbury’, drawing thousands of enthusiasts from across the world. 

Year after year, it raised millions for international conservation projects. It was where friendships were forged, collaborations began, and the shared love of wildlife united people from every corner. For those of us behind the scenes, there were unforgettable moments – like the many times I found myself pulling out cars, lorries and even a double decker bus from the Rutland mud! It was all part of the charm and the adventure. 

Joe Davies, Head of Reserve Management

After a long planning period and nearly three years of site work, the Rutland Water Habitats Project was completed in early 2011. The creation of five new lagoons at the nature reserve provided an additional 120 hectares of habitat. Anglian Water undertook the project to expand and diversify the reserve’s ecological value, and to increase the reservoir’s water storage capacity, ensuring a more resilient water supply for the region. Thanks to the new lagoons and bund across Manton Bay and the north arm of the reservoir, the reserve gained a mosaic of wetland habitats – shallow waters, reedbeds and muddy margins. These areas support a wide range of species, from wading birds such as Avocets and wildfowl such as Wigeon, to a huge number of invertebrates and aquatic plants. The additional habitats have significantly boosted diversity and created safe breeding grounds and feeding areas for species that thrive in wetland environments. This approach exemplified how infrastructure development can align with conservation goals, turning a functional water management project into a thriving haven for nature. 

Also in the spring of 2011, a Water Vole re-introduction project was launched at the reserve. Immortalised as Ratty in The Wind in the Willows, the Water Vole has suffered dramatic declines due to habitat loss and predation. Captive bred Voles were released at Rutland Water and Oakham Canal over several springs and summers to establish a new and healthy colony. 

Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.

Ratty, The Wind in the Willows

The Volunteer Training Centre (VTC) was completed in 2015 providing a dedicated space for the training, education and coordination of volunteers who are essential to the day-to-day running and conservation work at Rutland Water Nature Reserve. As the reserve grew in size and complexity, the need for a professional facility to support operations and volunteer development became clear. The VTC offers classrooms, workshops, meeting areas, accommodation and practical training spaces, enabling volunteers and trainee reserve officers to gain skills in habitat management, species monitoring, and visitor engagement. It also serves as a hub for local wildlife group involvement, fostering a sense of ownership and connection to the reserve. 

In 2025, another 50^th anniversary was celebrated at the nature reserve – 50 years of the Wetland Bird Survey (the ‘WeBS’). The count monitors wintering (non-breeding) waterbird populations and assesses the ecological health of Rutland Water. Since September 1975 (one year before Rutland Water Nature Reserve was opened to the public), the WeBS at Rutland Water has recorded over 6 million birds, comprising 131 different species across the reservoir and nature reserve lagoons, thanks to 15,000 hours of volunteer effort. 

Ospreys were once a common sight in Britain, but in 1847, the last recorded breeding pair in England were shot, and the birds became extinct as a breeding species. However, when Rutland Water was created in 1976, Ospreys were seen flying over on their migration to nest sites in Scotland. After one was seen spending the summer at the reservoir, hope arose that maybe one day, they might return to Rutland. More information about the Rutland Osprey project can be found here: About the Rutland Ospreys | Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust