Watergrove reservoir is Rochdale's main water supply. North West Water owns the reservoir and surrounding land. The site is recognized for its high wildlife value being a mixture of young woodland, wetland and rough pasture. The development at Watergrove has been helped by grants from the LIFE project of the European Commission. The catchment as a whole has lots of interest, with numerous farm ruins and unique dry stone sculpture. Access in the area is good with a network of footpaths criss crossing the valley as well as a section of the Pennine Bridleway running through it.

Trails around the area
'The Watergrove Trail', around the reservoir is mostly of good surface although it can be boggy in places as it follows the perimeter of the reservoir and goes past the sailing club. The 'Hades Trail', going up to the ruins of Higher Slack Brook Farm, can be very boggy particularly in the walled sunken lanes around the reservoir. The Long Causeway, an old packhorse route to Ramsden branches off at the northerly point of this route.

Watergrove village