Weston Turville Reservoir facts for kids
Weston Turville Reservoir is a special place in Buckinghamshire, England. It's a large area of water and land, about 19 hectares big. That's like 28 football fields! This reservoir is so important for nature that it's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because of its amazing plants and animals.
The Canal & River Trust owns the reservoir. They let sailing and fishing clubs use the water. The land around the reservoir is looked after by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. This helps keep the area safe for wildlife. The reservoir is also part of the beautiful Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Buckinghamshire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 19.0 hectares |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Contents
History of the Reservoir
The reservoir was built a long time ago, in 1797. Its main job was to provide water for the Wendover Arm Canal, which is part of the larger Grand Union Canal system. Canals needed a lot of water to work properly, so reservoirs like this were very important.
Amazing Plants and Animals
Weston Turville Reservoir is home to many different kinds of plants and animals.
Water Plants
Over time, a lot of mud has built up in parts of the reservoir. But in other areas, you can find cool water plants. These include the fan-leafed water crowfoot and small pondweed. You might also spot the beautiful European white water lily floating on the water.
Rare Plants
The edges of the reservoir have big areas of reeds. Here, you can find two very rare plants for Buckinghamshire: water mudwort and orange foxtail. In another part, there are even more types of plants. These include grey clubrush and lesser bulrush.
Marsh Orchids
Two small streams flow into the reservoir. They pass through a marshy area called a "tall fen." In this fen, and near a small pond, you can see early marsh orchids growing. These are lovely flowers that like wet places.
Trees Around the Water
The trees around the reservoir are mostly grey willow and crack willow. You'll also see silver birch and other trees that lose their leaves in autumn. These trees provide homes and food for many creatures.
Birds and Bugs
The open water of the reservoir is a very important spot for birds. About 46 different types of water birds spend the winter here. It's especially important for shovelers, a type of duck with a big, flat beak.
The areas around the reservoir, like the tall fens, reed beds, and willow areas, are special habitats. These types of places are becoming rare in Britain. The reservoir is also a paradise for insects! Over 300 different kinds of beetles live here. Six of these beetle species are rare across the whole country.
Visiting the Reservoir
You can visit Weston Turville Reservoir by walking along the path that goes all the way around it. You can get to this path from World's End Lane and Halton Lane. The reservoir is also where the Aylesbury Sailing Club is located, and you can reach it using the same path.
