News and Events
The Broadwater Conservation Society occasionally hosts events and sends out newsletters to communicate progress and provide information about how you can get involved with supporting the conservation of the lake.
This page will share news, and provide information about past and upcoming events, helping to keep you up to date with what support is needed and with what events are being planned
October 2024
On 10th July BCS received the official offer of a grant from Elmbridge Borough Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy. This represented 80% of the cost of the design, manufacture and installation of sturdy lectern signs made from recycled material to be placed at intervals along Broadwater Path.
The Society is required to provide the remaining 20% from its own funds or other sources. The lectern signs are designed to provide walkers along the path with information about the site’s historical significance, the wildlife to look out for, and the work required to preserve the Lake and its landscape.
After publicising the Society at Oatlands Village Fayre and Weybridge Community Fair this year, we realized that many local people were unaware of how to access Broadwater Path and enjoy the peaceful environment of the Lake.
We, therefore, also wish to improve the signage at Cowey Sale and Grenside Place to direct walkers to the east and west entrances to the Path.
Fundraising
The BCS running expenses so far have relied on donations from the small Committee and one gift from a local donor’s Family Trust. For a project of this size we need to seek outside funds. Any surplus from the Signage Project will go towards providing equipment for on-going volunteer projects.
Broadwater Conservation Society is a not-for-profit Community Company registered at Companies House. We are not yet eligible for charitable status but this remains a goal going forward. We are writing to you as a valued member of our mailing list to ask for individual contributions to reach our target of £2,500.
Should you be in a position to contribute to these projects we would gratefully acknowledge your gift with membership of our informal group of Friends of Broadwater Lake. Your support would be acknowledged on the lectern signs in the name of ‘Friends of Broadwater Lake’.
To facilitate this the Directors and Committee of BCS have set up a Crowdfunding Just Giving Page under the name of the Broadwater Conservation Society’s Secretary and Director, Marjorie(Midge) Connell on behalf of BCS.
Click here to go to this Just Giving page
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We remain committed to encouraging the formation of a Management Plan which will offer a solutionto the long term sustainability of the Whole length of the Lake and its landscape. This will involvedredging, securing the banks, reducing the invasive plants and sensitive care of the arboreal speciesand partnering with a responsible local angling society.
March 2024
Holiday Sale
It is now a year since the Information Evening at Oatlands Park Hotel was held to raise awareness of the value and importance of Broadwater Lake and Path.
It is the mission of the Broadwater Conservation Society to collaborate with the appropriate parties to provide the impetus for a joint management programme to conserve and improve the Lake environment for the benefit of the wildlife, trees, vegetation and our local community.
The Lake is what the Environment Agency call an “Ordinary Water Course”. Of course, we think the Lake not at all ordinary but extraordinary and well worth preserving! We have completed a thorough search into the ownership of Broadwater Lake and surrounds. Such a task is made challenging because the area of the Lake itself is split into nine separate parcels of “land”, or bed, under the water.
Challenges
Along with our research into ownership we have come to the tentative conclusion that there is not only a major risk of the Lake largely drying up due to the build-up of silt as outlined in the 2019/20 Land & Water survey, but also a collapse. The Lake was made by means of the construction of a dam, probably in the mid18th Century, at the eastern, Walton, end. The dam is nearly 5 meters in height at the highest point. Sections of the dam are quite narrow in parts and need protection, particularly along the Public Footpath.
In 2001 there was even an attempt to breach the dam, only prevented by prompt action by volunteers from one of the estates on the opposite southern bank. The footpath is both a blessing and a risk, in that excessive footfall and constant small incursions by dogs are leading to more serious erosion over time. We believe there are relatively easy ways to mitigate these risks in a friendly, sympathetic and unobtrusive way. Our plans will need the co-operation of the owner of the land where the dam is located, Bannatyne’s Gym. We are seeking a positive dialogue with the Bannatyne Group Limited.
Work in 2023
Following on the projects completed in 2023 – Installation of a large pipe to improve drainage from the Weir, filling the worst areas of erosion on the Path and shoring up the unwanted overflow under the bridge with concrete bags - we wanted to keep you informed of our goals for 2024.
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Goals for 2024
Dredging
We had hoped to undertake the dredging of the east end of the lake, an area where silt settles and builds up as the water flows from west to east resulting in odours in hot summer weather and hazardous swampy conditions. The quotations we have received from Land & Water Ltd. for land-based or amphibious dredging in this area amounted to £40,000. Currently our only source of significant funds is a CIL grant but this year the monies available are not sufficient to allow this so the project must be postponed unless other sources of funding can be found – we welcome ideas!
Our other goals for 2024 are as follows:
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A Management Plan for the Lake and the landscape of Broadwater Path
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Social Media and Website Improvement
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3 Lectern signs on land adjacent to the Path informing walkers of the creation of the Lake and Path and highlighting the wildlife to be seen.
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Pull-up Banners for use at local gatherings e.g. Oatlands Village Fair and Weybridge Festival.
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Organisation of Volunteer Working Parties for specific tasks to clear and improve as appropriate the landscape around Broadwater Path, the vegetation at the west end of the Lake behind Greenlands Road.
At present we are a very small Committee. To achieve these goals we need more help.
Donations to help with our goals are most welcome. We are exploring the idea of forming a Friends Group. Your comments on this proposal are appreciated.
If you would like to assist in any way, please contact the BCS Secretary, Midge Connell by email With our thanks for your continuing interest and support.
How can you help?
Conservation Information Evening
On the 6th of March 2023 we held an information evening at Oatlands Park Hotel.
You can see photos of the event below and watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/S8Yt2M_F9R4
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