Walthamstow Reservoirs Claimed

The Walthamstow Reservoirs complex is in Walthamstow in the London Borough of Waltham Forest at Walthamstow, form part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain which supplies drinking water to London.  The complex comprises ten reservoirs, which are all a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Walthamstow Reservoirs support the most notable variety of breeding wetland birds among all of London's drinking water reservoirs. The wooded islands on No. 1 reservoir are the location of the famous heronry, at which the numbers of breeding pairs reach a level placing it in the country's top five sites. Formerly also a heronry, the two islands in No. 5 reservoir are now home to large numbers of cormorants. Great crested grebe, pochard, tufted duck, coot, yellow wagtail, sedge warbler and reed warbler are all regular breeding visitors.  Nearly 300 species of plant have been recorded in the wooded areas, grass banks, fen and open water habitats of the reservoirs. The ten reservoirs, grounds and the Coppermill Stream form an extensive enclave of natural habitats, albeit within a man made and securely fenced infrastructure. They are visited by birdwatchers and naturalists but especially by