The Nature Trail

College Lake is an experiment in chalkland habitat creation. Chalk extraction started at one end of the reserve in the 1950's and ceased in 1991. This difference in age means that various stages of natural chalk colonisation can be seen along the banks, broken only by areas where sheep or cattle grazing has altered the natural development of scrub and produced a downland turf. In contrast the flat area at the bottom of the quarry was initially restored to a wheat field. In this area lake, marsh, and dyke features have been artificially created but developed by nature.

Because of the wide diversity of habitat a very large number of species have been recorded on the reserve.

The lake provides a refuge for wildfowl. There is an extensive networks of trails and a number of hides both at water level and looking from the quarry banks above, giving excellent views of the marsh area and lake. Some are accessible by wheelchair and by car for the disabled.