F E AT U R E
Woodberry Wetlands Marc Tomes
Woodberry Wetlands is an historic but operational reservoir on the New River, managed by London Wildlife Trust (LWT), owned by Thames Water (TW) and located in the London Borough of Hackney (LBH). Formerly known as ‘East Reservoir’, it lies adjacent to the decommissioned ‘West Reservoir’, now used primarily for waterbased recreation. Together they are a spectacular and highly valued asset within a dense urban area, reflected in Woodberry Wetlands’ designation as Metropolitan Green Belt, Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation, and containing two Grade II Listed structures. Adding more relevance and vibrancy to the Wetlands is a major regeneration project that wraps around the north of the site. Led by Berkeley Group (BG), the ‘Woodberry Downs’ project focuses on creating a sustainable community, with large and improved public open spaces as well as new community facilities. Well underway, with over 5,500 new homes set in 64 acres, much of the focus of the development is centred on the reservoirs. Allen Scott worked with the Partnership of LWT, BG and TW to 52
Woodberry Downs is home to a project that brings together housing, leisure and access to nature in the heart of the capital. realise their joint objectives of the vision in opening the reservoir to public access, engaging and educating people in the site’s natural, built and industrial heritage, enhancing links with the new community, and increasing the diversity of the wildfowl habitat and wider biodiversity values. Transformation of the reservoir The East and West Reservoirs were built between 1830 and 33 to purify water in the New River, and to act as a water reserve, serving as an operational unit until 1992. Once the TW ring main was completed, West Reservoir became surplus to operating requirements, and East Reservoir was separated to become the sole operating unit. In 1995 TW and LBH entered into an agreement for West Reservoir to pass to LBH for amenity usage and for East Reservoir to be managed for nature conservation interest by LWT, who began with a converted shipping container as a staff and education base. Just 12 years ago at Woodberry Wetlands, then still known as just ‘East Reservoir’, TW operated a strictly no public access policy and a high-security fence ringed the whole perimeter. Pre-booked LWT groups were allowed but had to be escorted,
1.
and habitat projects were largely limited to small corners. Through the energy and commitment of LWT, the partnership was born to re-imagine the role of the reservoir. With due credit to those organisations, the mutual benefit of ‘doing something’ was enthusiastically embraced. The potential to create a new nature reserve in the heart of London and to lever that gain to raise greater awareness and funding of their work across London was one of their driving forces. Similarly, TW, at a corporate level, was widening its focus from a commercial water provider to the active implementation of social, cultural and environmental policies. This project had the potential to give them gains in all three areas, subject to their operational constraints. When BG commenced its major
2.
1. Coal House. © Allen Scott
2. Expansion of reed beds, 2015. © London Wildlife Trust
