Tittesworth Water becomes largest reservoir site to be awarded nationally significant Biodiversity Benchmark accreditation - The Wildlife Trusts

Severn Trent’s Tittesworth Water, near Leek in Staffordshire, has today (16 July 2026) been awarded The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark accreditation, making it the largest reservoir-based site in the UK to have gained the nationally recognised status.

Supplied by the River Churnet and Meer Brook, Tittesworth Water has a number of key habitats such as ancient woodlands, wetlands and wildflower rich meadows at the site, with efforts to restore and enhance them helping to tackle nature’s decline and climate change impacts alike. Covering an area equivalent to over 200 football pitches (145 hectares), the accreditation recognises Severn Trent’s nature‑positive management across land surrounding the reservoir, benefitting nature both now and into the future.

For example, a key area of focus for the site has been improving the wet woodland habitat for the breeding population of willow tits, the UK’s fastest declining resident bird. Here, the Tittesworth team have been using forestry management techniques to change the age structure and canopy height of the wood, increasing nesting opportunities through dead wood creation, and installing specially designed nest boxes.

The teams have also been regularly surveying the wildlife and habitats found on the site, identifying opportunities to make areas such as the grasslands, woodlands and wetlands more diverse and resilient to climate change and extreme weather impacts. Annual surveys of waxcap grasslands are also underway, helping to monitor and record the fungi present in this important habitat to inform management practices.