News from Stocker’s Lake
Updates from Friends of Stocker’s Lake, including conservation work, wildlife and what’s happening around the lake.
Latest News
Springwell Lane Planning Update
17th April 2025
An update on the planning enforcement action concerning the unauthorised scrap metal site at the Springwell Lane entrance to Stocker’s Lake.
FoSL Butterfly Report 2024
Cattle Egret Spotted at Stocker’s Lake
19th October 2024
Our 2024 butterfly survey recorded weekly counts across 12 sectors of Stocker’s Lake. The results are entered into the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.
11th June 2024
A rare Cattle Egret was spotted at Stocker’s Lake and captured on our livestream camera.
Latest News
A message from Affinity Water
Dear Jack, Nick, Nigel and the rest of the Friends of Stockers Lake,
We have not met before, my name is Alister and I lead the Environmental Enhancement Team at Affinity Water which includes our fantastic Biodiversity Team. At our recent team meeting you were called out for special thanks and appreciation by Charlotte Johnson for the fantastic work you do at Stockers Lake.
Charlotte said:
“I would like to thank members of the FoSL team for their continuous reaction and responsiveness to the management at Stockers Lake. You have all been so integral to the decision making for the long-term goals, at a site that often feels never ending. Your commitment and passion for Stocker's Lake is so appreciated, as you constantly report changes to us, relay progress and meet us on site to discuss important activities. Your eyes on the ground and guardianship of the area is so valuable to us when we are unable to be present on site regularly. Thank you for stepping up with your early volunteer parties when needed and taking on tasks which in the absence of HMWT may not have been completed. It has been wonderful to get to know you all more and communicate effectively for the best outcomes for the site.”
It really makes my day to hear such positive praise, and I wanted to ensure that this was passed on to you and your volunteers. We really appreciate the time, energy and commitment you give, as well as the passion you have for the environment.
Thanks again and I hope you all have a great week.
Best wishes,
Alister
Alister Leggatt BSc (Hons), MSc
WINEP Strategy and Delivery Manager
Environmental Enhancement
Water Resources and Environment
Affinity Water Limited
Part of the works site at the Springwell Lane entrance to Stockers Lake has been used as a scrap yard without planning approval. Representations were made to Hillingdon Council to stop this activity. The owners have now applied for retrospective planning permission.
On Thu, 17 Apr 2025,
Here's the current planning enforcement position:
An Enforcement Notice was served on 6th September 2024 against the unauthorised Scrap Metal Site use after refusing retrospective planning permission. The site operators appealed, but the Planning Inspector dismissed the appeal on 28 March 2025 and upheld the Enforcement Notice with minor amendments.
The compliance period is one month from the appeal decision date (before 28 April 2025). The notice requires the operators to:
(i) Cease using the Land as a Scrap Metal Yard.
(ii) Demolish and remove all related fence panels and posts.
(iii) Remove all skips, scrap metal, gas canisters, tyres, and waste materials.
(iv) Remove all vehicles and machinery.
(v) Clear all debris from compliance actions.
A site inspection will occur shortly after 28 April 2025. If non-compliance is found, the Council will notify all legal interest holders of prosecution proceedings. Non-compliance is a criminal offence with unlimited fines upon conviction.
The Environment Agency conducted a site inspection in February 2024 and found no environmental concerns. The Council has taken steps within its powers for planning control breaches.
Planning Enforcement Team Leader (North)
Planning and Sustainable Growth
Place Directorate
Hillingdon Council
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Recent News
FoSL Butterfly Report 2024
The recording scheme
Butterflies at Stocker’s Lake 2024
Cliff Buckton Oct 15 2024
The recording scheme
Weekly counts of butterflies seen in 12 sectors around the lake continued in 2024 with results entered into the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. This year’s team consisted of Carole Holton, Simon Jones, Barbara James, Brian & Lynne Pike and Cliff & Jacky Buckton.
Total butterflies counted by year
As widely reported in the media, 2024 has been a disastrous year for insect numbers and butterflies are no exception. While weather during the year as a whole has been unexceptional, rainfall in Spring was very high resulting in flooded paths around the lake for several months. September rainfall was also well above average. This and other factors have presumably contributed to the total butterflies counted of just 401 being the lowest since the equally disastrous 2012. Note that 2020 was an incomplete survey year due to Covid. For further information please view or download our full FoSL Butterflies report 2024.
Affinity Water Tree Works Along the Mill End Loop
Affinity Water will be carrying out tree works along the Mill End Loop where the river runs parallel with Springwell Lake. The works will commence on Monday 19th August and will continue for the next 4 to 6 weeks. For those that know this section of river, will have noticed that trees aligning both banks have in places encroached across the entire river channel. These tree works aim to reduce the amount of shade imposed on the river to encourage aquatic vegetational growth, whilst conveying flows more effectively to restore chalk stream characteristics. The works being completed are creating more resilient rivers and improving habitats for the wildlife that also love chalk streams. If you would like to discuss in more detail, please contact George Horne by mailing river.restoration@affinitywater.co.uk.
River Fly Monitor wanted in Rickmansworth
Would you like to help monitor water quality? Are you interested in getting in the river to survey and learn about invertebrates? Come and help out as part of an initiative with the Riverfly Partnership called Riverfly Monitoring!
Riverfly monitoring involves conducting an in river survey once a month and identifying the invertebrates you find! By identifying what is present in the river this gives an indicator of what the water quality is like, allowing for us to build long term data sets and report when water quality incidences occur. No prior knowledge is needed as all training can be provided, so please let us know at Rivers.team@groundwork.org.uk if you are interested!
YouTube - New Full Season Highlights Of Our Little Egrets Livestream 2024 Season
We now have a highlights video from our Little Egrets nesting season on our YouTube channel…
Full Season Highlights Of Our Grey Heron Livestream 2024 Season
We have just created and published on FoSL’s YouTube channel a full season highlights video from our Grey Heron livestream. It is an updated version of the video first shown at our AGM in April but updated to include events since then up to and including the departure of our final heron chick in late May. You can find the video below and also on our FoSL YouTube channel ….
Cattle Egret Spotted At Stocker’s Lake
This rare visitor, caught on camera for the very first time in Stocker’s Lake. To view a clip, click on the link below.
Our livestream camera was focused on a Little Egret’s nest and got this rare sighting…
Little Egrets Now Being Livestreamed!
With the Herons’ season complete our livestream camera is now trained on a Little Egret nest. Visit out livestream page or our YouTube channel to view three young Egrets moving around and being fed from time to time by parents.
View Highlights Of Our 2024 Livestream to date
A video featuring four minutes of stunning highlights to date from our livestream of a 2024 Grey Heron nest is now publicly available. You can view it by clicking on the button below.
Springwell Metal Recycling Ltd - Have Your Say!
Springwell Metal Recycling Ltd which recently established itself adjacent to our site, much to FoSL’s concern, has now submitted an application for retrospective planning permission that is littered with inaccuracies.
3 Eggs → 3 Chicks → 2 Chicks!
After a relatively quiet, month long, incubation period the three eggs which were laid in our livestreamed nest during Feburary all hatched between March 9th and 11th. However, on March 17th one chick dramatically perished.
Heron Incubation Well Underway
Our two livestreamed adult birds are now sharing incubation duties. Changeovers from one to the other ae genearlly being seen once or twice a day.
Heron Egg-Laying: Caught Live On Camera
Captured by our livestream - see a clip of the moment at which the first egg is laid on our livestreamed Heron nest.
Heron Nest Now Being Streamed Live
We are delighted to be bringing you streamed live pictires from an active Grey Heron nest at Stocker’s Lake.
Smew And Breeding Kingfishers The Birding Highlights of 2023
Our published 2023 bird report covers various highlights including the presence on the lake of a rare and attractive male Smew during February and March and a successful breeding season for our resident Kingfishers.
Say “No” To Broadwater Lake Development
We invite you to oppose a recent planning application to develop a new Water Sports Centre on nearby Broadwater Lake. We believe that such a development would have devastating consequences for wildlife along the whole of the Colne Valley, including for Stocker’s Lake.
Monitoring The Benefits Of Cattle Grazing On Stocker’s Lake Meadows
FoSL’s wildflower survey team celebrates the end of a second season of surveying.
Butterfly Report 2023
Following on from last year’s very hot, dry summer, 2023 produced milder conditions more favourable for butterfly development and, mirroring the national picture, produced a modest increase in numbers compared to 2022.
Autumn Colours
Every Autumn prior to leaf fall, our deciduous trees lose their green colour fading to reveal rich vibrant reds, yellows and oranges. Ever wondered why?
Stocker’s Bat Boxes Being Put To Good Use
A recent inspection of Stocker’s Lake bat boxes revealed their use by a total of fourteen bats including two rare Nathusius Pipistrelles.