Jim Asher
Weston Turville Reservoir
Location
Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire
HP22 5PS
OS Map Reference
SP859097
Know before you go
Entry fee
NoParking information
0.5 miles south of Weston Turville. 0.25 miles east of A413/B4009 roundabout, turn right onto World's End Lane opposite The Village Gate pub; park in lay-by on right after 500mAccess
Flat; variable, 60% surfaced paths, one steep ramp, soft patches, many roots in wooded section; kissing gates, steps
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all times.Best time to visit
January to SeptemberAbout the reserve
Wetland plants
The marshy fen, extensive reedbeds and small woodland surrounding Weston Turville Reservoir create a winter wildfowl wonderland with teal, shoveler and tufted duck and even the occasional bittern. As well as the reeds, plants include hundreds of spring-flowering early marsh-orchids, followed in summer by lesser reedmace, purple-loosestrife, gipsywort, water mint and yellow iris.
Seasonal visitors
There are good breeding colonies of reed warblers, which sling their mug-shaped nests around the reed stems. The reserve is also a regular breeding site of the water rail, whose distinctive 'piglet squealing' can be heard regularly all the year round. Starlings and swallows roost here in some numbers in autumn. Bittern are seen here occasionally.
Historic water supply
Weston Turville Reservoir was constructed in 1797 to supply water to an arm of the Grand Union Canal - and over the years a good many wetland plants have grown up around the edges. The open water is leased to local sailing and angling clubs. BBOWT manages the surrounding land, a marshy fen, extensive reedbeds, areas of scrub and woodland.
For information - the bird hide at the Reservoir has had to be dismantled and removed as the structure had become unsafe. We are currently looking at options for how to replace it.