Before restoration Cliviger Fish Ponds were impossible to access since it was overgrown and both ponds were full of silt as a result of opencast mining on Heald Moor above the site. 30,000 tons of silt was removed from the two ponds, pathways were built around the ponds and 38 platforms were constructed.Now it is a mixed coarse fishery offering a variety of fish including Carp, Tench, Roach, Perch, Gudgeon, Golden Orfe, Rudd, Ide, Golden Rudd, Golden
Tench, Bream, Trout and Barbel.