Heath Lake

Heath Lake

Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location within Berkshire
Location	Berkshire
Grid reference	SU 828 652 [1]
Coordinates	51°22′48″N0°48′43″W / 51.380°N 0.812°W / 51.380; -0.812
Interest	Biological
Area	6.0 hectares (15 acres) [1]
Notification	1989 [1]
Location map	Magic Map

Heath Lake is a 6-hectare (15-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Berkshire. ^{[1] [2]} The SSSI is part of the 22.3-hectare (55-acre) Heathlake Local Nature Reserve, which is owned and managed by Wokingham Borough Council. ^{[3] [4]}

Most of this 2.8-hectare (7-acre) lake is less than 1-metre (3-foot) deep. It is the only acid lake in the county which retains its characteristic plants, such as alternate water-milfoil and six-stamened waterwort. The banks are peaty and marshy in some areas. There are also small areas of woodland, dry heath and acid grassland. ^{[5] [6]}

There is access from Nine Mile Ride.

Fauna

The site has the following animals ^{[5] [7]}

Birds

• Cormorant
• Heron
• Mallard
• Great crested grebe
• Tufted duck
• Common kingfisher
• Coot
• Moorhen

Invertebrates

• Brown hawker
• Common darter
• Black-tailed skimmer

Flora

The site has the following Flora: ^{[3] [5]}

Tree

• Scots pine
• oak
• rowan
• crab apple
• Guelder-rose
• alder buckthorn
• Salix purpurea

Plant

• Myriophyllum alterniflorum
• Elatine hexandra
• Eleogiton fluitans
• Potamogeton obtusifolius
• Potamogeton pusillus
• Littorella uniflora
• Ranunculus flammula
• Galium palustre
• Lotus uliginosus
• Mentha aquatica
• Juncus effusus
• Iris pseudacorus
• Juncus acutiflorus
• Juncus bulbosus
• Carex echinata
• Hydrocotyle vulgaris
• Lysimachia tenella (syn. Anagallis tenella)
• Molinia caerulea
• Erica tetralix
• Pilularia globulifera
• Equisetum fluviatile
• Ranunculus omiophyllus
• Calluna vulgaris
• Erica cinerea
• Scutellaria minor
• Succisa pratensis

References

1. "Designated Sites View: Heath Lake". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
2. "Map of Heath Lake". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
3. "Heathlake". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
4. "Map of Heathlake". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
5. "Heath Lake citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
6. "Heathlake - Site of Special Scientific Interest". Wokingham District Council. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
7. "Photo locations: Simon's Wood/Heath Lake". Sandhurst Camera Club. Retrieved 3 March 2017.