South Lake, Woodley

Image: © Des Blenkinsopp Taken: 10 Oct 2013

This info on the lake is from the berksbirds.co site, with thanks. "South Lake is located 300 metres to the north east of Earley Station and south of Fairwater Drive (grid reference SU757722). Back in the 1930s it was a little larger than today, documented at 20.9 acres (8.5 hectares) and stretching to 610 metres along its north side. That it must be artificial is plain to see if one stands on its south east embankment and surveys the houses below; it was constructed shortly after 1818 on the site of an ancient fish pond. It remained in its Birch woodland setting up to the 1960s, midway through which the adjacent development began, and is now surrounded by housing, although a grassy passage leads a short way to Highwood, and Birch remnants are still standing, along with numerous other trees. The lake is public, and free parking is available in Rickman Close, Wallace Close and Kingfisher Drive."

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