As I write this, Broadwater Lake Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), is undergoing major disruption from High Speed 2 construction work, and is sadly now facing another arguably greater threat. Hillingdon Council has submitted a planning application to develop a new Watersports and Outdoor Activity Centre at Broadwater Lake SSSI. This simply is not the right place for this development as I will explain.

Broadwater Lake sits within the Colne Valley Regional Park, which stretches from Rickmansworth in the north to Staines and the Thames in the south and from Uxbridge and Heathrow in the east to Slough and Chalfont St Peter in the west.

The Regional Park was established in 1967 to preserve areas for leisure, recreation and conservation of nature – it’s a setting where people can connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors, and a place where wildlife can find refuge. The Park’s rich mosaic of farmland, woodland and wetland, includes over 200km of river and over 60 lakes. This myriad of habitats and wildlife corridors is not just recognised for its importance locally but also nationally.

The Colne Valley’s diversity of wetlands support nationally significant populations of water birds including Pochard and Shoveler ducks as well as notable populations of Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorants and Grey Heron.  It’s the mix of wetlands, with plentiful food and undisturbed refuges that make the valley so attractive to this diversity of birds, some ducks flying from breeding grounds in northern Europe to find refuge here for the winter.

Landscape scale studies in 2008 and 2023 have identified two key refuges in the Colne Valley, Broadwater Lake and Stockers Lake. The Mid-Colne Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) encompasses Broadwater Lake, and this SSSI designation recognises its nationally significant populations of ducks, being one of the most important waterbodies for birds in the Colne Valley. Broadwater Lake also forms part of the Mid- Colne Valley Metropolitan Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, a designation recognising the importance of the area in London, the highest grade of recognition possible in our capital. It also plays an important role in the wider landscape, situated just over 10 km from the South West London Waterbodies Special Protection Area and Ramsar site which support similar species.

Broadwater Lake was created by sand and gravel extraction between the 1960s and 1980s. The 80-hectare lake itself represents 60% of the Mid-Colne Valley SSSI. The lake is bounded on the west by the River Colne – a chalk river , which is internationally rare, being one of only 220 worldwide. The size of the lake and its history as a refuge means that birds have come to rely on it as an undisturbed haven. Studies have shown that its function as an undisturbed refuge enables birds to exploit waters and habitats across and beyond the Colne Valley, able to fly back to Broadwater Lake when they are disturbed elsewhere. Little Egrets roosting here may feed as far away as the Chess Valley! The Colne Valley is also especially important for bats, most significantly, Daubenton’s and Pipistrelle, with maternity roosts abundant at Broadwater Lake.

Water margins provide a wonderful habitat for dragonflies and damselflies, whilst vegetated margins play host to Reed and Sedge Warblers. In late summer, Broadwater Lake becomes a key place of refuge for moulting Tufted Ducks, with 360 counted here in August 2023. During this time the ducks lose their flight feathers and are unable to fly therefore they seek out the quiet water with abundant food here. Any form of disturbance during this time causes the birds great stress and poses a real threat to their wellbeing.  The grasslands, wet woodland, reedbed and ponds add to the variety of habitats at the site all supporting a diverse suite of animals which depend on each of these habitats.

Unfortunately, the Trust’s nature reserve, which lies on the west of Broadwater Lake, is currently closed while HS2 Ltd carry out their construction work locally. This has meant that currently and for the past years people have been unable to experience and enjoy this wonderful wetland landscape. Prior to the closure I had the pleasure of leading many guided walks and courses here, teaching people about the incredible diversity of wildlife which depend on its habitats throughout the year.

Earlier this year, we called upon Government to re-evaluate nature loss in the Colne Valley following the publication of a new evidence report ‘HS2 double jeopardy: how the UK’s largest infrastructure project undervalued nature and overvalued its compensation measures’. The report revealed fundamental flaws in the way HS2 Ltd has assessed the value of nature along the construction path of HS2. You can find out more and read the full report here. 

Our most important places for nature shouldn't be placed under threat. Hillingdon Council’s proposal for a Water Sports Facility and Activity Centre threatens the very future of the wildlife which depends critically on Broadwater Lake. We are urging them to recognise that a nationally important wetland is clearly not the right place for this activity and that they find an alternative more suitable site. If Broadwater Lake, a nationally important SSSI is being proposed for development, it’s a really worrying precedent which begs the question, is anywhere for nature safe?

Please follow and support us as we stand up for wildlife at Broadwater Lake and together, let’s do all we can to protect this nationally important site from what is clearly an inappropriate development.

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Find out more about the threat to Broadwater Lake