The EA West Thames Area report that:
The water, where a major enhancement project was carried out in 2005, has seen a remarkable improvement in terms of its ecological diversity. One of the most important features of the scheme was the creation of reedbed islands in the main body of the lake and around the margins. The reedbeds function as habitat for a wide range of birds and insects and also provide refuge areas for juvenile fish and help improve water quality.
Trees shading out some marginal reed beds were coppiced to let the light back in and encourage birds such as reed buntings and, warblers. Larger lake residents such as swans, geese, and ducks had caused erosion in bankside areas which the team replanted to encourage the birds onto more stable ground. Willow boughs were then strategically sunk to provide cover for fish stocks which were replenished with the arrival of 500 small tench from the EA’s fish rearing facility at Calverton.
