Lonsdale Road Reservoir LNR

Lonsdale Road Reservoir (also known as “Lonsdale Reservoir” or, from its shape, as “Leg O’Mutton Reservoir”) is a Thames-side reed-fringed lake surrounded by woodland. The site is owned by the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and is designated as a Local Nature Reserve.

Address: Lonsdale Road, London SW13 (Map:; OS grid reference TQ217773).

History
The site is a disused reservoir. Anyone have any further information?

Habitat
Reeds fringe much of the lake. More diverse aquatic vegetation at the southern end includes Bogbean and Frogbit, both rare in London. The lake has rafts to encourage nesting by water birds. The surrounding woodland is mostly of Sycamore.

Species
Birds

Nesting birds include Pochard, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Common Tern and Grey Heron (three nests). The winter population of waterfowl includes good numbers of Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant and Gadwall. Birds nesting in the woodland areas include Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Blackcap and Willow Warbler.

Other vertebrates

This is one of London’s better sites for feeding bats, with Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle, Noctule and Natterer’s Bats all recorded. Four species of amphibians can be found, including the specially protected Great Crested Newt.

Invertebrates

Information needed, please

Practicalities
Directions

By car, follow Lonsdale Road (B350) west from the south end of Hammersmith Bridge or north from Barnes Bridge and park in Verdun Road. If arriving by public transport, the nearest stations are Barnes Bridge (National Rail) and Hammersmith (London Underground). From either station, pedestrians can approach the site mainly along the Thames Path rather on roads. Bus routes include 33, 72, 209, 283, 419 and 485.

Access

The site has free public access at all times, and is therefore worth a visit if you are too early for the London Wetland Centre. The footpaths can be a little muddy during the winter months.

Facilities

Apart from a few benches (mainly at good viewing points), there are no on-site facilities. There are shops nearby in Verdun Road.

''This page has been cobbled together from various internet sources by someone who has never visited the site but thinks that it deserves a page on this website because it keeps cropping up on the Latest News page. If you are familiar with the site, please correct, expand and/or update this information (and delete or amend this paragraph).