THESE days there is much more of an understanding between ecologists and industry. There is a project by United Utilities to create a wildlife habitat on land around three reservoirs round Longridge.

The three Alston reservoirs date back to the 1840s and were built to store water from the Bowland Fells. These were partially emptied and taken out of service in 1997 when it was decided to improve water quality.

But the untapped Bowland water will soon be supplying Lancashire folk again once the reservoirs are refurbished and refilled. The oldest reservoir is beyond repair and soil from its embankment will be used to strengthen the other two.

The abandoned reservoir -- on a Site of Biological Importance -- will be used to create a wet northern hay meadow. The site already has a good stock of colourful wild flower species such as ragged robin, great burnet and meadowsweet -- but over the years the site has been well grazed and these plants have never before had the chance to flourish.

The plan is to allow the grass and flowers to grow fully and the hay will be harvested once a year by a local tenant farmer. A lake will be maintained alongside to encourage the wintering birds such as goosander, goldeneye and shellducks. The new area will also encourage ground nesting birds such as lapwing, redshank and skylark, all of which are declining because of loss of habitat.

Toby Hart, the United Utilities ecologist, said: "The site will look beautiful in a few years when the hay meadow gets established."

As I looked at the site I was able to overlook the area without having to disturb the site. All of we naturalists' should realise that our first duty is to give sensitive wildlife the privacy which it needs to survive."