Stoke Newington Reservoirs and Woodberry Wetlands
Stoke Newington Reservoirs and Woodberry Wetlands are a unique, urban wildlife site in north Hackney, London. Completed in 1833 there are 17 hectares of open water - Hackney's largest wetland area.
Its long birdwatching and wildlife history and tradition help make it amongst the best of its kind in London. For over a hundred years the London Natural History Society (LNHS) has surveyed the site. Since 1949 the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has monitored it for its Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS).
In 1981 London Wildlife Trust (LWT) was founded in Stoke Newington. In 1986 the reservoirs were protected by Hackney Council as a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation - the top tier in London - and the Save the Reservoirs Campaign began.
In 2016 Woodberry Wetlands was opened by Sir David Attenborough on the former East reservoir (9.00-16.30 daily).
About The Reservoirs Nature Society (TeRNS) [disbanded May 2016]
Tel 020 7249 4098 Email ternsorg@hotmail.com Twitter
TeRNS formed informally during the Save the Reservoirs Campaign of the 1980s and 90s to represent the interests of local birders when Stoke Newington Reservoirs were threatened by building development. After the campaign wound up in 2006, TeRNS continued until pledges made to open the site were fulfilled, finally disbanding in May 2016 when the East reservoir was opened as Woodberry Wetlands (photo).
Please send notable wildlife records to London Wildlife Trust (LWT) or London Natural History Society (LNHS).
Circular Walk: (yellow line on map)
From Stoke Newington Church Street enter Abney Park. Exit onto Stoke Newington High Street, and turn left to Manor Road, then right into Bethune Road for Allens Gardens. Exit onto Dunsmure or Bethune Roads. Head north along Bethune Road to Woodberry Wetlands (Stoke Newington East reservoir) and the New River Path, which runs for about one kilometre along the north side of the site with good views of both basins. Continue across Lordship Road alongside Stoke Newington West reservoir. Turn left at Green Lanes for Clissold Park. Exit onto Stoke Newington Church Street, Hackney, N16. Allow 2 to 3 hours.
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Directions (opens in new window).
Thanks to Paul Churchill, Ed McDaid, Adam Hudson, Therisa Jones and Hana Videen for their photos of Stoke Newington Reservoirs (top) and its wildlife.
