Just in case anyone who might be affected missed it the section of Annat Royd Lane that runs alongside the headwater wall at Ingbirchworth Res will be closed from May 3rd for 20 weeks. Don't know whether this will restrict foot travel or not...

dog walkers? if only. Today a couple pulled up in a car, lifted their dog over the wall and drove along slowly whilst the dog proceeded unleashed along the footpath.  when I pointed out politely this was wrong I was told no-one else was worried/others do it and as no-one from York water enforced it, it couldn't be that big a deal. I have been counselled against being critical of Yorks water, especially in public, but I think it very naieve (?) of them (and us to be fair) if we think signs saying dogs must be on leads will make  a scrap of difference. the mud edges are ripe for waders in a year that has seen an unprecedented movement of waders overland - and we get 1 whimbrel. Pathetic. Unless we can persuade york water to close one side (not that dog walkers would obey) or fence off the edge (too costly), this res is ruined for wildlife. sacrificed to some ill-informed notion of open access. when people walked their dogs near home it might not have mattered but any wise planning now has to acknowledge that people are mobile, get in their cars and drive their dogs for a walk 'in the country' - ignorant of how lifeless the country now is.

hear what you say Alf (that was their stance 30 yrs ago when I had dealings with them). but, if so, not sure where the clamour was from customers to open the resers totally. not sure some dog walkers haven't always been irresponsible. they just didn't used to drive out to the countryside to do it.