Kempton Park East Reservoir Archives - Remote London https://www.remotelondon.com/tag/kempton-park-east-reservoir/ Wild spaces & solitude on the edges of London Fri, 15 May 2020 16:45:12 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://www.remotelondon.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Greater-London-outline-favicon.png Kempton Park East Reservoir Archives - Remote London https://www.remotelondon.com/tag/kempton-park-east-reservoir/ 32 32 179982959 Kempton Nature Reserve; a high security ex-reservoir in west London https://www.remotelondon.com/kempton-nature-reserve-a-high-security-ex-reservoir-in-west-london/ Wed, 08 Jan 2020 16:10:00 +0000 https://www.remotelondon.com/?p=696 Kempton Nature Reserve is a decommissioned and largely drained reservoir in west London. The site is now an internationally important nature…

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Kempton Nature Reserve is a decommissioned and largely drained reservoir in west London. The site is now an internationally important nature reserve, protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for the wildfowl which winter here.

Access is restricted, with only one open day each year, although there is a local membership scheme. Security is tight, with the reservoir ringed by a high fence. Two of the three bird hides are likewise protected by high security fencing; this is a very secure nature reserve.

High security bird feeders at Kempton. The cage allows smaller birds to feed without being picked off by larger birds of prey, such as sparrowhawk.
High security bird feeders at Kempton. The cage allows smaller birds to feed without being picked off by larger birds of prey, such as sparrowhawk.

Kempton Nature Reserve has grown from the former Kempton Park East Reservoir. The reservoir was closed in 1980 and drained in 1982. However, the reservoir has retained a residual amount of water, supplemented by rainfall. Since 1996 the reserve has been managed actively as a nature reserve by Thames Water.

Overlooking the drained and decommissioned Kempton Park East Reservoir
Overlooking the drained and decommissioned Kempton Park East Reservoir

On a grey January afternoon, there was a pleasing wildness to the former reservoir, brightened by colourful, big-billed shoveler ducks out on the water. As dusk fell, more than 100 chattering jackdaws flew in low, settling into their noisy woodland roost.

Shoveler ducks and other wildfowl on the former reservoir
Shoveler ducks and other wildfowl on the former reservoir

The nature reserve features a lake, reedbeds, islands and young woodland, growing within the former reservoir walls. If you live locally, check out the membership scheme, this is a great place to enjoy nature and a bit of peace and quiet. 

A wild, wet landscape within what was once Kempton Park East Reservoir
A wild, wet landscape within what was once Kempton Park East Reservoir
The reservoir embankment, showing water inlets at the top and a cascade staircase.

For more information on Kempton Nature Reserve and access, see Thames Water’s page on Kempton Nature Reserve

My thanks to Jane Clarke for company on this walk, undertaken in January 2020.  

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