About the reserve

This large natural lake is edged with reed bed lush fen vegetation that gives cover to breeding reed warbler and great crested grebe.  It welcomes overwintering wildfowl including goosander, teal, tufted duck, pochard and goldeneye.  Coot and water rail use the reeds as refuge throughout the year.

The rich marginal vegetation includes stands of white and yellow water lilies, greater spearwort and bogbean.  Dragonflies and damselflies are abundant in the summer months.

There is well developed wet woodland with alder and willow carr around the edge of the lake.  In the wet grassland and fen meadow, marsh orchids flower in June with devil's-bit scabious and lesser skullcap out later in the summer.

The lake is not to be entered under any circumstance.