Kempton NR

Kempton Nature Reserve is a 20-hectare (50 acre), purpose-designed wetland nature reserve in west London, transformed from the decommissioned Kempton Park East Reservoir and screened by the original reservoir banks. Owned by Thames Water, the site is an internationally designated Special Protection Area for ducks and was notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 2000. It is also listed under the Ramsar convention on wetlands as part of the South West London Waterbodies and has been designated an Important Bird Area by Birdlife. Access is generally available only to members of the Friends of Kempton Nature Reserve.

Address: Main Street, Hanworth (nearest postcode TW13 6ST). (Map:; OS grid reference TQ116710)

History
Kempton Park East Reservoir was constructed in 1906 but became redundant in 1980 and was drained in 1982. Since 1996 it has been actively managed as a nature reserve by Thames Water, working with the London Borough of Hounslow and English Nature. Substantial work has been carried out to protect and improve habitats for wetland bird species. This conservation work was rewarded in the national 2002 BTO-Hansen Bird Challenge for Business Awards, when the reserve won the Wetland Sites Conservation Award. To further protect the wildlife, a Friends of Kempton Nature Reserve scheme has been established, with access to the reserve normally restricted to members of the scheme.

Habitat
The reserve has deep-water areas with reed fringes, extensive areas of mud and a network of deep-water channels and refuge islands.

Species
Birds

The diversity of the habitat attracts a wide range of waterfowl, waders, gulls and warblers, including some species rare in the UK. The first pair of Avocet to breed inland in the UK for 150 years nested here in 1996. More than 150 bird species have been recorded on the site. Regular breeding waders include Lapwing, Redshank, Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover. Avocet bred on the East Reservoir in 1996 — the first successful inland breeding of this species in the British Isles. The site is of national importance for wintering Gadwall and also supports significant numbers of wintering Shoveler. Other birds recorded in recent years include Smew, Garganey, Temminck’s Stint, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Red-necked Phalarope, Spotted Crake, Bittern, Firecrest, Willow Tit and Red-backed Shrike.

Other vertebrates

Mammals reported in the area include Noctule Bat, Serotine Bat, Daubenton’s Bat, Pipistrelle and Water Vole. Reptiles and amphibians include Grass Snake, Palmate Newt, Smooth Newt, Common Frog and Common Toad.

Invertebrates

Information needed, please

Practicalities
Directions

The site is just north of Kempton Park racecourse, off the A316. The site entrance is on Main Street, Hanworth. The 111 bus route passes the far end of Main Street.

Access

The site is generally open only to members of the Friends of Kempton Nature Reserve, who have virtually unlimited access daily from dawn to dusk. (Membership costs £20 for an individual or £30 for a family for three years. A membership application form can be downloaded here.) Access is available to other visitors during occasional open days (advertised locally) or by special arrangement with the reserve manager (tel 020 8622 6563 ext 67563).

Facilities

A network of paths links the car park to two hides and other viewpoints, some accessible to wheelchair users.

''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 crops up now and then 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).