|
About the Group
and the Reserve
The Moor Green Lakes Group (MGLG) was established in 1993 as an organisation to
help manage the Moor Green Lakes Nature Reserve in Berkshire, England. Our aims are:
-
to improve the Reserve for wildlife
-
record and monitor that wildlife -
enhance the facilities of the Reserve for
members of the Moor Green Lakes Group and other visitors.
 The Group operates in conjunction with
CEMEX, the site owners and the
Blackwater Valley
Countryside Partnership both of which bring resources and expertise in active
conservation within the 30 kilometres of the Blackwater Valley.
For the past 50 years
or so gravel has been extracted from the
Blackwater Valley, stretching westward from Sandhurst to Eversley where it
continues today. Moor
Green Lakes is the result of restoration of part of that area. Land north of the
river stretching for 2.5Km to the
west of the Reserve, which is presently being worked, will ultimately become a
major extension of the Reserve, more than
trebling its size.
The
existing Reserve occupies
36 hectares (90 acres) north of the River Blackwater and lies
in the boroughs of Bracknell Forest and Wokingham, in
Berkshire, England. It comprises three lakes: Colebrook North, Colebrook South and Grove
Lake; click
here for an
aerial view. The main access point for the Reserve is
the
Car Park
off Lower Sandhurst Road in Finchampstead, Wokingham. Note that this is a
private Car Park and is locked at night.
It is usually open from approx 08.00; the lock-up
time is displayed on a notice in the Car Park. Due to recent work to
improve the drainage in the area, there is no longer any roadside parking just
outside the car park, however there is room for a car at the bottom end of Dell
Road, just west of the car park; but please don't block the field gates.
Alternative Parking
is available off Mill Lane near the sailing club at Horseshoe Lake.
If visitors identify
any Health and Safety issues on the
Reserve, then please report them to the Site Liaison Officer - details on the
Contacts page. The
Reserve Map shows
the features of the reserve, including location of two viewing hides for use by
members of the Group. Access to the Reserve
is along the footpath running south from the main Car Park, past Colebrook Lakes
North and South, to meet the
Blackwater Valley Path. The
Colebrook Hide is on the spit between the lakes and has wheelchair access. The Blackwater Valley
Path runs beside the
river along the south of the Reserve. A bridge crosses the river 100m to the east of the path from the car park
and leads to Yateley. A bridleway runs in parallel with the path
from the car park to the river bridge. The path from
the river bridge to Mill Lane is part of the
Three Castles
Path, a ramblers route running between Windsor and Winchester. The
hide at Grove Lake is situated on the south-east corner and can be accessed by
the footpath from either car park, being closer to the Mill Lane entrance.
The wildlife on the
Reserve has been recorded and monitored by the Moor Green Lakes Group since
1993. Nationally rare plants are present on the Reserve and the site is of local importance for wintering wildfowl. Tern
Island on Colebrook Lake North has hosted one of Britain's largest inland nesting
colonies of Common Terns and Black-headed Gulls.
|
[Current
Weather]
Latest News
The car park is currently locked at:
8pm
[2009 Annual Report]
The 17th (2009) Annual Report has been
published and is available to read here. Just click the above title. Note that Members who have provided an email
address will not receive the Annual Report in paper form unless they have
specifically requested it from the Membership Secretary.
Please note that this website has been
developed to work with Microsoft Internet Explorer. Other internet browsers
may show formatting problems, particularly when accessing the Annual
Reports, which contain imported material.
The
Summer 2010 News Letter is also available.
22 August 2010
Open Day
The Moor Green Lakes Group is holding an Open
Day in conjunction with the Blackwater Valley Countryside
Partnership Between 9am and 1pm, on Sunday 5th September. Normally visitors can only walk round the perimeter of Moor
Green Lakes’ 35 hectares to avoid disturbing the wildlife, but on this
special open morning there are numerous walks taking visitors to some of the
restricted areas. But sorry, no dogs! Walks leave every 30 minutes with the
first starting at 9.30am. There are also a range of activities planed for
younger children. More information is available at the
BVCP website
10 August 2010
Pay by Online Banking
We are now able to offer online payments for
new memberships and the imminent membership renewals. We will, of course, still accept cheques as
well! See the joining and renewal page.
10 August 2010
The
July Bird Summary has been added to this website.
2 August 2010
Ken
Crick announces his retirement as the Moor Green Lakes Damselfly and
Dragonfly Recorder. A volunteer is required.
More information
is available here.
The
June Bird Summary has been added to this website.
30 June 2010
The
May Bird Summary has been added to this website.
2 June 2010
The
April Bird Summary has been added to this website.
2 May 2010
The
March Bird Summary has been added to this website.
1 April 2010
If you spot any faults or
mistakes or have any comments or suggestions on this website, then please let me know at:
webmaster@mglg.org.uk
Previous news items are in the
[News
Archive] |
