Orchardleigh Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orchardleigh Lake |
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The smaller of the two lakes as seen from the island church
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 Orchardleigh Lake
Location in Somerset
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| Location | Somerset |
| Coordinates | 51°15′21″N 2°19′05″W / 51.25593°N 2.31807°W |
| Type | artificial lake |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Surface area | 11.23 ha (27.7 acres) |
| Islands | 1 |
Orchardleigh Lake (sometimes spelled Orchardlea) is a large, man-made lake. It covers about 11.23 hectares (which is like 28 acres). You can find it on the Orchardleigh Estate in Somerset, England. This beautiful lake is just north of a town called Frome.
The lake was created by building a dam across a small stream. This stream flows into the River Frome. Today, people enjoy visiting Orchardleigh Lake for different activities. It's a popular spot for angling (fishing) and also for birdwatching.
There are actually two lakes at Orchardleigh. The smaller one is the main Orchardleigh Lake, which has the island church. The other lake is much bigger. It's about 150 metres away, through a wooded area to the east. This larger lake even has a stone boathouse.
The Island Church at Orchardleigh Lake
On the western side of Orchardleigh Lake, there's a small island. On this island, you'll find a special church called St Mary's Church. This church was first built way back in the 13th century.
Later, in 1878, a famous architect named Sir George Gilbert Scott helped to fix it up. The church is considered a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historical building. Many weddings happen at St Mary's Church, and it can hold up to 120 guests.
You can reach the island church from the mainland by walking across a footbridge. There's also a public footpath nearby. This path crosses another bridge over the lake, offering great views.
Birds of Orchardleigh Lake
Orchardleigh Lake is a fantastic place for birdwatching. Many different kinds of birds visit or live here. In 1932, a rare event happened: a pair of black-necked grebes nested at the lake. This was the only time this bird species has ever bred in Somerset!
The lake is home to many common water birds. You can often see little grebes and great crested grebes breeding here. Mute swans are also regular visitors. In winter, you might spot tufted ducks and pochards.
Sometimes, even rarer birds make an appearance. Here are a couple of exciting sightings:
- A male Ring-necked duck was seen in March 1997.
- A Great white egret was spotted in September 2005.
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Side view of the island church
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Rear view of the island church
