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Osprey Trail Arlington Reservoir Arlington Reservoir Osprey Trail Local Nature Reserve Osprey Badgers Kingfisher Way Marker 1 Way Marker 4 Way Marker 6 In front of you is our bird feeding area, where you In front of way marker 4 is a “laid hedge”. This has Arlington reservoir is called a pumped storage can stop, feed and observe many different species been created using a traditional technique know as reservoir. Water is pumped into the reservoir from of wildfowl. It’s a great way to see the birds close up. hedge-laying. Hedge-laying was once a common sight the River Cuckmere during times of surplus and To the left and right of the bird feeding area, reeds in the Sussex countryside. Hedgelaying involves stored here. (Phragmites Australis) have been planted. selecting and laying suitable stems called pleachers. In front of you is a building known as a valve tower, The reedbeds form an important habitat for wildlife These are cut to leave sufficient cambium and it has three draw off points which are used to abstract as well as helping to protect the reservoir banks sapwood uncut to allow the pleacher to bend and to water from the reservoir so that it can be treated for from erosion. survive. Stakes and binding (heatherings) are then drinking water. added to strengthen the newly laid hedge The reedbed provides nesting and feeding habitats for (see diagram below). The water from the reservoir is treated at our nearby many birds including wagtails, warblers, kingfishers water treatment works using various filtration and and wildfowl. The laid hedge in front of you is home to many species treatment techniques. From here the water is including hedgehogs, voles, shrews, mice and many transferred into our distribution network and supplied bird species. to the Hailsham, Eastbourne and Heathfield areas. Way Marker 2 Common Spotted Orchid Stakes The grassland areas of the reserve are managed as 60cm apart Way Marker 7 wildflower meadows. The grassland compartments are cut on a two-year rotation during September and Arlington reservoir has two barn owl boxes both October. The clippings are removed from the site to Pleachers laid at about 30’ erected on telegraph poles. They form part of the keep soil fertility low. If the cuttings are simply allowed River Cuckmere barn owl project, a joint venture to lie, soil fertility will build up and this will tend to between South East Water, the Environment Agency, favour a few coarse grasses and disadvantage Í The Hawk and Owl Trust and the Sussex Downs n the colourful wildflowers. o d 3 Conservation Board. n o L o The purpose of the project is to create roosting and T 2 4 nesting habitats for protected and nationally rare barn Bird owl populations. The project has encouraged the Sanctuary creation of hay meadow areas (as seen around the 5 reservoir). Areas of rough grassland create an ideal 8 Old Course habitat for small mammals, the barn owls 0 Osprey 1 Key 2 of River Bird Hide favourite food. B Fishing River Entrance 1 Lodge Cuckmere Toilets Wheely Boat Boat Jetty Willow Life Belt Point Car Park Fishermen’s Car Park 8 Dam Wall Valve Tower Polhills Farm 6 g n n i Arlington o p i t Weir m a t 7 u S P Berwick Station Heron Reed Warbler Common Frog Green Way Marker 3 Woodpecker Way Marker 5 Way Marker 8 The nature reserve was originally planted The bird hide was opened in 1995 and lies within The pond in front of you is one of three ponds at with 30,000 native trees including oak, birch, wild our bird sanctuary. The diverse habitats around the Arlington reservoir, which was re-dug during 1999. cherry, hazel and hawthorn. At this point the reservoir attract many bird species including great The pond attracts many kinds of wildlife from large surrounding woodland contains coppiced hazel trees crested grebe, canada geese, kingfisher birds like heron to the smallest microscopic organisms. (underwood) interspersed with oak and ash timber and nightingale. The pond-dipping platform provides a perfect stage trees (standards). Regular thinning and coppicing of Arlington reservoir features as a favourite destination for visiting school groups to view the large number these trees has developed the conservation value for birds on autumn and spring migrations. Up to of aquatic insects such as dragonfly nymphs, (ie biodiversity) of the site. 10,000 wildfowl spend their winter here including large pond skaters, water boatmen and Many wildlife species are attracted by the diverse numbers of pochard, widgeon, mallard and shoveler. amphibians such as frogs and newts. structure of the wood including nightingale, chiffchaff, Between March and October the reservoir This project was sponsored by English voles, shrews, and speckled wood butterflies. is an important feeding area for osprey. Nature, to which we are most grateful. The word “coppice” comes from the French “couper” Arlington’s importance for over-wintering wildfowl This is the last stop on the osprey (to cut) and refers to woodland in which the trees are has been recognised with its designation as a trail we hope you have enjoyed your periodically cut back to stumps or stools. It provides a “Site of Special Scientific Interest” by English Nature. walk. sustainable source of wood, traditionally used in a wide range of rural industries. Regrowth from the cut Great Crested Newt stool is rapid (about 2 meters a year.) The interval between cuts is called the “rotation length”. At Arlington the rotation length is 7 years. What happens at Arlington Reservoir? Arlington Reservoir is important for water storage, as it provides water for thousands of South East Water’s customers. Arlington Reservoir was completed in 1971 and can supply 23 million litres of water daily to the Eastbourne, Polegate, Hailsham and Heathfield areas. The reservoir was formed by cutting off a meander in the River Cuckmere with a concrete faced earth dam. The underlying weald clay gives a natural watertight base. During excavations several interesting animal remains were found including a mammoth tusk, a bison horn and the skull of a woolly rhinoceros dating from 250, 000 years ago. Apart from its main water resource function, the beautiful tranquil setting of the reservoir makes it an important area for quiet informal activities such as walking, riding, angling and nature study. Why is Arlington Reservoir here? Increasing demand for water in the early 1970’s meant that new sources of water were needed in the area and the decision was taken to build a pumped storage reservoir at Arlington. Construction began in 1969. Spoil from the construction works was spread across the site, creating the beautiful rolling hill landscape we see today. The reservoir also serves as a successful trout fishery. Fishing takes place by permit only between February and October, (further information can be obtained from Arlington fishing lodge on 01323 870810) . Facts about Arlington Reservoir Description Size or the total of: 121 Area of the reservoir 49 hectares football pitches 118 Length of shoreline 2.8 kilometres tennis courts Length of earth dam 1 kilometre 200 Small vans 4 single Maximum depth of reservoir 11.3 metres decker buses 3,500 11,665 Maximum capacity of reservoir million litres million coke cans Recorded birds 173 species Recorded butterflies 35 species The Osprey Nature Trail Millennium international children’s environmental conference, Arlington Reservoir 2000 Arlington Reservoir lies in a tranquil position in the Weald close to the South Downs. In 1980 Arlington Reservoir was designated as a Local Nature Reserve and in 1985 as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The circular trail is approximately four kilometres and is a one hour leisurely walk covering a small area of Arlington Reservoir which, due to its location is an idyllic place for nature study. To use the trail, follow the numbered posts – the osprey will guide you. Each numbered post relates to information on the large map inside this leaflet. Dogs are welcome but please keep them on a lead. We hope you enjoy your walk and please remember the Countryside Code – leave only footprints, take only photos. Location M1 M6 M6 M40 M1 M25 LONDON M25 M23 A21 A26 Lewes A24 A23 Polegate A27 A22 Brighton Eastbourne Í To East Grinstead Upper A 22 Dicker Arlington T Reservoir o E a s t b o u r n e B2108 Í Í T Berwick A o L 2 ew 2 es To Polegate Í A A27 27 1 Situated approx /2 of a mile off the A27 Lewes to Eastbourne Road, sign posted to Berwick Arlington Reservoir Arlington Fishing Lodge, Berwick Nr. Polegate, East Sussex BN26 6TF Tel 01323 870810.
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