Moor Green Lakes Group
Reserve car park and closing time
click here.
Autumn mist over Colebrook Lake (Copyright © 2023 Peter Craig)
Car Park closes at 5pm
Check the Blackwater River to get an idea when the paths may be flooded
At Eversley Bridge (external site) this occurs when the level is around 0.85 to 0.9m. The Blackwater Bridge is upstream by about 8 hours, so you can get an indication of what the level might do at Moor Green Lakes.
Group visits
If you are planning a group visit, as a courtesy, please check with us first to make sure you visit goes without a hitch. Also, it may be possible to arrange a guide for your visit.
Aims
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
Membership
If you enjoy visiting Moor Green Lakes, whether for birdwatching, walking, dog walking, or simply for being in nature for mental wellbeing, please consider becoming a member of the Moor Green Lakes Group to help us keep it a place worth visiting for both humans and nature.
Health and Safety issues on the Reserve.
If visitors identify any Health and Safety issues on the Reserve, then please report them to the Site Liaison Officer
Work Party schedule for 2026-2027 now available
Latest Newsletter - November 2026
Click image to open latest. Old issues available here.
Latest Annual Report - 2025
Click image to open latest. Old issues available here.
Volunteer work on the reserve
Sunday 26th July and Tuesday 28th July 2026 - Fencing
Small work parties worked on both days. Firstly, the rotting gate and adjoining gate post leading into the reserve were replaced. Some repairs were made to the adjoining wooden fence but still more to do. On the Tuesday work was completed in the car park replacing rotten posts and rails and creating a new permanent access onto the bridle path.
New gate and post installed. ©2026 Jane Heritage
Sunday 13th September 2026 - Grove hide and viewing screen
This is always the time when the volunteers tackle the reeds in front of Grove Lake hide and any growth in front of the viewing screen. These tasks ensure a good view of the lake during the winter when many birds visit Moor Green. Amongst the reeds a beautifully woven reed warbler’s nest was found, their song can be heard from the hide in the summer months.
Cutting the reeds and then removing it is hard work but the 20 volunteers very quickly create an amazing view of the lake.
Volunteers tackling the reeds in front of Grove hide. ©2026 Jane Heritage
Tuesday 15th September 2026 - Working near the birdfeeder
Tuesday is a BVCP work party day. The bird feeder paddock was given its annual hay cut using the power mower and the cuttings stacked nearby providing a cosy a home for many creatures.
The area in front of Colebrook hide was cleared, also a nearby scrape and some shoreline willow. This newly exposed scrape was popular with a snipe during the hide open day in October.
Clearance of the scrape viewed on the left of Colebrook hide. ©2026 Gillian Stewart
Sunday 12th October 2026 - Working on Long Island and Tern Island
The pontoon was put in place and a team of volunteers worked on Long Island, continuing the work started last year. The first task was to cut a way onto the island through the dense bracken. The large scrape to the right of the hide, an idea sight for visiting waders, had become obscured with new growth round the edges. This was quickly cleared. Other volunteers were taken over to Tern Island and, by lunchtime, it was cleared back to just gravel and everything transported back to shore by boat.
Tueday 14th October 2026 - Working on Long Island
After a short break until, a shower passed, a large BVCP team continued the work started on the Sunday working on Long Island. Some worked in the scrape to clear the rushes, others cleared growth on the south side of the island and Sandpiper Island was also given another trim.
A small team went to the north of Colebrook Lake North and trimmed bramble ready for the Robomower arriving the next day.
Colebrook hide view of cleared Long Island scrape. ©2026 Jane Heritage
Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th October 2026 - Arrival of the Robomower
Rangers Sara and Matt spent two days clearing the meadow alongside the path to the river, the tracks round the north of the reserve and the meadow near Goose Island where the work parties are to be based in December.
Ranger Sara with the Robomower. ©2026 Jane Heritage
For previous installments click here
If you are interesting in volunteering or for more information on planned work click here
