College Lake Wildlife Centre.

Location: (SP935139). On B488 Tring/Ivinhoe road at Bulbourne.

Access: open daily 10am - 5pm. Permits available on site or from Trust HQ.

Facilities: Hides, nature trails, visitor centre, disabled toilet in visitor centre.

Public transport: none

Habitat: marsh area, lake, islands, shingle.

Key birds: breeding Lapwing, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Hobby, passage waders inc. Green Sandpiper.

Contact: Graham Atkins, College Lake Wildlife Centre, Upper Icknield Way, Bulbourne, Tring, Herts, HP23 5QG h: 01296 662890

Run by Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust, College Lake Wildlife Centre was a 200 acre disused chalk quarry. It is now a unique nature reserve owned by Castle Cement and managed by the Local Wildlife Trust. A mosaic of contrasting habitats has been created from the bare chalk supporting over 1000 species. Part of the quarry is protected by English Nature as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its geological features. In the Arable Weed Project cornfield wild flowers are being cultivated using vintage agricultural machinery.

The site has been designed with education and the disabled very much in mind. There are a number of centres providing information on many wildlife and conservation topics. The centre has a car trail giving the disabled access to some of the hides. One of the primary objectives of College Lake was to create a nature reserve that is accessible to disabled people.

Some hides and most of the exhibitions are accessible to wheelchairs after approach by car. A number of hides have wheelchair bays. A car trail is provided to parts of the reserve, this can be used to approach the hides for wheelchair users, or by those that cannot walk long distances. Apart from on a Sunday, it is recommended that you contact the warden in advance if wanting to use the car trail, as gates are not always kept unlocked.