Stocker’s LakeNature Reserve

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Protecting Wildlife for the Future

Respect wildlife.

Keep dogs under strict control.

Bring your binoculars and wear suitable

clothing for watching wildlife.

Take your litter away with you.

Keep to the footpaths.

Enjoying ournature reservesTo enjoy your visit please…

Protecting Stocker’s LakeAs part of a chain of lakes, Stocker’s Lake is a vital link inthe Colne Valley Living Landscape. The Wildlife Trust’sLiving Landscape vision is about reconnecting andrestoring habitats on a large scale, helping wildlife to moveand adapt to a changing environment. The Wildlife Trustneeds your help to continue to protect places like this.

How you can help us We need your support to continue to protect local wildlife.

Why not:

n Join as a member – The majority of our incomecomes from our membership. We need you!

n Volunteer – work parties take place on the firstSunday of every month.

n Fundraise – get your workplace or school involvedand have fun raising money at the same time.

Visit our website to find out more

www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust Grebe House, St Michael’s Street, St Albans, AL3 4SN01727 858901 • info@hmwt.org Registered in England: 816710Registered Charity: 239863

Produced by Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust with funding from the City Bridge Trust.

Designed by Wildcat Design (wildcat1@ntlworld.com). Site map by Consort Design. Location map base by Location MapsLtd PU100029016. Photos by Tim Hill: Stocker’s Lake, common tern; Mike Lane/iStock.com: goldeneye (front cover); AndrewPalmer: pochard; Neil Phillips: grey herons. ref. 07/14

Watch out for...n Grey heronsn Common terns in summern Goldeneye in winter

Herts andMiddlesex

Uxbridge Road

Stocker’s LakeInnsLake

SpringwellLake

Grand

River Colne

Union Canal

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SCALE

500m

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Springwell Lane

Welcome to Stocker’s LakeNature ReserveTake a walk around Stocker’s Lakeand discover this reserve’s specialwildlife.

One of many old gravel pits in theColne Valley, Stocker’s Lake wasoriginally dug for gravel in the 1920sand 30s. Much of this went to build theold Wembley Stadium. Since gravelextraction ceased, the lake has fillednaturally with water creating thewildlife haven that you see today.

In winter, Stocker’s Lake becomes oneof the best places to birdwatch in theColne Valley as thousands of ducksmigrate in from places such as Russia,Iceland and Scandinavia. From Octoberto March, Stocker’s Lake is home toducks such as wigeon, goldeneye,shoveler and smew.

In summer, the lake supports over 60 species of breeding bird includingcommon terns, reed warblers andsedge warblers that migrate here from Africa.

n Getting aroundSize: 40 ha (100 acres).Wildlife Walk: Flat circular path around

the lake, 1½ miles in length.Surfaces: Mostly unsurfaced paths,

uneven and narrow in places.Muddy in winter.

Protecting Wildlife for the Future

n Heron watchpoint The large islands in the middleof the lake provide breedinghabitat for grey herons whichlike to nest in tall trees. This is the largest heronry inHertfordshire with 25 pairsreturning to their nests each year in late winter.

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Wildlife Walk

Public Footpath

Other Footpaths

Heron Watchpoint

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Bird Watching Hide

Kissing Gate

Bridge

Parking

n The hidesVisit the hides around the laketo get close-up views of duckssuch as pochard (pictured) andwoodland birds.

n Tern raftsLook across the lake to see therafts built to provide nestinghabitat for common terns. Look out for these birds swooping over the lake when they returnfrom Africa to breed here in the summer.

Key

To Rickmansworth ➞

To Harefield Road➞