"The water was clear, clean and wonderfully warm. It's thrilling to be here."
Rees, 67, grew up in this part of Cardiff, a few miles north of the city centre, and learned to sail on Llanishen but, like many, had feared those days gone for ever when plans were hatched to drain the reservoir and build houses.
But, after an extraordinary 20-year fight by the community to save Llanishen and its sister reservoir, Lisvane, people were back in and on the water yesterday before the site opened fully to the public on 28 July.
"It's such a precious spot," said Rees, a retired local authority worker. "The city centre's just over there but you could be in the middle of the countryside."
The Watchtower Waders usually swam off the seaside town of Barry but would make trips here. "It's lovely to have somewhere else to swim."
Esta historia es de la edición July 21, 2023 de The Guardian.
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