Prescot Reservoirs is owned by United Utilities and access is limited to permit holders only. At the time of writing, there is a waiting list for permits, though this is not always the case. To apply for a permit, contact United Utilities at Horwich, or email us for further details. There is only one entrance onto the site, off Knowsley expressway, just after the entrance to Knowsley Safari Park if you are heading towards Prescot. 

Site description

The site consists of two medium sized reservoirs, known as PR3 and PR4, which are separated by a road, known as the Causeway. The reservoirs have concrete sides and a road all the way around the perimeter. There is also a third, disused reservoir, which has become overgrown with scrub and birch woodland. The most prominent feature of the site from any distance is a raised line of pine woodland which is about 50 metres deep and 300 metres long, and which runs the length of two sides of PR3 and along one side of Burrows Lane. 

There is also a shallow pond surrounded by mainly Birch woodland, a large area of mown grassland (the top of an underground reservoir) and two flower filled meadows bordered by Hawthorn hedges.  Large mature trees are a little scarce at the site, though there are a few on one side of the pond and immediately adjacent to Knowsley Safari Park. 

Prescot Reservoirs borders the Safari Park on its western perimeter, and probably benefits greatly from the close proximity of such a large area of relatively undisturbed mature woodland. 

Birds

This is the top site in St Helens for birds, with many species recorded almost exclusively here. This is probably due to a combination of factors, including a lack of disturbance from anglers, water sports and dog walkers. However, it is also the most watched site in St Helens and was visited on at least 226 days in 2005, and this is bound to help.  In fact, Prescot Reservoirs is the living proof that if you visit a place often enough, the birds will come to you!

Among the specialities are the waders. St Helens generally fares very poorly for these birds, but Prescot Reservoirs consistently produces good records, despite the apparent poor habitat, with usually no mud or shallow water. The most spectacular  wader day was the morning of 3^rd December 2005, when there were 600 Lapwing, up to seven Dunlin, one Grey Plover, one Golden Plover, one Knot, one each of Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwit and one Redshank! 

The site is also good for gulls, with 12 species recorded, including the only summer Lancashire record of Sabines Gull from August 2001, and Yellow-legged and Mediterranean Gulls are recorded in most months. However, as a gull roost, the site has declined considerably in recent years due to the closing of some local rubbish tips. In the early 1990’s flocks of up to 1000 Great Black Backs, 1400 Lesser Black Backs, 4000 Herring, and 9000 Black-headed Gulls could be seen at the reservoirs, but such large counts are a distant memory these days. 

Ducks are also well represented, with 19 species recorded, including regular flocks of Common Scoter in summer,  and occasional Long-tailed Ducks and Garganey. In summer there may be over 250 Tufted Ducks with several pairs breeding, which in some years makes the reservoirs the top breeding site in Lancashire, and in winter over 30 Goldeneye may be present. 

Great Northern, Black-throated and Red-throated Divers have been recorded, and five species of grebe, Little, Great crested, Black-necked, Red-necked and Slavonian. 

Away from the water, there are plenty of records of locally rare woodland birds, such as Green Woodpecker and Common Crossbill, and ten species of raptor have been recorded, with regular double figure counts of Buzzard.