Woodberry Wetlands is a stunning wildlife oasis in Stoke Newington, east London. It spans 11 hectares, the equivalent of 13 football pitches. The focus of this haven is a reservoir which was built in 1833 but has been closed to the public ever since. It is surrounded by Woodberry Down’s dense mix of social housing estates, new development and Victorian terraces. The reserve is already attracting a new breed of young, urban, conservation volunteer.

From 1955-1980 chlorine and sodium phosphate gas were pumped into the reservoir to disinfect the water, preventing almost all wildlife from living there. Once this practice stopped, nature began to thrive, attracting species rarely seen so far into London. Six years ago, London Wildlife Trust began plans to make a new public nature reserve with the support of private and public sectors. London Wildlife Trust has now created over 13,000m2 of reedbed and planted 550m2 of hedgerow, wildflower meadows and fruit trees to attract birds, bees, butterflies and other insects. This cutting-edge wetland with its tower-block backdrop can now become an attraction for people too.

Just 20 minutes from Leicester Square in the centre of London, Woodberry Wetlands will open its doors to the public on Sunday 1 May 2016.

Woodberry Wetlands is the inspirational outcome of years of dedicated effort and a great partnership with Thames Water

Background

Originally built as storage for drinking water in the 19th century, the reservoir became recognised for its value to wildlife and was designated a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation in 1987. In 2007 London Wildlife Trust started a community garden in a closed corner and began to convert the reservoir into a nature reserve in 2010 with partners including landowner Thames Water. The conservation of both the built and natural heritage is central to this project: it aims to bring people closer to nature as well as to fulfil a vision for a greener London.

Woodberry Wetlands has some important historic buildings which were in urgent need of repair. Placed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, the Grade II listed Coal House, a former coal store and kitchen, has been completely restored and will be open for the public to enjoy as a visitor centre and café. A smaller Grade II structure, the Ivy Sluice House also stands on the site.

Stephanie Hilborne OBE, The Wildlife Trusts’ chief executive, says: “The Wildlife Trusts care for over 2,000 wild havens around the UK - refuges for wildlife until our wider countryside and cities become more hospitable to the animals and plants with which we share the world. These are natural places that people can enjoy day after day - and in urban areas they are particularly valuable as wild oases where people can switch off, be soothed by the rustle of wind blowing through reeds or be thrilled by the sight of a kingfisher. Woodberry Wetlands is the inspirational outcome of years of dedicated effort and a great partnership with Thames Water.”

Gordon Scorer, London Wildlife Trust’s chief executive, says: “Access to nature is incredibly important for people’s wellbeing, especially in built-up cities and towns. The rebirth of this reservoir, in the midst of one of London’s biggest housing regeneration projects, as a free-to-visit, natural resource, bringing nature within reach of a huge urban audience, demonstrates that nature, and all its benefits, can be successfully weaved into the fabric of London, and other cities, as they develop and grow.”

Richard Aylard, Thames Water sustainability director, says: “Our reservoirs play a vital role in supplying drinking water to millions of customers and it’s wonderful that they can do this while also providing a haven for wildlife and a place for local people to enjoy the great outdoors, close to the heart of London. We’re proud to be working in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust on the Woodberry Wetlands project which we feel sure will benefit the health and wellbeing, and quality of life, of all those who visit this very special site.”

What Woodberry Wetlands will offer

Year-round free admission to the site will be available daily. See the Woodberry Wetlands website for times. Woodberry Wetlands will also host a wide range of outdoor and wellbeing activities, wildlife walks and tours, educational and craft workshops, farmers markets, festivals and more. Full programme details are available from www.woodberrywetlands.org.uk/events.

Woodberry Wetlands history

Woodberry Wetlands has been created on the site of Stoke Newington East Reservoir, built in 1830-1833 to store fresh water in response to widespread contamination of the Thames and other local drinking water sources. The reservoir’s foundation was laid using bricks from the original London Bridge and is built on top of a hill. The reservoir remains an important part of London’s water supply – it is fed by the New River, an early 17th century feat of aqueduct engineering, designed by Sir Hugh Myddleton, which brings fresh spring water 45km from Hertfordshire. The reservoir has been owned by Thames Water since 1973 and is currently operated as a raw water store. It can hold more than 25,000 m3 of water for onward supply to the Copper Mill Treatment Plant in Walthamstow.

Throughout its lifespan, Woodberry Wetlands’ reservoir has quietly served its intended purpose, coexisting within its changing surroundings and little noticed by the public as it became engulfed by densely populated housing. The area which began as a luxury residence area – it included a former manor house of the Duke of Northumberland – had become derelict by the end of two world wars. Compulsory purchase orders of swathes of land followed and the development of the Woodberry Down estate ensued in the 1950s to house communities made homeless during the Blitz. Although the development was once hailed as a utopian success, this was short lived, and by the 1980s the estate was suffering from disrepair. In 2001 the area became the focus for regeneration.

The project

In 2010 London Wildlife Trust confirmed the potential for the East Reservoir and its historic buildings to be developed as a landmark conservation area for wildlife and public wellbeing, outdoor learning and community engagement. With the estate regeneration forming a dramatic backdrop to the restoration of the reservoir, the project was dubbed ‘Woodberry Wetlands’. The Trust’s initial proposition in 2010 was taken to landowner Thames Water and a partnership was forged along with other interested parties including Berkeley Homes and Hackney Council. Funding from Thames Water enabled London Wildlife Trust to commission the landscape architects Allen Scott to draw up infrastructure plans to help shape a Heritage Lottery Fund bid.

Heritage Lottery Fund granted funding to London Wildlife Trust for the project in late 2014, followed by support from Thames Water, Berkeley Homes, Hackney Council, Veolia Environmental Trust, Manor House Development Trust and the Association for Industrial Archaeology, and the project broke ground early in 2015.

Alongside the complete restoration of the Coal House property, major works took place over the subsequent year to enhance the habitat significantly and improve biodiversity throughout the reserve. Over 13,000 M2 of reedbed was created, with channels of water to protect the birdlife from predators such as cats and foxes.

The construction of Woodberry Wetlands has been the work of a project team consisting of London Wildlife Trust, landscape architects Allen Scott; architects Kaner Olette Architects; surveyors Huntley Cartright and contractors Salix and Bolt & Heeks. Allen Scott’s masterplan for Woodberry Wetlands (following the Trust’s initial vision) won a Landscape Institute Award (Neighbourhood Planning) in 2012.

Wildlife

The reservoirs serve primarily as a haven for waterfowl, particularly gadwall, shoveler, tufted duck, common waders and terns. National Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority species such as reed bunting, song thrush, kingfisher and Cetti’s warbler are known to breed at the reserve. (It is Hackney’s first breeding ground for Cetti’s warbler and is also regularly visited by kingfisher, and bittern in winter). As well as protecting its resident and migrant species, the project hopes to encourage declining birds such as water rail, little ringed plover, snipe and bittern.

As well as a foraging and roosting territory for bats, Woodberry Wetlands is a wonderful habitat for amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts and a wide range of invertebrates, such as dragon and damselflies, including the rare red-eyed damselfly, butterflies and moths. Woodberry Wetlands is also recognised as being a ‘feeder site’ to the International and European designated Lee Valley Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site, which includes the Walthamstow Reservoirs, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).