Maiden Erlegh Lakes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maiden Erlegh Lakes
The Duck and the World wooden sculpture
Type	Local Nature Reserve
Location	Earley, Berkshire
OS grid	SU 749 710
Area	10.2 hectares (25 acres)
Managed by	Earley Town Council

Maiden Erlegh Lakes is a special place in Earley, a suburb of Reading in Berkshire. It's a Local Nature Reserve that covers about 10.2 hectares (25 acres). This beautiful area is looked after by the Earley Town Council. It's a fantastic spot for nature lovers and a home for lots of different plants and animals.

Exploring Maiden Erlegh Lakes

This nature reserve has many cool features. You'll find old and new woodlands, open grassy areas, a big lake, a small stream, and even an old pond. All these different habitats help many kinds of wildlife to live here.

The reserve is home to over 100 types of butterflies and moths. More than 50 kinds of birds also live or visit here. You can also spot over 50 types of fungi and more than 20 kinds of trees.

The main lake is quite large, covering 2.4 hectares. It's up to 2 meters deep in some spots. Inside the lake, there are two islands. Birds love to use these islands as safe places to build their nests and raise their young.

The woodlands also have a small pond. This pond is actually the last bit of a second, larger lake that used to be in this area a long time ago. On the south side of the main lake, there's more woodland, a colorful wildflower meadow, and a special garden just for butterflies.

Cool Features to See

On one of the islands in the lake, called Swan Island, there's a unique wooden sculpture. It was made from a tree that fell in 2007. This cool artwork was shown to the public in 2009.

History of Maiden Erlegh Lakes

The area known as Oak Wood in the reserve is very old. It has been around since at least the 1500s. You can find 18 special plant types there that only grow in ancient woodlands.

The lake itself was once a wet woodland. People believe it was created by building a dam sometime between the Middle Ages and the 1700s. It was likely used for fishing, getting ice in winter, and making the landscape look pretty.

In the late 1700s, William Mathew Burt, a Member of Parliament, owned Maiden Erlegh. He even had famous landscape designer Capability Brown help plan the area.

Maps from the 1820s and 1844 show that the woodlands and lake in Maiden Erlegh Park were almost the same size and shape as they are today.

In 1903, Solomon Joel bought the lake and the land around it. It's thought that he created the larger of the two islands in the lake.

Later, in 1965, local people wanted to protect the lake. So, Coopers Estates agreed to sell Maiden Erlegh Lake and its surrounding woodland to Earley Parish Council. This happened in exchange for permission to build on another piece of land. The council paid £8,500 for the lake, Oakwood, Old Pond Copse, and part of Moor Copse. In 1991, Old Lane Wood was also added to the reserve.

Finally, in 1996, Earley Town Council officially declared the area a Local Nature Reserve. This means it's a protected place for wildlife and nature.

Animals of Maiden Erlegh Lakes

Many different animals call Maiden Erlegh Lakes home. Here are some of the fascinating creatures you might find:

Reptiles and Amphibians

Invertebrates

These are animals without backbones, like insects and spiders.

Birds

You can see many types of birds, from small songbirds to larger water birds.

Mammals

Look closely, and you might spot some furry creatures!

Fish

The lake and brook are home to various fish.

Plants of Maiden Erlegh Lakes

The reserve is also rich in plant life, from tall trees to small wildflowers.

Trees

Here are some of the trees you can find growing here.

Plants

These are some of the smaller plants and wildflowers that grow in the reserve.