Woodberry Wetlands
{{Short description|Nature reserve in the London Borough of Hackney}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Woodberry Wetlands
| iucn_category =
| photo = File:Stoke Newington East Reservoir.jpg
| photo_alt = Reservoir positioned to the centre with foliage and scrub surrounding its edges
| photo_caption = Woodberry Wetlands East Reservoir
| photo_width = 600
| location = Manor House, England
| nearest_city = London
| coordinates = {{coord|51|34|12|N|0|05|17|W|region:UK|display=inline, title}}
| established = 2014: Opened in spring 2016
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = London Wildlife Trust
| url = {{URL|wildlondon.org.uk/nature-reserves/woodberry-wetlands}}
}}
Woodberry Wetlands is a nature reserve and designated Site of Metropolitan Importance on the site of the East Reservoir in the Manor House area in the London Borough of Hackney. The site opened to the public for the first time in 200 years on 1 May 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.woodberrywetlands.org.uk/|title=Woodberry Wetlands - Home: A nature & wildlife reserve in heart of East London.|website=www.woodberrywetlands.org.uk|access-date=21 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.woodberrywetlands.org.uk/2016/03/woodberry-wetlands-feature-on-bbcs-the-one-show/|title=Woodberry Wetlands feature on BBC's The One Show|website=www.woodberrywetlands.org.uk|access-date=21 April 2018}} Covering {{convert|4.5|ha|acre|abbr=on}} and situated close to the Lee Valley, Woodberry Wetlands was acquired as a nature reserve in 2014. The site is owned by Thames Water and run by London Wildlife Trust.
After a major redevelopment the East Reservoir now offers free public access. The reserve was developed by London Wildlife Trust in collaboration with Thames Water, Berkeley Homes and London Borough of Hackney, with funding from Heritage Lottery Fund.{{cite web|title = Woodberry Wetlands|url = http://www.neighbourhoodsgreen.org.uk/Woodberrywetland|website = www.neighbourhoodsgreen.org.uk|access-date = 2015-10-27}} The site contains a boardwalk, a visitors' centre with café, toilet facilities and a classroom. The New River Path runs alongside the northern edge of the reservoir. This forms part of a cycle route connecting to Walthamstow Wetlands, badged as the 'Wetlands to Wetlands Greenway'.
History
File:The New River by the Woodberry Down Estate.jpg ]]
File:Woodberry Wetlands entrance - Hackney, London, England.png
Before the 1600s London's water supply was mostly reliant on the River Thames, local streams, wells and springs.{{cite web|title = The New River – Recreational sites – Thames Water|url = http://www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/17250.htm?source=newriver|website = www.thameswater.co.uk|access-date = 2015-10-27}} King James I authorised the construction of the New River in 1604 to bring clean water from springs in Hertfordshire and Middlesex to London.
Created in 1833, the reservoirs stored water from The New River. The banks of the reservoirs were lined at higher levels with stones taken from London Bridge,{{cite web|url = http://www.hackneysociety.org/documents/Woodberry_Down_and_the_Stoke_Newington_Reservoirs.docx|title = Woodberry Wetlands and the Stoke Newington Reservoirs Word Document|publisher = Hackney Council}} then in the course of demolition.
Presently, water is temporarily held at the East Reservoir before processing at Walthamstow Reservoirs. The west reservoir has been converted into a water sports centre.{{cite web|url=http://www.better.org.uk/leisure/stoke-newington-west-reservoir-centre|title=West Reservoir Centre - Hackney - Better leisure|website=www.better.org.uk|access-date=21 April 2018}}
Ecology
File:Bittern - Botaurus stellaris.jpg
Woodberry Wetlands is located close to the Lee Valley and is a resting place for migratory birds that move to and from the Lee Valley Special Protection Area, with waterfowl such as pochard, shoveler and gadwall visiting the site. Grey heron, tufted duck, reed bunting and other wetland birds are also present, along with kingfisher and other species such as damselflies, dragonflies, amphibians and bats.{{cite web|title = the systematic list|url = http://snrbirds.org.uk/the-birds/the-systematic-list/|website = The Birds of Stoke Newington Reservoirs|access-date = 2015-10-27|language = en-US}}
A significant expansion of the reed beds, organised by London Wildlife Trust, provides increased wildlife habitat with the aim of encouraging more reed bunting and reed warbler to breed at the site, as well as provide additional habitat for overwintering bittern.{{cite web|title = Tracking the elusive Bittern|url = https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk/en/content/cms/news/tracking-the-elusive-bittern/|website = www.visitleevalley.org.uk|access-date = 2015-10-27}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.woodberrywetlands.org.uk}}
- [https://sites.google.com/site/stokenewingtonreservoirs/wildlife-the-reservoirs-nature-society-terns-birds/systematic-list The Systematic List of Birds of Stoke Newington Reservoirs & Woodberry Wetlands]
{{London Wildlife Trust}}
{{Parks and open spaces in London}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:}}
Category:London Wildlife Trust
Category:Nature reserves in the London Borough of Hackney
Category:Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Hackney