COLLEGE LAKE

College Lake is widely regarded as one of the best places in Buckinghamshire for water birds, and with many hides overlooking the lake, this is a great destination for bird watchers or families. The site takes its name from the college farm that existed here before quarrying started in the twentieth century. Once a chalk quarry, College Lake is now one of the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust’s flagship nature reserves. Around 100 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period, southern England was underneath a warm, shallow sea. The remains of tiny plankton in the water dropped to the sea floor and eventually formed the chalk that now extends all the way through the Chilterns. Buried within the chalk are fossils of the creatures that used to live there. Around 200,000 years ago, during the Pleistocene period, life at College Lake had changed again. The area was savannah grassland and wildlife living there included wild horses, lions and woolly mammoths. Bones and remains of this prehistoric wildlife found on the reserve are in the second part of the exhibition.

During the late 20th century College Lake was a working quarry and the chalk was excavated, made into cement and used in construction. Many fossils, including ammonites and sea urchins, were uncovered during the excavations and fossils from the site are on display in the exhibition.

FACILITIES

• Walking Trails: Try our circular Wildlife Walk (2 miles)
• Try the long trials as well
• Free parking and entrance
• Visitor Centre
• Bird hides
• Toilets
• Shop
• Cafe/refreshments
• Picnic area
• Accessible toilet
• Baby changing facilities
• Mobility Tramper Vehicles