Hilfield Park Reservoir

About 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.

Pre-arranged access for HMWT Members
Hilfield Reservoir is a locked site. Members of Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust are able to arrange access by contacting the HMWT office on 01727 858901 or info@hmwt.org.

Members can arrange to collect a key from Grebe House in St Albans. The key can be issued for a 24 hour period. A deposit of £10 is required.

Non-members are welcome to come along to our HMWT events held at the Reservoir – keep an eye out for what’s coming up on our events pages.

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.