SP9313 : Graham Atkins in the Centre Bird Hide for the Book Signing
taken 12 years ago, near to Marsworth, Buckinghamshire, England



THE EVENT Link


George Goddard and Graham Atkins, two of the 'founding fathers' of BBOWT's College Lake nature reserve were honoured at a rededication and book signing event on Saturday, 21 September, 2013.
See also
SP9313 : Graham Atkins approaching the College Lake Visitors Centre
SP9313 : Light Refreshments in the Bird Hide at College Lake
SP9313 : Lining up for a Photo outside the Visitors Centre, College Lake
SP9313 : Discussing the Event at College Lake
Work started on the current Visitors' Centre in 2009, which was designed to contain many eco-friendly features. It was opened the following year, and includes a reception area, small cafe (drinks, sandwiches, cakes, and ice creams) with views over the reserve, a display area, toilets and staff offices. There is a large hide with excellent views over the reserve immediately adjacent to it.
There are good disabled facilities and mobility vehicles can be arranged for those who cannot walk round the reserve.
College Lake is a large nature reserve with a very wide variety of habitats created from a large chalk pit. There is a large area of marsh with islands, and a deep water lake, while the cliffs surrounding the pit are in various stages of being "recovered" by nature. There is open meadow land and an area kept as an old fashioned cornfield full of flowers. There is woodland all round the area (originally planted to hide the quarry) and a large new woodland of native trees and shrubs. This all means that whatever time of the year you visit you can expect to see a wide variety of wildlife.
There are good facilities for the visitor (and for school parties), including many hides, and displays of old agricultural equipment. It is run by the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust. Link