Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

Despite the sporting activity, great crested grebes have nested in the dock in recent years. It is regularly used by gulls and cormorants, and occasionally by waterfowl, particularly in hard weather, as the brackish water remains open after freshwater lakes have frozen over. An American ring-necked duck was a rare visitor to this site during freezing weather in the mid-1990s. During summer small-vegetated pontoons provide nesting habitat for coots and moorhens. Kingston wharf to the north was added to the site in 2022 due to its sheltered and well vegetated margins, which are likely to support a good range of plant species, and provide habitat for birds, invertebrates and amphibians. These water bodies are connected to each other and to the River Thames via a number of locks and may be important waters for nursery fish and foraging bats.

Facilities

No information available