TO most people it's a beauty spot or a nice place for a Sunday morning walk.
To others it's the ideal place to learn their trade – like Olympic gold medal winning sailor Paul Goodison.
And for Russell Howes, Ulley Country Park has a fascination as deep as the reservoir itself.
And that fascination inspired the former biology teacher to write a book charting its history.
The Story of Ulley Country Park provides an insight into the history of Rotherham's water supply, the birth of the reservoir and the location's present day use as a park.
It details how the reservoir was built in the 1870s to satisfy the growing thirst for fresh water during the town's population boom during the industrial revolution
The book highlights the inadequacy of the supply of water from Ulley as the town continued to expand and how the water supply from local rivers became diseased.
It goes on to explain how Ulley quenched the thirst for that clean water supply and became a country park and public amenity in the 1980s.
The book also details the near disaster when the reservoir wall almost collapsed during last year's floods and predictions for the possible future of the much loved park.
Russell, aged 77, said: "The reservoir and country park has fascinated me for many years. It's a beautiful place, an interesting place and one I continue to enjoy."
Born in Norfolk, and educated at the City of Norwich School, Russell first fell in love with the place when he came to study Botany and Zoology at Sheffield University in 1954.
He went on to teach Biology at Maltby Grammar School and became Head of the Biology department. When the school became Maltby Comprehensive School he was appointed Head of Biology and Environmental Studies a role he held until he retired in 1988.
But that wasn't the end of Russell's teaching days – he simply swapped the classroom for the beautiful surroundings of the park by becoming a volunteer ranger.
His task – to help people become more environmentally aware and to appreciate the beauty of the park and its many treasures.
During his time as a ranger Russell, of Lilly Hall Road, Maltby, has devoted much of his time to working with groups of local children and young adults with disabilities to develop a wildlife garden.
While doing this he became interested in the history of Ulley Reservoir and started collecting archive information and pictures.
In September 2001 he created an exhibition including old pictures, maps, plans and historical documents in the visitor centre – and the exhibition was so popular Russell hatched idea of writing a book.
The Story of Ulley Country Park is priced £5.95 and is available from the visitor centre. Proceeds from the sale will be used by the Friends of Ulley to enhance visitor facilities.
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