Orchardleigh Lake

Artificial lake in Somerset

51°15′22″N 2°19′05″W / 51.256°N 2.318°W / 51.256; -2.318Typeartificial lakeBasin countriesUnited KingdomSurface area11.23 ha (27.7 acres)Islands1

Orchardleigh Lake (also spelt Orchardlea) (grid reference ST779508) is an 11.23-hectare artificial lake in the grounds of the Orchardleigh Estate, just north of Frome, Somerset, England. It was formed by damming a tributary of the River Frome. Today, the lake is used for angling^[1] and birdwatching.

There is a small island towards the western side of lake where St Mary's Church can be found. It was built in the 13th century, and underwent extensive renovation by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1878. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.^[2] Weddings are often performed at the church, which has capacity for 120 guests. It is reached from the lakeside via a footbridge, and a public footpath runs nearby over another bridge across the lake.

There are two lakes: a small lake overlooked by the island church, and a much larger one approximately 150 metres away through a wooded area to the east, which has a stone-built boathouse.

Birds

In 1932 a pair of black-necked grebes bred at the lake, the only occasion on which this species has been recorded breeding in Somerset. The lake regularly hosts small numbers of common waterfowl, including breeding little and great crested grebes and mute swan, and wintering tufted duck and pochard. Rarer species have occasionally been sighted:

Ring-necked duck (male), March 1997
Great white egret, September 2005^[3]

Side view of the island church
Rear view of the island church

References

^ "Fishing Information for the Frome Area". Frome Tourist Information Centre. Archived from the original (Word) on 11 April 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
^ "Church of St. Mary, causeway bridge, and gates". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
^ "Rich's Photo page". CVL Birding. Retrieved 20 November 2007.