Access to Queen Mother Reservoir

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).