Thames Water would like to provide bird-watchers with access to its reservoirs and other good bird sites, but has to balance provision of access with the water industry's need for security and ensuring personal safety. Thames Water has given a licence to the Berkshire Ornithological Club for Queen Mother Reservoir that enables the company to ensure that permits are provided only to bona fide bird-watchers who accept the conditions of controlled access. This is a trial arrangement, which, if successful, could be applied to some other sites and managed through other local clubs.
The permit allows holders to walk the whole of the rim pathway and gives access from dawn to an hour after sunset, seven days a week. Because of vandalism to the BOC entry gate, the full access arrangement has been temporarily suspended pending repair of the lock. In the interim, the Datchet Water Sailing Club, which has agreed to issue exit passes to permit holders, enables us to visit during the Club's opening hours (in the summer 9.30 to half an hour before sunset; in winter 10 am to 6 pm; the club is closed on Mondays).
Under the licence the BOC may only issue permits to members, who have to agree to abide by a number of conditions, which are explained in the information sheet. Members wanting a permit should complete and sign the agreement and bring it, together with a photo ID and separate proof of address to a BOC indoor meeting. We will then issue the permits and combination code. There is no charge for the permit.
Thames Water have kindly offered us a small Club hut just inside the entrance where a signing in book and bird log is kept (and which would be the nerve centre for crowd management in the event of a major “twitch “). A small team of volunteers who are reasonably local to QMR help make this arrangement work - any other volunteers please contact me.
Renton Righelato - 1 September 2009
Telephone 0787 981 2564; email: renton.righelato@berksoc.org.uk