Brent Reservoir
Encyclopedia
The Brent Reservoir is a reservoir which straddles the boundary between the London boroughs of Brent
and Barnet
and is owned by British Waterways. The reservoir takes its informal name from a public house called The Welsh Harp, which stood nearby until the early 1970s.
The reservoir is fed by the Silk Stream
and the River Brent
, and its outflow is the River Brent. It is said to contain enough water to fill 3 million baths, and in 1994 when the reservoir was drained, more than 6700 lb (3,039.1 kg) of fish were captured, 95% of which were Roach
. However, fishing is prohibited.
The reservoir has a sailing
centre, home to BTYC Sailsports, Wembley Sailing club, Seahorse Sailing Club, the Sea Scouts, and the University of London Sailing club. In 1960, it also hosted the Women's European Rowing Championships.
and the Regent's Canal
so under an Act of Parliament in 1819, the Regent's Canal Company decided to dam the River Brent and create a reservoir.
The reservoir was constructed by William Hoof between 1834 and 1835. The water flooded much of Cockman’s Farm, to supply the Regent's Canal at Paddington
. It was called Kingsbury Reservoir and its 69 acres (279,233.3 m²) spread between Old Kingsbury Church and Edgware Road. Hoof, who was awarded the tender for the work (including the construction of a bridge) received the sum of £2,740 and six shillings.
Construction did not proceed without problems; in August 1835, a few months before completion, four brothers named Sidebottom drowned in an accident.
Additional building was completed in December 1837 to extend the reservoir. In 1841 after seven days of continuous rain the dam head collapsed, killing two people. It was after this that a supervisor was employed for the first time, with a cottage near the dam. This cottage still exists.
At its greatest extent it covered 400 acres (1.6 km²) in 1853, but was reduced to 195 acres (789,000 m²) in the 1890s, and subsequently reduced to 110 acres (445,000 m²).
, created the tavern along the lines of the London Pleasure gardens (ironically at the same time when the most famous of all, the Vauxhall finally closed). For 40 years, Warner made the Old Welsh Harp Tavern one of London's most popular places and it was celebrated in song by the music hall star Annie Adams as 'The Jolliest Place That's Out'.
The amusements were focused not just on the inn, but around the reservoir. Warner operated a race track until an Act of Parliament made it illegal. The first greyhound races
with mechanical hare
s took place here in 1876. In 1891, there was an attempt by Capazza to launch his Patent Parachute Balloon, which failed to leave the ground. Accounts record 'nasty incidents' among the 5000 spectators. These activities attracted a mixed clientele and crime and violence was not uncommon. One observer described the races as a 'carnival of vice'. The reservoir, like nearby Hampstead Heath
, was also famous for Bank Holiday
fairs. There was an incident during its Victorian heyday when a bear escaped from the menagerie.
centre, home to BTYC Sailsports, Wembley Sailing club, Seahorse Sailing Club, the Sea Scouts, and the University of London Sailing club. In 1960, it also hosted the Women's European Rowing Championships. More than 200 competitors and officials attended, with 5,000 spectators. The BBC
and Eurovision televised the event.
. He received a silver cup from the licensee of the Welsh Harp Hotel, who had sponsored the race. For many years Markham had a bicycle shop at nearby 345 Edgware Road.
The race was held the day after what is often referred to as the world's first race, in the park at St Cloud west of Paris. It was won by another Englishman, James Moore
. His grandson, John, believes Moore is buried near the reservoir.
gathered at the Welsh Harp from 1921, until in June 1930 about 250 sunbathers were attacked by 200 objectors. This is referred to as "The Sun-Bathing Riots".
built its Welsh Harp station
in 1870 on its new line from Bedford
to St.Pancras
. The area lost its attraction with the development of West Hendon
between 1895 and 1915 and the station closed in 1903.
, part of the War Office
based nearby in Cricklewood
, used the Welsh Harp for secret tests of a new weapon from 1916 - the Tank
, especially the amphibious Mark IX tank
. Early film of these tests was shown on British
Television
in the late 1990s. During the Second World War, a seaplane kept on the reservoir was rumoured to be an escape route for the Prime Minister
. Local residents have recounted swimming to the plane.
and Walpole-Bond were regular visitors and shot many birds. Harting documented these in his 1866 book the Birds of Middlesex. They included rare vagrants to the UK such as Little Bittern
, Squacco Heron
and White-rumped Sandpiper
. This started an interest in the birds of the Welsh Harp that continues until today, giving a unique historical perspective of a site in London. The next prominent ornithologist was William Glegg
from the 1920s onwards and he wrote a paper for the London Naturalist in 1930 called 'The Birds of Middlesex since 1866, then a follow-up book to Harting's in 1935, called A History of the Birds of Middlesex. After the Second World War, a new generation of ornithologists took an interest, such as Professor Warmington, and Eric Simms (Naturalist), who lived just south of the reservoir in Dollis Hill
. They were joined by Dr Leo Batten in the late 1950s. He still visits the reservoir today and was one of the movers in setting up the Welsh Harp Conservation Group (WHCG) in 1972 to fight off development. The WHCG has worked to protect the area as a nature reserve, including preventing a golf course and driving range from being built. The WHCG produces an annual report and also published a book about the reservoir – Birds of Brent Reservoir – in 2000, which includes chapters on the social history, the effects of urbanisation, the habitats, as well as a study of the birds and other wildlife. The WHCG organise management work, such as annual refurbishment of the tern rafts and work with Brent and Barnet councils on site management, including applying for National Lottery
bids.
The reservoir and much of its shoreline is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
, mainly due to the diversity of breeding waterbirds. It is the only SSSI in Barnet and Brent. The reservoir and surrounding area is a Local Nature Reserve
.
, Gadwall
, Shoveler
, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck
and Common Tern
. At one stage, the reservoir was second only to Rutland Water
for the most breeding pairs of Great Crested Grebe in the UK. Other breeding birds include eight species of warbler
. In 2008, the first nesting attempt by Great Cormorant
took place as well as the first nesting attempt by Grey Heron
for several years, neither attempt was successful.
The reservoir has always enjoyed a reputation for rare birds. As well those documented above during its early days, it attracted two Black-winged Stilt
s in 1918; the first Great White Egret in London in 1997; Blue-winged Teal
in 1996; Lesser Scaup
in 2003 and Penduline Tit
s in 1996 and 1997. Remarkably for an inland site, it also attracted rare warblers, notably Aquatic Warbler
in 1955, Hume's Warbler in 2004, Yellow-browed Warbler
s in 1994 and 2003; however, most significant was an Iberian Chiffchaff on 3 June 1972, the first record in the UK.
The current list of birds recorded at the reservoir is 250 species. The most recent species added to the list was Montagu's Harrier
in September 2009.
, the closest site for these to the centre of London. Scarce species include a single Dark Green Fritillary
in 1999. Prior to the construction of the reservoir, marsh fritillary
used to breed. Dragonflies have been studied and 15 species have been seen, of which 12 breed at the reservoir.
the most obvious; the red fox
is common but mostly nocturnal. Muntjac
have been present since the beginning of the 21st century but are shy, their presence noted mainly by tracks although there have been a few sightings during the day in 2008. The reservoir is notable for bats with three species of pipistrelle, noctule, Leisler's bat, serotine and Daubenton's bat
all recorded on a single day in September 2007. Regular bat detection evenings throughout 2008 have shown that Nathusius' pipistrelle is present and may be breeding at or near the reservoir.
.
for 2010-11. There is access from Birchen Grove.
London Borough of Brent
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 2,022. This rose slowly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 5,646 in the middle of the century. When the railways arrived the rate of population growth increased...
and Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 331,500 and covers . It borders Hertfordshire to the north and five other London boroughs: Harrow and Brent to the west, Camden and Haringey to the south-east and Enfield to the...
and is owned by British Waterways. The reservoir takes its informal name from a public house called The Welsh Harp, which stood nearby until the early 1970s.
The reservoir is fed by the Silk Stream
Silk Stream
The Silk Stream is a brook in the London Borough of Barnet. It is one of the major components of the Blue Ribbon Network.The Silk Stream is a tributary of the River Brent, which it joins at Brent Reservoir. It has several tributaries including Burnt Oak Brook, Edgware Brook, the Edgwarebury Brook...
and the River Brent
River Brent
The Brent is a river within Greater London which is a tributary of the River Thames. It is 17.9 miles long, running north-east to south-west, and it joins the Thames on the Tideway at Brentford, Hounslow.- Hydronymy and etymology :...
, and its outflow is the River Brent. It is said to contain enough water to fill 3 million baths, and in 1994 when the reservoir was drained, more than 6700 lb (3,039.1 kg) of fish were captured, 95% of which were Roach
Rutilus
Rutilus is a genus of fishes in the family Cyprinidae, commonly called roaches. Locally, the name "roach" without any further qualifiers is also used for particular species, particularly the Common Roach Rutilus (Latin for "shining, red, golden, auburn") is a genus of fishes in the family...
. However, fishing is prohibited.
The reservoir has a sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
centre, home to BTYC Sailsports, Wembley Sailing club, Seahorse Sailing Club, the Sea Scouts, and the University of London Sailing club. In 1960, it also hosted the Women's European Rowing Championships.
Construction of the reservoir
Plans for the construction laid in 1803 were abandoned because of cost. However canals continued to develop in the early 19th century and there were water supply problems. By 1820 there was not enough water to supply the Grand Union CanalGrand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
and the Regent's Canal
Regent's Canal
Regent's Canal is a canal across an area just north of central London, England. It provides a link from the Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal, just north-west of Paddington Basin in the west, to the Limehouse Basin and the River Thames in east London....
so under an Act of Parliament in 1819, the Regent's Canal Company decided to dam the River Brent and create a reservoir.
The reservoir was constructed by William Hoof between 1834 and 1835. The water flooded much of Cockman’s Farm, to supply the Regent's Canal at Paddington
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
. It was called Kingsbury Reservoir and its 69 acres (279,233.3 m²) spread between Old Kingsbury Church and Edgware Road. Hoof, who was awarded the tender for the work (including the construction of a bridge) received the sum of £2,740 and six shillings.
Construction did not proceed without problems; in August 1835, a few months before completion, four brothers named Sidebottom drowned in an accident.
At its greatest extent it covered 400 acres (1.6 km²) in 1853, but was reduced to 195 acres (789,000 m²) in the 1890s, and subsequently reduced to 110 acres (445,000 m²).
Sport and recreation
During the second half of the 19th century the area became a destination for recreation and evening entertainment, almost entirely due to W.P. Warner (1832–1899), who in 1858 became licensee of the Old Welsh Harp Tavern. The tavern stood on the Edgware Road, near where it crossed the Brent. Warner, who fought with distinction in the Crimean WarCrimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, created the tavern along the lines of the London Pleasure gardens (ironically at the same time when the most famous of all, the Vauxhall finally closed). For 40 years, Warner made the Old Welsh Harp Tavern one of London's most popular places and it was celebrated in song by the music hall star Annie Adams as 'The Jolliest Place That's Out'.
The amusements were focused not just on the inn, but around the reservoir. Warner operated a race track until an Act of Parliament made it illegal. The first greyhound races
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
with mechanical hare
Hare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
s took place here in 1876. In 1891, there was an attempt by Capazza to launch his Patent Parachute Balloon, which failed to leave the ground. Accounts record 'nasty incidents' among the 5000 spectators. These activities attracted a mixed clientele and crime and violence was not uncommon. One observer described the races as a 'carnival of vice'. The reservoir, like nearby Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is a large, ancient London park, covering . This grassy public space sits astride a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate, which rests on a band of London clay...
, was also famous for Bank Holiday
Bank Holiday
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom or a colloquialism for public holiday in Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days, depending on their contract...
fairs. There was an incident during its Victorian heyday when a bear escaped from the menagerie.
Water sport
The reservoir was popular for speed boat and other water sports, until its size became unsuitable. The reservoir has a sailingSailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
centre, home to BTYC Sailsports, Wembley Sailing club, Seahorse Sailing Club, the Sea Scouts, and the University of London Sailing club. In 1960, it also hosted the Women's European Rowing Championships. More than 200 competitors and officials attended, with 5,000 spectators. The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and Eurovision televised the event.
Cycling
The first formal cycle race was held at the Welsh Harp on 1 June 1868. It was won by Arthur MarkhamArthur Markham (cyclist)
Arthur Matthew Markham was an English cyclist who won the first formal cycle race held in Britain-Biography:Markham won what is said to be the first formal cycle race held in Britain. It was in a meadow at Brent Reservoir, known locally as the Welsh Harp, in north-west London on Whitsun Monday, 1...
. He received a silver cup from the licensee of the Welsh Harp Hotel, who had sponsored the race. For many years Markham had a bicycle shop at nearby 345 Edgware Road.
The race was held the day after what is often referred to as the world's first race, in the park at St Cloud west of Paris. It was won by another Englishman, James Moore
James Moore (cyclist)
James Moore was a bicycle racer. He is popularly regarded as the winner of the first official cycle race in the world in 1868 at St-Cloud, Paris, although there appears to be no verifiable contemporary evidence for this...
. His grandson, John, believes Moore is buried near the reservoir.
Ice sports
In winter, the reservoir froze for skating; national and international ice-skating events were held. In February 1893, Jack Selby drove a coach and four horses across the reservoir. Towards the end of the 19th century, urbanisation led to the end of this hedonistic chapter.Miscellaneous
NaturistsNaturism
Naturism or nudism is a cultural and political movement practising, advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism....
gathered at the Welsh Harp from 1921, until in June 1930 about 250 sunbathers were attacked by 200 objectors. This is referred to as "The Sun-Bathing Riots".
Transport
The Midland RailwayMidland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
built its Welsh Harp station
Welsh Harp railway station
Welsh Harp railway station was built by the Midland Railway in 1870 on its extension to St. Pancras station.-History:The station opened on 2 May 1870. With a single island platform between the slow lines, it was important for people escaping from the City for a day out, fishing or boating on the...
in 1870 on its new line from Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
to St.Pancras
St Pancras railway station
St Pancras railway station, also known as London St Pancras and since 2007 as St Pancras International, is a central London railway terminus celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London Borough of Camden, between the...
. The area lost its attraction with the development of West Hendon
West Hendon
West Hendon is a place in the London Borough of Barnet.-History:West Hendon was a settlement within that part of the ancient parish of Hendon known as the Hyde, and is now a part of the London Borough of Barnet. It was formally known, from 1878–1890, as New Hendon, a small railway development on...
between 1895 and 1915 and the station closed in 1903.
War history
The Mechanical Warfare DepartmentPercival Perry, 1st Baron Perry
Percival Lea Dewhurst Perry, 1st Baron Perry KBE , English motor vehicle manufacturer, was chairman of Ford Motor Company Limited for 20 years from its incorporation in 1928 completing almost a lifetime's work with Henry Ford...
, part of the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
based nearby in Cricklewood
Cricklewood
Cricklewood is a district of North London, England whose northeastern part is in the London Borough of Barnet, western part is the London Borough of Brent and southeastern part is in London Borough of Camden.-History:...
, used the Welsh Harp for secret tests of a new weapon from 1916 - the Tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
, especially the amphibious Mark IX tank
Mark IX tank
The Mark IX tank was a British armoured fighting vehicle from the First World War, the world's first specialised Armoured Personnel Carrier .-Development:...
. Early film of these tests was shown on British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
in the late 1990s. During the Second World War, a seaplane kept on the reservoir was rumoured to be an escape route for the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
. Local residents have recounted swimming to the plane.
Wildlife and nature conservation
During construction, the Welsh Harp attracted uncommon birds. James Edmund HartingJames Edmund Harting
James Edmund Fotheringham Harting was an English ornithologist and naturalist.-Biography:James Edmund Harting was the eldest son of James Vincent Harting and Alexine Milne Fotheringham. He was educated at Downside Abbey and the University of London and spent much of his youth traveling...
and Walpole-Bond were regular visitors and shot many birds. Harting documented these in his 1866 book the Birds of Middlesex. They included rare vagrants to the UK such as Little Bittern
Little Bittern
The Little Bittern is a wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, native to the Old World, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, western and southern Asia, and Madagascar. Birds from temperate regions in Europe and western Asia are migratory, wintering in Africa and further south in...
, Squacco Heron
Squacco Heron
The Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, is a small heron, long, of which the body is , with wingspan. It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Europe and the Greater Middle East.-Behaviour:...
and White-rumped Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
The White-rumped Sandpiper is a small shorebird.Adults have black legs and a small thin dark bill. The body is dark brown on top and mainly white underneath, with brown streaks on the breast and a white rump. They have a white stripe over their eyes. This bird shows long wings in flight. In winter...
. This started an interest in the birds of the Welsh Harp that continues until today, giving a unique historical perspective of a site in London. The next prominent ornithologist was William Glegg
William Glegg
William Glegg was the founder of the Calday Grange Grammar School. A man of considerable local standing, he founded the school in 1636. He gave of land to provide an annual income of £12 per year for a schoolmaster...
from the 1920s onwards and he wrote a paper for the London Naturalist in 1930 called 'The Birds of Middlesex since 1866, then a follow-up book to Harting's in 1935, called A History of the Birds of Middlesex. After the Second World War, a new generation of ornithologists took an interest, such as Professor Warmington, and Eric Simms (Naturalist), who lived just south of the reservoir in Dollis Hill
Dollis Hill
Dollis Hill is an area of north-west London. It lies close to Willesden, in the London Borough of Brent. As a result, Dollis Hill is sometimes referred as being part of Willesden, especially by the national press...
. They were joined by Dr Leo Batten in the late 1950s. He still visits the reservoir today and was one of the movers in setting up the Welsh Harp Conservation Group (WHCG) in 1972 to fight off development. The WHCG has worked to protect the area as a nature reserve, including preventing a golf course and driving range from being built. The WHCG produces an annual report and also published a book about the reservoir – Birds of Brent Reservoir – in 2000, which includes chapters on the social history, the effects of urbanisation, the habitats, as well as a study of the birds and other wildlife. The WHCG organise management work, such as annual refurbishment of the tern rafts and work with Brent and Barnet councils on site management, including applying for National Lottery
National Lottery (United Kingdom)
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.It is operated by Camelot Group, to whom the licence was granted in 1994, 2001 and again in 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission, and was established by the then...
bids.
The reservoir and much of its shoreline is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
, mainly due to the diversity of breeding waterbirds. It is the only SSSI in Barnet and Brent. The reservoir and surrounding area is a Local Nature Reserve
Local Nature Reserve
Local nature reserve or LNR is a designation for nature reserves in the United Kingdom. The designation has its origin in the recommendations of the Wild Life Conservation Special Committee which established the framework for nature conservation in the United Kingdom and suggested a national suite...
.
Birds of the reservoir
The reservoir is an important site for breeding waterbirds such as Great Crested GrebeGreat Crested Grebe
The Great Crested Grebe is a member of the grebe family of water birds.- Description :The Great Crested Grebe is long with a wingspan. It is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its fish prey underwater. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations...
, Gadwall
Gadwall
The Gadwall is a common and widespread duck of the family Anatidae.- Description :The Gadwall is 46–56 cm long with a 78–90 cm wingspan. The male is slightly larger than the female, weighing on average 990 g against her 850 g...
, Shoveler
Shoveler
The shovelers, formerly known as shovellers, are four species of dabbling ducks with long, broad spatula-shaped beaks:* Red Shoveler, Anas platalea* Cape Shoveler, Anas smithii* Australasian Shoveler, Anas rhynchotis...
, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck
Tufted Duck
The Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula, is a medium-sized diving duck with a population of close to one million birds.- Description :The adult male is all black except for white flanks and a blue-grey bill. It has an obvious head tuft that gives the species its name.The adult female is brown with paler...
and Common Tern
Common Tern
The Common Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a circumpolar distribution, breeding in temperate and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and east and central North America. It is strongly migratory, wintering in coastal tropical and subtropical regions. It is sometimes...
. At one stage, the reservoir was second only to Rutland Water
Rutland Water
Rutland Water is Anglian Water's drinking water reservoir in the county of Rutland, England, just east of the county town Oakham. It was known as Empingham Reservoir during its construction and until its official opening in 1976. The centre of its dam is at British national grid reference...
for the most breeding pairs of Great Crested Grebe in the UK. Other breeding birds include eight species of warbler
Warbler
There are a number of Passeriformes called "warblers". They are not particularly closely related, but share some characteristics, such as being fairly small, vocal and insectivorous....
. In 2008, the first nesting attempt by Great Cormorant
Great Cormorant
The Great Cormorant , known as the Great Black Cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere, the Black Cormorant in Australia and the Black Shag further south in New Zealand, is a widespread member of the cormorant family of seabirds...
took place as well as the first nesting attempt by Grey Heron
Grey Heron
The Grey Heron , is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions...
for several years, neither attempt was successful.
The reservoir has always enjoyed a reputation for rare birds. As well those documented above during its early days, it attracted two Black-winged Stilt
Black-winged Stilt
The Black-winged Stilt or Common Stilt is a widely distributed very long-legged wader in the avocet and stilt family . Opinions differ as to whether the birds treated under the scientific name H. himantopus ought to be treated as a single species and if not, how many species to recognize...
s in 1918; the first Great White Egret in London in 1997; Blue-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
The Blue-winged Teal is a small dabbling duck from North America.-Description:The Blue-winged Teal is long, with a wingspan of , and a weight of . The adult male has a greyish blue head with a white facial crescent, a light brown body with a white patch near the rear and a black tail. The adult...
in 1996; Lesser Scaup
Lesser Scaup
The Lesser Scaup is a small North American diving duck that migrates south as far as Central America in winter. It is colloquially known as the Little Bluebill or Broadbill because of its distinctive blue bill...
in 2003 and Penduline Tit
Penduline tit
The penduline tits are a family of small passerine birds, related to the true tits. All but the Verdin and Fire-capped Tit make elaborate bag nests hanging from trees , usually over water; inclusion of the Fire-capped Tit in this family is disputed by some authorities.-Characteristics:Penduline...
s in 1996 and 1997. Remarkably for an inland site, it also attracted rare warblers, notably Aquatic Warbler
Aquatic Warbler
The Aquatic Warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola, is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It breeds in temperate eastern Europe and western Asia, with an estimated population of 15,000 pairs. It is migratory, wintering in west Africa...
in 1955, Hume's Warbler in 2004, Yellow-browed Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
The Yellow-browed Warbler is a leaf warbler which breeds in temperate Asia. This warbler is strongly migratory and winters mainly in tropical southeast Asia, but also in small numbers in western Europe...
s in 1994 and 2003; however, most significant was an Iberian Chiffchaff on 3 June 1972, the first record in the UK.
The current list of birds recorded at the reservoir is 250 species. The most recent species added to the list was Montagu's Harrier
Montagu's Harrier
The Montagu's Harrier is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family. Its common name commemorates the British naturalist George Montagu.-Plumage:...
in September 2009.
Insects
Many other forms of wildlife have also been studied and were documented in the WHCG book. There have been 28 species of butterfly at the reservoir, including breeding Marbled White and RingletRinglet
The Ringlet is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is only one of the numerous "ringlet" butterflies in the tribe Satyrini.-External links:* http://www.eurobutterflies.com/species_pages/hyperantus.htm...
, the closest site for these to the centre of London. Scarce species include a single Dark Green Fritillary
Dark Green Fritillary
The Dark Green Fritillary is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.The insect has a wide range in the Palearctic ecozone - Europe, Morocco, Iran , Siberia, Central Asia, China, Korea and Japan.-Subspecies:...
in 1999. Prior to the construction of the reservoir, marsh fritillary
Marsh Fritillary
The Marsh Fritillary, Euphydryas aurinia, is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.It is widespread in the Palaearctic region from Ireland in the West to Yakutia in the East, and to North-west China and Mongolia in the South.E. aurinia is represented by many subspecies.The most widely accepted...
used to breed. Dragonflies have been studied and 15 species have been seen, of which 12 breed at the reservoir.
Mammals
Few mammals are seen, the grey squirrelEastern Gray Squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and to the southerly portions of the eastern provinces of Canada...
the most obvious; the red fox
Red Fox
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
is common but mostly nocturnal. Muntjac
Muntjac
Muntjac, also known as Barking Deer and Mastreani Deer, are small deer of the genus Muntiacus. Muntjac are the oldest known deer, appearing 15–35 million years ago, with remains found in Miocene deposits in France, Germany and Poland....
have been present since the beginning of the 21st century but are shy, their presence noted mainly by tracks although there have been a few sightings during the day in 2008. The reservoir is notable for bats with three species of pipistrelle, noctule, Leisler's bat, serotine and Daubenton's bat
Daubenton's bat
Daubenton's Bat, Myotis daubentonii, is a Eurasian bat with quite short ears. It ranges from Britain to Japan and is considered to be increasing its numbers in many areas.The name commemorates the French naturalist Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton....
all recorded on a single day in September 2007. Regular bat detection evenings throughout 2008 have shown that Nathusius' pipistrelle is present and may be breeding at or near the reservoir.
Neasden Recreation Ground
Neasden Recreation Ground is a park of 4.5 hectares on the southern shore of the reservoir. It is mainly grassland with woods, a sports ground and a children's play area. There is access from Aboyne Road and from North Circular Road, opposite Brook Road and close to Staples CornerStaples Corner
Staples Corner is a major road junction in London, United Kingdom.It has two linked roundabouts and flyovers, which connect the A406 North Circular Road with the A5 Edgware Road and the start of the M1 motorway...
.
Welsh Harp Open Space
Welsh Harp Open Space is a park and nature reserve of 9.43 hectares on the north west shore. It was established as a recreational area in 1965, and received a Green Flag AwardGreen Flag Award
The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom. The scheme was set up in 1996 to recognise and reward green spaces in England and Wales that met the laid down high standards...
for 2010-11. There is access from Birchen Grove.
See also
- Barnet parks and open spacesBarnet parks and open spacesThe London Borough of Barnet, located on the northern periphery of London and having much of the area within its boundaries in the Metropolitan Green Belt, has a large number of parks and open spaces...
- Brent parks and open spacesBrent parks and open spacesThe London Borough of Brent, an Outer London borough to the north west of the conurbation, has about 100 parks and open spaces within its boundaries. These include recreation and sports grounds, a large country park, and a large reservoir...
- Nature reserves in BarnetNature reserves in BarnetNature Reserves in Barnet is a table of Local Nature Reserves listed on the Mayor of London's Wildweb website which are wholly or partly in the London Borough of Barnet. Most of them are described as Sites of Nature Conservation Importance instead of LNRs in Barnet's Unitary Development Plan...
- List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Greater London