Hilfield Park Reservoir (c) Charlotte Hussey
Hilfield Park Reservoir
This large expanse of water is a valuable refuge for waterfowl, including blacknecked grebe.
Location
OS Map Reference
TQ 152 959
Know before you go
Entry fee
FreeParking information
Use Affinity Water car park and lock gate behind you.Access
Heavily rutted tracks with a steep climb to the top of the dam.
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
April to July, November to FebruaryAbout the reserve
This large expanse of water is a valuable refuge for waterfowl, including blacknecked grebe. An important site for large numbers of wintering ducks, particularly mallard, shoveler, teal, wigeon and goldeneye. The area is of national importance for its summer populations of pochard, tufted duck and common tern. The marginal vegetation supports many breeding bird species such as reed bunting and sedge warbler. Around the margins of the reservoir are large marshy areas where many species of marsh plants flourish, including great reedmace, reed canary grass, phragmites and various sedges.
Hilfield Park Reservoir is owned by Affinity Water and managed by the Trust.
Access for Trust members only
Hilfield Park Reservoir is a locked site. Members of Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust are able to arrange access by contacting the office on 01727 858901 or info@hmwt.org to collect a key from Grebe House in St Albans. The key can be issued for a 24 hour period and a deposit of £10 is required.
Please note that, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Trust's offices are currently closed and we are unable to issue keys for Hilfield Park Reservoir.
Seasonal Highlights
Spring: Blackcap, black-necked grebe, orange tip, reed bunting.
Summer: Brown argus, common pipistrelle, marbled white, migrant hawker, meadow brown.
Autumn/ Winter: Goldeneye, goosander, pochard, smew, wigeon.
Directions
Site entrance: The entrance is on Hilfield Lane – there is no public access. Trust members only, borrow the key from the head office in St Albans.
Access by road: On A41 head south towards Edgware. Pass over M1 and turn left into Hilfield Lane after 0.5 miles. Entrance is 200 yards on the right.
Access by public transport
Bus: 306, 823 bus – Motorway Bridge on A411, Eltree Road. Reserve (1 mile).
Rail: Bushey or Elstree and Borehamwood (3 miles).
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