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Welcome to Alton Water Wildlife
Alton Water, Anglian Water’s fourth largest reservoir, is situated just south of Ipswich. It provides the drinking water for 200,000 customers and covers an area of nearly 400 acres in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Most of the site is covered by freshwater and provides an excellent habitat for a wide range of winter wildfowl as well as summer breeding conditions for great crested grebes and common terns. An eight mile cycle track around the water provides easy

Alton Water - Meadow

 
access for visitors who are able to pass through a variety of different habitats including grassland, broad-leaved woodland, native scrub, reed beds and wildflower meadows.

Over the last ten years the owners, Anglian Water, and a dedicated team of conservation volunteers from the local community have carried out an extensive programme of habitat improvement. This work has attracted the support of many local wildlife groups in addition to enhancing the enjoyment of the 100,000 people who visit Alton Water every year.

This web site is designed to demonstrate some of the work that is going on and to celebrate the wildlife attracted to the area.
Badger Cycling Greylag Geese

 

News and Updates
Alton Wildlife wins top Community Award.
Terrific News! Alton Water, Anglian Water has won top prize in the Community Awards section of the BTO Bird Challenge for the dedication of the Alton Water volunteers group.
More Detail
Updated : 30/03/2011
BTO Bird-Atlas
Alton Water Volunteers have sponsored a page in the Bird Atlas which is due to be published in 2011. We have chosen the Common Tern as it regularly breeds on our 5 rafts. This year we ringed 106 chicks.
Updated : 24/11/2010
Latest sightings
Summer migrants now appearing: Nightingales @ The Wonder and Larchwood from 6th April 2011 Sandmartins arrived 30th March 2011. Osprey seen over Birchwood 5 April 2011 Yellow wagtails and blueheaded wagtail seen at Dam end 6 & 7th April 2011
Updated : 08/04/2011
Do visit our hides
We have 2 hides in Larchwood, both open to the Public, that were designed and constructed by volunteers. They have good views of 2 of the tern rafts & you may even see the Kingfisher going about its business. There are another 2 hides on the North shore, 20 minutes walk from Lemons bridge car park or a shorter walk from Blackpond Meadow.
Updated : 24/11/2010