Chasewater Reservoir, sitting just twenty mile outside of Birmingham, is such a place. The local sailing club, Chase sailing club, was formed in 1955 and enjoys its setting in a country park which is under protection as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Also the wider area of Cannock Chase has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, giving it a double-layer of protection.
Of course, this has not always been the case. Chasewater Reservoir was originally built to support the canal system in 1797 during the industrial revolution to serve as a feeder to the canals of Birmingham and the surrounding area. Like many of the nature reserves found around the UK today, it was an industrial area created for moving coal from the mines. So in 1797 a dam was built and the valley was allowed to fill naturally from the streams that passed through to form the reservoir. The reservoir only lasted two years when disaster struck and the dam failed during a storm and villages and livestock were destroyed up to four miles away. The dam was then rebuilt and has stood to this day.
