Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

Situated beside the River Thames, this attractive, reed-fringed reservoir (also known as 'Leg O'Mutton Reservoir' due to its shape) is very important for water birds, amphibians and bats. Nesting birds include pochard ( a nationally scarce breeding bird) mute swan, great crested grebe, little grebe, tufted duck, common tern and grey heron. Much greater numbers and variety of waterfowl are present in winter, with good numbers of shoveler, tufted duck, pochard, great crested grebe, cormorant and gadwall. This is one of the best sites in London for feeding bats, with common and soprano pipistrelles, noctule and Natterer's bats all recorded. Four species of amphibians can be found, including the specially protected great crested newt. Reeds fringe much of the lake, and more diverse aquatic vegetation is present at the southern end, including bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) and frogbit (Hydrochaeris morsus-ranae), both rare in London. The reservoir is surrounded by woodland, mostly of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). Birds nesting in the woodland include lesser spotted woodpecker, blackcap and willow warbler. Lonsdale Road Reservoir is a Local Nature Reserve and there is free public access.