Once a chalk quarry, College Lake is now one of the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust’s flagship nature reserves. The transformation is a fantastic example of what people passionate about wildlife can bring about through a shared vision and sheer determination. Thanks to the hard work of BBOWT staff and volunteers, this thriving nature reserve now supports more than 1,000 different wildlife species.  An eco visitor centre with stunning views of the lakes opened to the public in 2010. 

The marshland is perhaps the most important of the reserve’s homes for wildlife, as in the summer it supports a number of breeding waders. These include lapwing and redshank, both of which are rare species, and College Lake is a key breeding site in Buckinghamshire. In the lake, common terns nest on specially created islands. In the winter, the inhabitants of the water change, and wintering wildfowl, such as wigeon and teal, from Scandinavia and beyond, use the wetlands for feeding and roosting.

Elsewhere on the reserve, chalk grassland is alive with colour during the spring and summer as a wide variety of flowers come into bloom. These support a range of insects, including a number of rarer butterfly species such as the small blue.

Rough grassland provides a home for breeding skylarks, as well as shelter for small mammals, which in turn feed birds of prey such as kestrels and barn owls. Woodland, scrub and hedgerows are widespread across the reserve, and support a wide variety of wildlife, including finches and tits and in winter. thrushes such as fieldfare and redwings.

Facilities

The site has a visitor centre complete with a cafe , toilets and shop , where accessible toilets and baby changing facilities are available. There is a large carpark which is free to use during opening times as below with disabled parking. There are several good paths around the lake and a number of hides and places to sit.

Opening hours , The centre is closed on Mondays except for Bank Holidays Open Tuesday – Sunday: 10am-5pm with a last entry at 4pm. The Café is open 10am-4pm

Address

College lake Nature Reserve , Upper Icknield way , Bulbourne , Tring , Buckinghamshire , HP23 5QD