It’s new, impressive, eco-friendly and free
Posted on 02/08/10
Once a chalk quarry, Buckinghamshire’s College Lake (near Tring) was restored 20 years ago into a marvellous mix of wildlife habitats.
Now the flagship reserve of the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust has a visitor centre to match. Timber built with rammed chalk walls and a turf roof, this stunning eco-friendly structure presents the unobtrusive appearance of a great, grassy bank.
In summer, the marshland area of the reserve supports a number of breeding waders, include lapwing and redshank, while common terns nest on specially created islands in the lake. Elsewhere on the reserve, chalk grassland is alive with colour as a wide variety of flowers come into bloom. These provide a habitat for a range of insects, including a number of rarer butterfly species such as the small blue. Rough grassland provide a home for breeding skylarks and shelter for small mammals, which in turn feed birds of prey such as kestrels and barn owls.
The reserve and visitor centre are open every day, from 9.30am – 5pm with last entry at 4pm.
Facilities include parking, toilets and picnic benches, with refreshments available from the visitor centre at weekends and bank holidays. Admission to the reserve and visitor centre is free.
latest from blog
15 Jul 2011
Mondraker comes to Bedgebury
Quench Cycles has joined forces with distributor Silverfish to sell Mondraker bikes through its Forestry Commission outlets at Bedgebury and Alice Holt. There will be a Demo Day on 23 and 24 July! Read more
Missing all those outdoor activities offered for Countryside2011? Get out and about with National Bike Week @TGBBikeWeek http://bit.ly/Hb38D
Congratulations to all the winners of the fab prizes offered by Countryside 2011 http://bit.ly/ltlSB4
We’d love to hear what you thought of the events or activities you took part in. Please complete our online survey http://ow.ly/5gjs9
Water-ski, Wakebaord or Jet Ski at the South East’s Premier Watersports Venue. http://bit.ly/kOqJfG
See the red squirrels in the walk-through enclosure at the British Wildlife Centre! Visit http://bit.ly/k2thrJ
