a partnership between

Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
and Anglian Water

When the reservoir was constructed, various areas were set aside to cater for different types of leisure pursuits. At the eastern end, sailing and sailboarding are popular, while in the central section trout fishing takes place, both from boats and from the shore. The western part of the reservoir is set aside as a nature reserve, but throughout the year large numbers of waterbirds can be seen in all sections of the reservoir.

Birds Eye View of Lagoon I

This unusual view shows the carpark (middle foreground), Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre behind it, the Lagoon itself with very high water levels, tern rafts, islands and the undisturbed Brown's Island behind. Did you know that the bund between Lagoons I and II is actually a double bank?

Rutland Water Islands

When the water levels fall during prolonged dry spells, islands begin to appear. In October 2003 a small island appeared near the Old Hall. It was thought to have been last seen 8 years previously. A larger island in the South Arm, pictured below from Lax Hill, appears most years when water levels fall.

This ephemeral island is sometimes referred to as Brown's Island, but that's a mistake. Brown's Island is the thickly wooded area on the east side of Lagoon I. It is not actually an island, but joined to the "mainland" by the narrow strip of land in front of Harrier and Fieldfare Hides. Click here to find it on a map of the Egleton Reserve.