Hosehill Lake

Hosehill Lake

Kate Dent

A beautiful lake surrounded by meadows, ponds and sheltered reedbeds, a great place to watch time go by.

Location

1 mile south of Theale
Berkshire
RG7 4BE

OS Map Reference

SU 649 698

what3words: bits.poems.wages
A static map of Hosehill Lake

Know before you go

Size
24 hectares
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Parking information

Take A4 south out of Theale, take slip road off dual carriageway singposted Theale railway station. Follow signs for station, continue over railway and canal. Turn left at roundabout and park in Fox and Hounds pub car park. Reserve entrance opposite pub

Grazing animals

Exmoor ponies in fenced meadow (spring and autumn).

Access

Mix of grass and surfaced paths, flat around northern part of lake, undulating to south. Narrow bridges. Lakeside paths muddy in winter. Bicycles and horse riding not permitted.

Dogs

Dogs permitted
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Facilities

Accessible trails

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

All year round

About the reserve

Wetland wildlife

Hosehill Lake hosts a wide variety of water fowl in the winter and nightingales join the butterflies and dragonflies in the spring. Look out for wetland birds including lapwings, little ring plovers, great crested grebes and a number of more unusual visitors like the bittern. A large sand martin bank can be viewed from the other side of the lake and house martins, swifts and swallow can be seen from March/April.

Wildflower meadow

The meadow to the east of the lake is a visual treat throughout the spring and summer. It is cut and then grazed by wild Exmoor ponies for a short period after this in the spring and autumn. The meadow and the Butterfly Bank to the south of the lake are the best places to see a range of butterflies, day-flying moths and other insects.

Things to do

Follow the 1 mile circular walk around the edge of the lake. 

 

Hosehill Lake is managed by the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust on behalf of West Berkshire Council.

Contact us

Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Contact number: 01635 35157
Contact email: info@bbowt.org.uk

Environmental designation

Local Nature Reserve (LNR)
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Volunteer by Ross Hoddinott/2020Vision

Volunteer by Ross Hoddinott/2020Vision

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